Pain Awareness Month
September 1 - September 30
About Pain Awareness Month
Pain Awareness Month is observed throughout September each year, shining a light on the experiences of people living with chronic pain and working to reduce the stigma, misunderstanding, and barriers to care that too often define their daily lives. Established in 2001 by the American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA) and now supported by dozens of health organisations internationally, the campaign calls for greater public understanding, improved access to pain management, and policy change that reflects the scale of the global pain burden. September 2026 marks the campaign’s 25th year.
What is Pain Awareness Month?
Pain Awareness Month is an annual September campaign led by the American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA) and the US Pain Foundation, with support from the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) and numerous other health and patient advocacy organisations. The campaign focuses on chronic pain, defined as pain that persists for three months or longer, which can arise from conditions including arthritis, fibromyalgia, back injuries, nerve damage, cancer, and many others.
Its goals are to dispel myths and stigma surrounding chronic pain, improve public understanding, advocate for better access to pain management services, and amplify the voices of people whose pain is dismissed, undertreated, or misunderstood. You can read more about one related condition through World Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, which highlights another often misunderstood chronic pain condition.
When is Pain Awareness Month?
Pain Awareness Month runs from Tuesday, 1 September to Wednesday, 30 September 2026. It is observed annually throughout the entire month of September and has been running every September since 2001, making 2026 its 25th year.
Why Pain Awareness Month Matters
Chronic pain affects a staggering number of people globally and is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care. In the United States alone, approximately 100 million Americans live with chronic pain, a figure that exceeds the combined number of Americans with diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. In the United Kingdom, an estimated 43% of adults, nearly 28 million people, live with some degree of chronic pain, with approximately 8 million experiencing pain that is moderately to severely disabling.
Despite this prevalence, chronic pain is often poorly understood, inadequately treated, and stigmatised. People with chronic pain are sometimes dismissed as exaggerating their symptoms. This stigma can prevent them from seeking help, lead to delayed diagnosis, and result in inadequate pain management. The World Health Organization and the Global Burden of Disease Study have consistently identified pain, particularly back and neck pain, as one of the leading contributors to disability worldwide. Around 41% of people who attend specialist pain clinics report that their pain has prevented them from working.
How to Get Involved in Pain Awareness Month
- Share your story: If you live with chronic pain, September is an opportunity to share your experience. Personal accounts are powerful tools for breaking down stigma and building empathy.
- Educate yourself and others: Read about the different types of chronic pain and the challenges people with pain face in accessing care. Share what you learn with friends, family, and colleagues.
- Support the ACPA and US Pain Foundation: Both organisations offer donation opportunities and resources to help fund advocacy and education work.
- Advocate for better pain management services: Contact your elected representative to highlight the inadequacy of pain management services in your area.
- Wear purple: Purple is the colour associated with Pain Awareness Month. Wearing purple throughout September signals solidarity with the chronic pain community.
- Challenge stigma: If you hear dismissive comments about chronic pain, gently challenge them. Correcting misconceptions in everyday conversation is one of the most powerful ways to shift public attitudes.
- Share on social media: Use the hashtags #PainAwarenessMonth and #PainAwarenessMonth2026 throughout September.
History of Pain Awareness Month
Pain Awareness Month was established in 2001 by Penney Cowan, the founder of the American Chronic Pain Association. Cowan, who herself lived with chronic pain, recognised that people with persistent pain faced not only physical suffering but also profound social and systemic barriers: stigma, disbelief, limited access to specialist care, and a healthcare system that often lacked the tools to address complex pain conditions effectively.
From its launch, the campaign attracted support from dozens of patient advocacy groups, healthcare organisations, and medical associations. The ACPA worked to build a broad coalition, recognising that chronic pain cuts across many different conditions and communities. The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) and other global bodies have since joined the campaign, giving it an international dimension that reflects the worldwide scale of the chronic pain problem.
Over more than two decades, Pain Awareness Month has grown into a significant annual advocacy moment, coinciding with and contributing to important policy developments, including increased recognition of pain management as a medical specialty and greater funding for pain research.
Noteworthy Facts
- Approximately 100 million Americans live with chronic pain, more than the combined number of people affected by diabetes, heart disease, and cancer in the United States.
- In the UK, an estimated 43% of adults (nearly 28 million people) live with some degree of chronic pain.
- The Global Burden of Disease Study consistently identifies back and neck pain as among the leading causes of disability worldwide.
- Pain Awareness Month was founded in 2001 by Penney Cowan of the ACPA, making 2026 the 25th anniversary of the campaign.
- Purple is the official colour of Pain Awareness Month.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pain Awareness Month?
Pain Awareness Month is an annual September awareness campaign founded by the American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA) in 2001. It aims to reduce stigma around chronic pain, improve public understanding, and advocate for better access to pain management services.
When is Pain Awareness Month in 2026?
Pain Awareness Month runs from Tuesday, 1 September to Wednesday, 30 September 2026.
What colour is associated with Pain Awareness Month?
Purple is the official colour of Pain Awareness Month. Wearing purple during September is a simple way to show solidarity with people living with chronic pain.
Hashtags
#PainAwarenessMonth | #PainAwarenessMonth2026 | #ChronicPain
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