We're so excited to kick off 2020 OCD Awareness Week!
Each year during the second full week of October, community groups, service organizations, and clinics across the US and around the world celebrate throughout the week with events such as educational lecture series, OCD-inspired art exhibits, grassroots fundraisers, and more.
Click on the buttons below to see what we have planned and how you can get involved!
This #OCDWeek, join us and #DrawYourMonster!
For 2020 OCD Awareness Week, our IOCDF Ambassadors are inviting all members of the OCD and related disorders community to participate in a new social media campaign aimed at raising awareness and helping everyone with anxiety feel less alone.
As part of our partnership with Sean Shinnock of Draw Your Monster, participants will draw their anxiety and then participate in a fun video activity on social media. Here's how to participate:
- Draw Your Monster! The campaign launched on Sunday, October 11th, when IOCDF National Ambassador Ethan Smith hosted a discussion with Sean and they walked through the drawing process. If you missed the stream, no worries! Watch it here. If you like, you can also color in this Draw Your Monster coloring page.
2. Share it on social media! Share your monster with @iocdf and #DrawYourMonster. OR, crumple up your drawing, then film yourself catching it from the left side, uncrumpling it and showing it to the camera, and then throwing it to the right (see sample video). Post the video on social with #PassTheMonster — we'll compile them throughout the week and share a new video from the community!
Participate in an #OCDWeek event
The IOCDF hosts a number of programs and special events to celebrate #OCDWeek. Here are the events we're holding this year. Be sure to also check out our calendar to see what our local Affiliates are up to this week!
Attend our virtual events!
This year, the IOCDF will be hosting virtual events for every day of OCD Week!
Wednesday, October 14th at 12pm ET (NEW TIME): Join Dr. Liz McIngvale, founder of the Peace of Mind Foundation, for a special edition of Live with Liz! Liz will be speaking with special guest IOCDF Executive Director Jeff Szymanski, PhD about the future of the Peace of Mind Foundation. This event will stream live on YouTube and Facebook. No registration required. We hope to see you there!
Thursday, October 15th at 5:30pm ET: Just in time for #OCDWeek, Kendra Scott jewelry is giving back 20% of all purchases to the IOCDF! Shop for good online by entering the code GIVEBACK9318 when shopping at KendraScott.com from Thursday, October 15th to Saturday, October 17th. But first, join us for a Kendra Scott-hosted virtual happy hour and styling session! The event will be held on Zoom. Learn more and RSVP!
Thursday, October 15th at 7pm ET: IOCDF National Ambassador Ethan Smith will be back for another edition of IOCDF trivia! No teams necessary. Join us on Twitch for the chance to win gift cards for the IOCDF shop!
Then, stick around for our OCD short film festival at 8pm ET on Twitch, Facebook, or YouTube! Ethan will be streaming five films with Gabriel Wilson, creator of the short film Clean. Then, the film's directors will join the stream for a Q&A! No RSVP required. We hope to see you there!
Virtual Voices for Mental Health: An Online Day of Action
Virtual 1 Million Steps 4 OCD Walk
On Saturday, October 10th, the IOCDF and our local Affiliates will kick off #OCDWeek with our first-ever Virtual 1 Million Steps 4 #OCDWalk!
Register for the walk and join us for the virtual launch on Saturday, October 10th at 12pm Eastern. To kick off the walk, IOCDF National Ambassador will be talking with OCD advocate Marc Summers about why walking for awareness is important, and the winners of our Walk awards will be announced. Then, 2019 IOCDF Illumination Award winner Tommy Smalley will lead us in a short stretch before we set off.
Join us from wherever you are, while raising funds and awareness for OCD and related disorders! Learn more and register.
On Monday, October 12th and Tuesday, October 13th, we will gather from the comfort of our own living rooms for Virtual Voices For Mental Health: An Online Day of Action! Join us for two days of learning and advocacy, and make your voice heard on key pieces of mental health legislation.
On Monday, October 12th, we will hold an evening of live virtual programming that will prepare you to be an effective advocate for key mental health legislation. The next day, you will take action by contacting your elected representatives and making your voice heard.
This event is open to people with OCD and related disorders, their families, friends, clinicians, and all other members of the mental health community.
To register, visit iocdf.org/virtual-voices!
Find an event in your community
Our local Affiliates organize events all around the country. Check the IOCDF Calendar for up-to-the-minute information about activities and events taking place in communities across the globe. You can submit an event for the 2020 calendar by clicking here.
Don’t see an event near you?
Start one! Host an open mic night or viewing party, organize a pizza fundraiser, arrange to speak at a local school or university, or just make it your mission to be a social media advocate for the week. We want you to be part of this!
Help us spread the word
Social media is a great way to spread awareness about OCD and related disorders. During OCD Awareness Week, there are a number of ways you can get involved online. In addition to participating in #PasstheMonster, we invite you to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, share our posts, and help us spread awareness in other ways:
