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 (CIND).[1][2]

International May 12th Awareness Day
Blue awareness ribbon
Official nameInternational May 12th Awareness Day
Also calledME/CFS Awareness Day, International Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Awareness Day
Observed byAustralia, Canada, UK, United States and others
Liturgical colorblue, purple, green
TypeInternational
SignificanceAwareness of Chronic Immunological Neurological Diseases including ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivity, Gulf War syndrome, and others
DateMay 12
Next time12 May 2024 (2024-05-12)
Frequencyannual
First time1993
Started byTom Hennessy
Related toSevere 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 12

Illnesses

The main illnesses involved in International May 12th Awareness Day are ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivity, and Gulf War syndrome.[3]

Other Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases also recognized by the event include Addison's, Alzheimer's, autism, celiac, chronic myofascial pain, Crohn's, epilepsy, irritable bowel disease (IBD), Lou Gehrig's (ALS), lupus, Lyme disease, mold/biotoxin illness, multiple sclerosis (MS), orthostatic intolerance (OI), Parkinson's, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSD), and ulcerative colitis.[4]

Events

International May 12th Awareness Day is observed by dying hair blue or dressing up in blue.[5] Since 2016, the #MillionsMissing protests for ME/CFS have taken place every May, with the main event held on May 12.[6] Film screenings are usually held for films about ME/CFS, including Voices from the Shadows, Forgotten Plague, or Unrest.[7][8] Public landmarks are lit up in color for International May 12th Awareness Day, typically using blue for ME and purple for fibromyalgia.[9][10]

History

In 2006 a British charity created Severe ME Awareness Day on August 8 as a day of remembrance and understanding for those who died from or with ME.[11] August 8 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.[12]

  • 5/1 – 5/31: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Awareness Month
  • 5/1 – 5/31: Fibromyalgia Awareness Month
  • 5/1 - 5/31: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Awareness Month[13]
  • Week of May 12: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Awareness Week
  • 8/8: Severe ME Awareness Day

References
  1. "ME/CFS Awareness Day". CDC. June 3, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  2. "Calendar - Health Promotion Days". canada.ca. December 19, 2017. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  3. Rios, Puja (May 11, 2017). "25 Facts for Fibromyalgia Awareness Day". HuffPost. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  4. "CIND Illnesses | May 12th International Awareness Day". April 29, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  5. "May 12 is ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia International Awareness Day". National Institutes of Health (NIH). May 12, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  6. Ludlam, Scott (May 11, 2018). "To the #MillionsMissing with ME/CFS, something remarkable is happening | Scott Ludlam". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  7. Rush, Andy (May 10, 2018). "MP Nicky Morgan to raise awareness of ME illness". loughborough. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  8. "Award winning documentary film about M.E. to be shown at Penarth Pier Pavilion". Penarth Times. April 22, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  9. Lee, Jenny (May 2, 2018). "Hope for ME: Co Down woman's campaign for the thousands living with chronic fatigue syndrome". The Irish News. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  10. "Griffith Health turns purple and blue". news.griffith.edu.au. May 12, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  11. Connolly-Forster, Ethan (May 24, 2020). "Severely ill singer 'overwhelmed' by album support". BBC News. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  12. Prior, Ryan (August 8, 2018). "Millions suffer from an invisible disease: My ME/CFS story". CNN. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  13. Floyd, Patricia A.; Mimms, Sandra E.; Yelding, Caroline (June 25, 2007). Personal Health: Perspectives and Lifestyles. Cengage Learning. p. 528. ISBN 978-1-111-79891-8.
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