What is National Rehabilitation Awareness Week?
National Rehabilitation Awareness Week 2022 begins on September 19th through the 25th. Organizations nationwide dedicate the full week to the outstanding professionals who provide rehabilitation services year-round.
Soul Surgery is an integrative medicine addiction center with multiple locations across the Valley. We acknowledge the patience and demanding work of all rehabilitation professionals.
What are the Main Types of Rehabilitation?
Physical Therapy focuses on restoring and maintaining the patient’s physical well-being. Physical therapists may help a person due to disabilities or an injury that hinders movement.
Speech Therapy helps children and adults who struggle with verbal communication through exercises in pronunciation, muscle strengthening, and learning to speak correctly.
Occupational Therapy is like physical therapy in that both concentrate on body movements. Occupational therapists focus on improving the patient’s ability to perform daily activities.
Addiction and Mental Health Therapy tend to go hand in hand due to how they impact each other. Addiction rehabilitation benefits a person’s coping skills, detox process, and motivation to succeed in sobriety. Likewise, mental health therapy offers healthy interactions with professionals who can provide each individual with the right advice, tools, and support.
History of National Rehabilitation Awareness Week
Rehabilitation Week began in 1976 as a small campaign run by a rehabilitation services group in Scranton, Pennsylvania, called Allied Services. Nearly 50 years later, the event has become a nationally recognized annual celebration.
Notable Events Timeline
In 1864, the first hospital opened to treat alcoholism exclusively.
In the 1910s, physical therapy began during World War I as a female-only profession. The American Women’s Physical Therapy Association had taken care of injured soldiers.
In 1921, the medical community officially recognized occupational therapy as legitimate.
In the 1930s, speech therapy became increasingly popular as soldiers suffered from brain injuries that affected their speech.
In 1947, the Alcoholic Rehabilitation Act was passed, the first piece of federal legislation recognizing alcoholism as a sickness.
In 1976, the first-ever Rehabilitation Awareness Week was held.
In 1996, Allied Services established the National Rehabilitation Awareness Foundation (NRAF), a not-for-profit integrated health system headquartered in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
How to Get Involved
Rehabilitation is a process that has brought so many people relief and peace of mind. The professionals in this line of work have dedicated themselves to a worthy cause. There are numerous ways to get involved for this September’s rehabilitation awareness week.
Educate and Engage
Invite rehabilitation specialists into your workplace or classroom setting. This shows you care about what they have to say and educate others on the importance of rehabilitation.
When we talk about complex topics like mental health struggles or addiction, it decreases the stigma. It allows people to ask important questions and even gives someone the confidence to reach out for help.
Express Your Appreciation
Gifts of thanks and appreciation go a long way. It can be as simple as bringing baked goods or class-written thank-you letters to hospitals and rehabilitation center staff.
You might be surprised how powerful a small act of kindness like homemade muffins can be!
Donate
Numerous organizations are raising awareness and educating people on topics like brain injuries, alcoholism, and mental illness. Supporting these groups through monetary means sheds more light on the message they stand for.
Nonprofit Organizations:
Addiction
The Foundation for Alcoholism Research
Mental Health
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Occupational Therapy
Foundation for Physical Therapy Research
Speech Therapy
Connect via Social Media
Support the media organizations that raise awareness by sharing their posts and using the hashtags #RehabilitationAwarenessWeek and #RehabWeek. Likewise, you can follow the conversation and educate yourself further on the ins and outs of rehabilitation.
Soul Surgery’s Commitment to You
Soul Surgery in Arizona is proud to support and celebrate national rehabilitation awareness week this September. We’re committed to understanding and helping those struggling with alcoholism, drug addiction, and mental health problems.
If you or a loved one needs recovery, we’re always here to help. Please contact us to learn more about our addiction services today.
