OCD Awareness Week 2025: All You Need to Know
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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that affects individuals of all ages, embodying obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. Despite increasing awareness, misconceptions about OCD remain widespread, particularly around the severity and nature of the symptoms. So, we had to ask: What are the key things you need to know about this year’s OCD Awareness Week?
👉 Official Name: OCD Awareness Week
💚 Cause: Foster an understanding of OCD to better support people having the disorder
📅 Next Date: October 12–18, 2025
🌐 Official Website: https://iocdf.org/ocdweek/
🐦 Hashtag: #OCDweek, #OCDAwarenessWeek
Keep on reading to find out all the important information about OCD Awareness Week at a glance, including its big picture, why it’s important, and how you can get involved. We’ll then share its brief history, three interesting facts about it, its future dates, and how you’ll never miss any important awareness event again.
The Most Important Information About OCD Awareness Week at a Glance
1️⃣ The big picture: OCD Awareness Week is a time to raise awareness about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, understand its impact on individuals, and challenge the common misconceptions surrounding the condition. This week encourages conversations that highlight the true experiences of those living with OCD beyond the stereotype of excessive cleanliness or organization. People with OCD can experience a range of symptoms, but with the right support and treatment, they can lead fulfilling lives. OCD Awareness Week is also an opportunity to celebrate neurodiversity, advocating for more inclusive support systems and understanding.
2️⃣ Why it is important: OCD is a long-lasting condition in which the time-consuming symptoms can cause significant distress or interfere with daily life. If left untreated, OCD symptoms can become severe over time. OCD Awareness Week is crucial in shedding light on the realities of living with OCD, debunking myths, and encouraging timely diagnosis and treatment. It provides an opportunity to foster greater empathy and understanding for those affected.
3️⃣ How you can get involved: From raising awareness to providing financial support, here are our favorite ways to get involved in OCD Awareness Week:
- Spread the word: For example, you can share some facts about OCD on social media, helping to break the stigma around the disorder.
- Attend a “One Million Steps for OCD Walk”: The One Million Steps for OCD Walk is a community engagement event enabling individuals to connect, share stories, and gather support. You can find a walk near you and participate.
- Support neurodivergent organizations: Donate to or volunteer with organizations that provide funding and support groups and run advocacy initiatives to raise awareness around OCD.
Below are our favorite charities that are especially relevant for OCD Awareness Week:
A Brief History of OCD Awareness Week
When was this event established: OCD Awareness Week was initiated by the International OCD Foundation in 2009. The awareness week is celebrated during Mental Health Awareness Month (October).
How has it developed since then: Since its inception, OCD Awareness Week has evolved into a global initiative, with mental health organizations, advocates, and communities coming together to raise awareness about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. In 2002, as an effort to expand the awareness week globally, the founding organization pushed to develop an online community where everyone could learn about OCD and spread awareness on social media, through live online chats, or even by making a YouTube video about OCD as part of the #OCDweek video challenge. Over the years, online engagement has made it easier to spread accurate information and dismantle misconceptions about OCD.
3 Interesting Facts About OCD Awareness Week
- A nurture-or-nature disorder: Though OCD generally has a genetic component, the upbringing environment does play a significant role in the development of the condition. For example, some studies have reported an association between childhood trauma and obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
- It is obsessive and/or compulsive: Obsessions and compulsions can occur independently of one another. However, obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors occur together in most people with OCD. In some cases, compulsions might be covert.
- A chronic condition: OCD doesn’t go away. It may go into remission and flare back up from time to time. Therapy and other treatments can help with the symptoms when they occur.
Upcoming Dates of OCD Awareness Week
OCD Awareness Week is observed every year on the second week of October.
| Year | Date | Day(s) |
| 2024 | October 13–19 | Sunday – Saturday |
| 2025 | October 12–18 | Sunday – Saturday |
| 2025 | October 11–17 | Sunday – Saturday |
Never Miss an Awareness Event Again
Sources
- International OCD Foundation: OCD Awareness Week
- National Institute of Mental Health: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Harvard Health Publishing: What is neurodiversity?
- International OCD Foundation: About OCD
- International OCD Foundation: Find an OCD Walk near you!
- Impactful Ninja: 9 Best Charities That Support Neurodivergent People
- Impactful Ninja: 9 Best Charities For Mental Health
- International OCD Foundation: History of the IOCDF
- Impactful Ninja: Mental Health Awareness Month
- Community Services Institute: OCD Awareness Week, October 9-15 2022
- National Library of Medicine: Genetics of OCD
- NEW HEIGHTS OCD & ANXIETY: Exploring Causes of OCD: Examining Nature vs. Nurture Factors
- Yale School of Medicine: OCD Research Clinic | Frequently asked questions about OCD
- NHS: Symptoms – Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Impulse Therapy: 30 Facts About OCD Everyone Should Know
