Know the Signs: Ovarian Cancer Symptoms, Suicide Prevention, and Self-Care This September
September holds three national health observances at once: National Suicide Prevention Month, National Self-Care Awareness Month, and National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Each one addresses a different part of a person's health, mental, emotional, and physical, but at TMW Health & Wellness, we treat them as connected. Understanding your risk factors, recognizing symptoms early, and building sustainable self-care habits are the foundation of preventive medicine. Here's what each observance means and how to act on it.
National Suicide Prevention Month: Recognizing Warning Signs Early
Suicide is one of the most preventable causes of death when warning signs are recognized and addressed early. Because the signs can be subtle, education is the first line of suicide prevention.
Common warning signs include:
Talking about wanting to die or feeling like a burden to others
Withdrawing from friends, family, or activities once enjoyed
Increased use of alcohol or drugs
Giving away possessions or making final arrangements
A sudden calm or improved mood following a period of depression, which can signal that a decision has already been made
If you notice these signs in yourself or someone you care about, treat it as a reason to reach out, not a reason to wait.
Suicide prevention resources are available around the clock:
Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a free, confidential service staffed by trained counselors 24/7/365
Chat online at chat.988lifeline.org for support without a phone call
Talk with your provider. Mental health is health, and our team can connect you with counseling or psychiatric care suited to what you're experiencing
You don't need to be in crisis to start this conversation. Persistent anxiety, depression, or overwhelming stress are reasons enough to ask for support before they escalate.
National Self-Care Awareness Month: Building Habits That Prevent Burnout
Self-care gets treated like a luxury, but from a clinical standpoint it functions as prevention. Chronic stress affects sleep, hormone regulation, immune function, and mental health, which means the self-care habits you build now have a direct effect on the health problems you avoid later.
Practical, evidence-informed self-care tips include:
Starting the day with a few minutes of slow, intentional breathing to lower cortisol
Setting boundaries around your time and energy, and holding them without guilt
Moving your body daily, even if it's a short walk rather than a workout
Checking in honestly with how you feel physically and emotionally, rather than pushing through symptoms
We build self-care into your care plan because it works alongside, not instead of, clinical treatment. Patients who manage stress proactively tend to catch other health concerns earlier, simply because they're paying closer attention to their bodies.
National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: Knowing the Symptoms Could Save Your Life
Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecologic cancer, largely because no reliable early screening test currently exists. Without a test like a mammogram or Pap smear to catch it early, recognizing ovarian cancer symptoms yourself is one of the most effective tools available.
The challenge is that ovarian cancer symptoms are often vague and easy to attribute to something else, like digestive issues or normal hormonal changes. That's exactly why they get missed.
Symptoms worth taking seriously, especially when they are new, persistent, and occur more than a few times a month, include:
Bloating or abdominal swelling that doesn't resolve
Pelvic or abdominal pain
Feeling full quickly or difficulty eating
Urinary urgency or frequency
Family history, age, and certain inherited genetic mutations, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2, can raise your personal risk, so it's worth discussing your family history with your provider even if you feel completely well. If your body is telling you something isn't right, don't wait it out. Early evaluation is the closest thing to early detection we have.
Whole-Person Care Is Preventive Care
Suicide prevention, self-care, and ovarian cancer awareness might look like three separate topics, but the underlying message is the same: don't wait for a crisis to pay attention to your health. Notice the warning signs. Protect your energy before you run out of it. Listen when your body speaks up.
This is the kind of whole-person care our team practices every day at TMW Health & Wellness. Whether you're managing stress, navigating a mental health concern, or have a symptom you've been putting off mentioning, we look at the full picture, not just one appointment at a time.
Become a Client to schedule a visit, or reach out through our confidential inquiry form with any questions.
This post discusses suicide and mental health. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7.
Published Sources:
https://ovarian.org/get-involved/national-ovarian-cancer-awareness-month/ https://ocrahope.org/news/september-ovarian-cancer-awareness-month/ https://nationaldaycalendar.com/celebrations/self-care-awareness-month-september
ovarian cancer symptoms | suicide prevention resources | 988 suicide and crisis lifeline
| self-care tips | national suicide prevention month | national ovarian cancer awareness month | women's health | mental health support | whole-person care | preventive women's healthcare
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