Santa Fe Group

Prevention, Understanding and Voice: Building Better Health

Santa Fe Group · Published October 1, 2026 · The Editors

October brings several health observances that highlight the importance of prevention, clear communication, patient engagement, and equitable access to care. National Dental Hygiene Month, Health Literacy Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, World Mental Health Day, and National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day each focus on different aspects of health, but together they offer an opportunity to consider how people can be better supported in understanding, navigating, and participating in their own health and healthcare.

National Dental Hygiene Month places prevention at the forefront. Dental hygienists play an important role not only in preventive oral healthcare, but also in patient education, early identification of health concerns, and helping individuals understand the connections between oral health and overall health. This year’s theme, The Power of Us, emphasizes prevention, professional voice, and patients, reinforcing the value of working together to advance better health.

That connection extends naturally to Health Literacy Month. Access to healthcare alone is not enough. People also need health information they can find, understand, and use to make informed decisions. Oral health literacy is an important part of that equation, influencing communication between patients and providers, preventive behaviors, use of dental services, and the ability to navigate care.

Other October observances reinforce the importance of communication and engagement across the health system. Breast Cancer Awareness Month calls attention to prevention, screening, and conversations between patients and healthcare professionals. World Mental Health Day on October 10 focuses this year on the value of lived experience and the importance of ensuring that people have a meaningful voice in shaping the policies and services that affect their lives.

National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day on October 15 further highlights the importance of health literacy, culturally responsive communication, access to prevention and treatment, and efforts to address disparities and stigma. Together, these observances remind us that improving health requires more than delivering services. It requires creating systems in which people can understand their options, participate in decisions, and receive care that responds to their needs and experiences.

These themes closely align with the Santa Fe Group’s ongoing work to advance oral health as an essential component of overall health and well-being. They also reflect important conversations emerging from the 2026 National Convening, Oral Health as a Pathway to Wellness and Longevity, where leaders from across healthcare, public health, research, policy, industry, and other sectors explored opportunities to strengthen prevention, integration, collaboration, and person-centered approaches to care.

As we recognize these observances throughout October, they offer a shared reminder that better health depends not only on what care is available, but also on whether people can understand it, access it, and have a voice in it. Bringing prevention, understanding, and lived experience together can help build a more connected and responsive approach to whole-person health.