Blogs

Ed. note: This blog is cross-posted from the Mentalhealth.gov blog. The original post date was April 1, 2014.

Parents will likely agree it's not easy to talk with their teens about sex. But, parents can be an important source for reliable and trustworthy information, especially on topics such as sex and how to protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections (STIs, also sometimes called STDs). Each year, young people 15 to 24 make up nearly half of the 20 million new cases of STIs in the United States. That's why Karen Murphy has made it a priority to talk with her teens about sex and STIs. It's her goal to maintain an ongoing dialogue with her kids, one where they feel comfortable asking questions. In honor of STI Awareness Month, read Karen's interview for tips on how to get the conversation started with your kids.

Do you want to eat healthier? Well, now's the perfect time to start - March is National Nutrition Month! This month, we're reminded of the importance of making smart food choices and developing healthy eating and physical activity habits.

On March 10, we observed National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day to shed light on the impact HIV/AIDS has on women and girls in the United States. Each year, our goal is to offer support and hope, reduce the stigma of HIV/AIDS, and empower women and girls to "Share Knowledge. Take Action."

Today is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day — a day for action! What are you going to do?

Ed. note: This blog is cross-posted from the Whitehouse.gov blog. The original post date was March 4, 2014. Learn more about the winners.

As you know, February 14 was Valentine's Day. What you may not have known is that it was also National Donor Day. On National Donor Day, we remember and honor those who have donated organs, tissue, marrow, and blood, as well as encourage all Americans to give the gift of life by becoming a donor.

About 27,000 women and girls in the U.S. are HIV-positive and don't know they have the disease. The Office on Women's Health coordinates National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD) to raise awareness about how HIV/AIDS impacts women and girls. It takes place each year on March 10 and empowers people to share knowledge and take action. Joining us this year is NWGHAAD Ambassador Tamika Williams. Tamika is a former professional basketball player who is passionate about educating women and girls about HIV/AIDS. Read her interview to learn why she became an HIV/AIDS advocate and what steps you can take to protect yourself and others.

It's been fifty years since the Surgeon General released the first report on smoking and health in the United States. In that time more than 20 million Americans have died because of smoking. In fact, smoking remains the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and premature death in the United States.