October- A Month of Awareness By: Aleyah Hooks
Following September comes October. These two months are two of the most recognizable awareness months with September being Suicide Prevention month and October being both Breast Cancer Awareness month as well as Domestic Violence Awareness month. Going into October, people should be aware and keep an open mind to these causes. Did you know that since 1989, breast cancer death rates in the United States have dropped by 44 percent? According to nationalbreastcancer.org, “That’s not a coincidence. For 40 years, Breast Cancer Awareness Month has helped raise awareness of breast cancer across the nation. It has encouraged millions to take action, resulting in increased early detection and advancements in treatment that have saved more than half a million lives.” Many people feel that this month is life saving and quite literally, it is. Just think about the hundreds of thousands of people who have been saved just by simple donations and raised awareness. If word is spread of these things, many more people’s lives will be saved and not just the ones diagnosed with breast cancer, but their family and friends as well.
October was first declared as Domestic Violence Awareness month in 1989. It is to recognize the survivors and give people who have been through domestic violence a chance to be heard and seen. Domestic violence is a horrible thing and should be taken seriously no matter the age or gender of a person. Coming from nctsn.org, there has been substantial progress in reducing the number of domestic violence incidents; however, an average of 20 people are physically abused by their intimate partner every minute. “This equates to more than 10 million abuse victims annually”. Though there is nothing much to do considering most people suffer in silence. Promoting speaking up and making people feel comfortable with their voice so it is a major help and can inspire people to do the right thing. Often, the people being abused stay silent, it is always a good idea to check on people who might be going through domestic violence. It is highly encouraged that people should report any signs of abuse to prevent things from getting any worse. For help visit https://www.thehotline.org/ or call 800-799-7233. Just remember, if you are worried about someone it is never a bad idea to report. You never know what people are truly going through.
Before ending things off, people should be aware of what to represent. Remember that the most well-known symbol of breast cancer awareness is a pink ribbon, and the symbol of domestic violence is recognized as a purple ribbon.
