Today, Flatrock observes a very important holiday, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.  

This United Nations-sanctioned day promotes the rights and well-being of persons with physical and mental disabilities at every level of society around the world.

World Kindness Week — celebrated this year from Nov. 13 to Nov. 19 — encourages all people to engage in acts of kindness and promote the importance of compassion, empathy and goodwill.

As we mark National Stress Awareness Day on Nov. 1, it’s important to recognize that not all stress is bad.

Without stress, we would learn nothing new and never challenge ourselves. However, some stress is very unhealthy and can lead to serious physical, emotional and mental problems.

The month of October commemorates National Sensory Processing Awareness Month. People with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), have trouble receiving and processing information that comes in through their senses. While many with SPD have other conditions, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, or Attention Deficiency Disorder, some do not.

Today we celebrate World Mental Health Day, and the theme that the World Foundation of Mental Health has set for 2023 is “Mental Nealth is a Universal Human Right.”

The month of October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month, which allows us to bring awareness and understanding of this condition that affects one of every 700 babies born. It is a non-hereditary chromosomal disorder and the leading cause of intellectual and development delay in the world.

Today starts the beginning of National Suicide Prevention Week. The American Association of Suicidology stresses the need to be open about suicide and talk about it not just this week but ongoing. The Association encourages people to spread awareness, advocate for research funding, and be kind to others.

Throughout September, we are celebrating Self-Care Awareness Month.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects communication and social interaction.

While individuals with autism may exhibit differences in their speech, it's important to understand that autism itself does not directly cause a specific way of speaking. Instead, the speech differences in individuals with autism are due to factors related to the condition.

Mental health conditions can have a wide range of effects on a person's well-being, and while some of these effects are well-known and acknowledged, there are several that are often overlooked or not widely discussed.