(Washington D.C., Thursday, May 9, 2019) – The 20th annual National Women’s Health Week kicks off on Mother’s Day, May 12, and is celebrated through May 18, 2019. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health (OWH) leads National Women’s Health Week to encourage all women to make their health a priority.

To improve their physical and mental health, OWH recommends that women:

• Visit a doctor or nurse for a well-woman visit (checkup), preventive screenings, and vaccines;
• Get active;
• Eat healthy;
• Pay attention to mental health, including getting enough sleep and managing stress; and
• Practice safe behaviors, such as quitting smoking, not texting while driving, and taking steps to protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections.

OWH coordinates women’s health efforts across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), working collaboratively with other federal agencies and external partners to address crucial women’s health topics. OWH chairs the Coordinating Committee on Women’s Health, which advises the Assistant Secretary for Health on activities across HHS that would improve the health of U.S. women and girls.

For more ideas and information on how to get involved, visit www.womenshealth.gov/nwhw.