International May 12th Awareness Day
International May 12th Awareness Day, also known as International ME/CFS Awareness Day is held every year to raise awareness of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Fibromyalgia, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Gulf War Syndrome and other Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases.[1][2]
International May 12th Awareness Day | |
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Official name | International May 12th Awareness Day |
Also called | ME/CFS Awareness Day, International Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Awareness Day |
Observed by | Australia, Canada, UK, United States and others |
Liturgical Color | blue, purple, green |
Type | International |
Significance | Awareness of Chronic Immunological Neurological Diseases including ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivity, Gulf War syndrome, Addison's disease, Lyme disease, autism and others |
Date | 12 May |
Next time | 12 May 2021 |
Frequency | annual |
First time | 1993 |
Started by | Tom Hennessy |
Related to | Severe ME Day (August 6th), ME/CFS Awareness Month (May), ME/CFS Awareness Week (second week of May) |
International May 12th Awareness Day aims to:
- Increase public awareness of the importance of ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivity, Gulf War syndrome and other Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases (CIND)
- Educate about the symptoms and impact of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and other CINDs
- Advocate for increased research funding, particularly for ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia
- Many fundraising events take place on May 12th
Illnesses
The main illnesses involved in International May 12th Awareness Day are ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivity, and Gulf War syndrome.[3]
Events
International May 12th Awareness Day is observed by dying hair blue or dressing up in blue.[4] Since 2016, the #MillionsMissing protests for ME/CFS have taken place every May, with the main event held on May 12th.[5] Film screenings are usually held for films about ME/CFS, including Voices from the Shadows, Forgotten Plague, or Unrest.[6][7] Public landmarks are lit up in color for International May 12th Awareness Day, typically using blue for ME and purple for fibromyalgia.[8][9]
History
International May 12th Awareness Day was founded in 1993 by the Canadian non-profit Action CIND. It has been observed internationally every year since. In 2006 a British charity later created Severe ME Awareness Day on August 8th as a day of remembrance and understanding for those who died from or with ME.[10] August 8th was chosen because it is the birthday of Sophia Mirza, who was believed to be the first British person to have chronic fatigue syndrome listed as a cause of death.[11]
Related observances
- 5/1 – 5/31: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Awareness Month
- 5/1 – 5/31: Fibromyalgia Awareness Month
- 5/1 - 5/31: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Awareness Month[12]
- 5/1 – 5/31: Lupus Awareness Month
- 5/1 – 5/31: Lyme Disease Awareness Month
- Week of 12th May: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Awareness Week
- 8/8: Severe ME Awareness Day
See also
References
- "ME/CFS Awareness Day". CDC. 3 Jun 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- "Calendar - Health Promotion Days". canada.ca. 19 December 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- Rios, Puja (2017-05-11). "25 Facts for Fibromyalgia Awareness Day". HuffPost. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
- "May 12 is ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia International Awareness Day". National Institutes of Health (NIH). 2017-05-12. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
- Ludlam, Scott (2018-05-11). "To the #MillionsMissing with ME/CFS, something remarkable is happening | Scott Ludlam". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
- Rush, Andy (2018-05-10). "MP Nicky Morgan to raise awareness of ME illness". loughborough. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
- "Award winning documentary film about M.E. to be shown at Penarth Pier Pavilion". Penarth Times. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
- Lee, Jenny (2018-05-02). "Hope for ME: Co Down woman's campaign for the thousands living with chronic fatigue syndrome". The Irish News. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
- "Griffith Health turns purple and blue". news.griffith.edu.au. 12 May 2014. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
- Connolly-Forster, Ethan (2020-05-24). "Severely ill singer 'overwhelmed' by album support". BBC News. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
- Prior, Ryan. "Millions suffer from an invisible disease: My ME/CFS story". CNN. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
- Floyd, Patricia A.; Mimms, Sandra E.; Yelding, Caroline (2007-06-25). Personal Health: Perspectives and Lifestyles. Cengage Learning. p. 528. ISBN 978-1-111-79891-8.