Free Resources Archive

An estimated 1 in 8 woman born in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point during their life. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month focuses attention on the disease and is a chance to raise awareness about the importance of screening and early detection.

This directory of resources from Breast Cancer Sourcebook provides information on organizations that provide information, support, and advocacy for people with breast cancer.

Comprehensive information about the risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of breast cancer is available in Breast Cancer Sourcebook, 6th Edition.

The scope of domestic violence in our society is staggering. Its victims include men and women and people of every age, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and economic level. Many of those caught in the cycle of domestic violence feel isolated and powerless and do not know the avenues of help available to them.

These resources from Domestic Violence Sourcebook provide information on organizations that provide help and support, including domestic violence hotlines, child abuse reporting numbers, and programs offering shelter for pets of domestic violence victims.

Comprehensive information about violence, stalking, harassment, and other forms of abuse is available in Domestic Violence Sourcebook, 6th Edition.

National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month calls attention to the dangerously high rates of obesity in American youth. The program’s goal is to build awareness about childhood obesity and encourage action. 1 in 5 children in the United States are overweight or obese. Childhood obesity puts kids at risk for health problems that were once seen only in adults, like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

This selection from Diet Information for Teens, 4th Edition, provides information on weight-loss and nutrition myths.

Comprehensive information on nutrition, vitamins and minerals, the elements of food, smart eating plans, weight-related concerns, and a range of health conditions related to diet is available in Diet Information for Teens, 4th Edition.

Prostate cancer starts in the prostate, a small gland in the male reproductive system. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in men, after skin cancer. But this cancer can be treated successfully, and nearly 100% of men diagnosed today will still be alive in five years. Early detection and treatment can save lives, so routine testing is important.

This chapter from Cancer Sourcebook provides a wealth of information on prostate cancer, including a description of the disease, its symptoms, diagnostic tests, stages, treatment, and more.

Comprehensive information about the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of many different types of cancer is available in Cancer Sourcebook, 8th Edition.

The purpose of Men’s Health Month is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. According to Dr. David Gremillion of the Men’s Health Network, “There is a silent health crisis in America. … It’s that fact that, on average, American men live sicker and die younger than American women.” This month gives health care providers, public policy makers, the media, and individuals an opportunity to encourage men and boys to make their health a priority: to exercise regularly; to eat healthy; and to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury.

This selection from Men’s Health Concerns Sourcebook, 5th Edition, provides information on two related topics: Preventing Heart Disease at Any Age and Heart Healthy Eating.

Comprehensive information about the issues in men’s health, including facts on gender-specific health differences, leading causes of death in men, reproductive and sexual concerns, genetic disorders, mental health concerns, and alcohol and drug abuse is available in Men’s Health Concerns Sourcebook, 5th Edition.

Mental Health Month began in 1949 with a week-long observance and is now recognized each year in May. Mental health issues affect a large segment of society in the United States — adults, young adults, and children. In a given year, approximately one in five adults (43.8 million, or 18.5%) and the same proportion of young adults aged 13 to 18 (one in five, or 21.4%) experience mental illness. And younger children are not immune — for those aged 8 to 15, the estimate is 13%.

This section from Mental Health Information for Teens, 5th Edition, provides some basic facts on three topics: understanding mental health, defining mental illness, and the causes and warning signs of mental illness.

Comprehensive information about mental wellness and mental illness, along with facts about recognizing and treating mood, anxiety, personality, psychotic, behavioral, impulse control, and addiction disorders, is available in Mental Health Information for Teens, 5th Edition. Complete information about mental health disorders in adults and children is available in the Health Reference Series volume, Mental Health Disorders Sourcebook, 7th Edition.

During the early 1800s, the United States government conducted a campaign of American Indian removal, moving them from their ancestral lands in the east to territories west of the Mississippi River. One of the most brutal campaigns began on May 26, 1838, when federal troops evicted thousands of Cherokee from their homes and forced them to travel a thousand miles to official reservation land in eastern Oklahoma. They traveled through extreme heat and later bitter cold with little food or water. An estimated 4,000 tribal members died on the journey from disease, exposure, exhaustion, or starvation. The ordeal became known among the Cherokee as “The Trail of Tears” and “The Trail Where They Cried,” and it ranks today as one of the most shameful episodes in American history.

This chapter from Defining Moments: American Indian Removal and the Trail to Wounded Knee describes the events leading up to and during the Trail of Tears.

Additional information about the events before, during, and after American Indian removal, including biographies of the key players and related primary source documents, can be found in Defining Moments: American Indian Removal and the Trail to Wounded Knee.

Earth Day was first observed on April 22, 1970 with efforts to encourage both government officials and U.S. citizens to preserve the wilderness and the earth’s natural resources. This year’s campaign by The Earth Day Network, which now coordinates events around the world, is focused on ending plastic pollution.

More information about the customs and traditions associated with Earth Day is available in this entry from Holiday Symbols and Customs, 5th Edition.

Each April, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) sponsors Alcohol Awareness Month to increase public awareness, reduce stigma, and encourage communities to focus on alcohol-related issues. Alcoholism is a chronic disease that affects millions of Americans, both directly and indirectly.

These sections from Alcoholism Sourcebook provide some basic facts: What Does Alcoholism Look Like; Questions and Answers about Alcoholism; and Researchers Identify Alcoholism Subtypes.

Comprehensive, updated information about the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of alcoholism is available in Alcoholism Sourcebook, 5th Edition.

Women’s History Month, celebrated annually in March, is an opportunity to recognize women’s achievements and contributions to our nation’s history and culture. The origin of the observance can be traced to 1978, when the Sonoma County California Task Force on the Status of Women organized a celebration of Women’s History Week, designed to coincide with International Women’s Day (March 8th), observed worldwide since 1914. Within a few years, many schools and communities were celebrating National Women’s History Week, supported by resolutions from school boards, city councils, governors, and the U.S. Congress. In 1987, Congress passed a law designating the first Women’s History Month. Today, Women’s History Month is the occasion for events and observances across the country to honor the significant achievements of women throughout history.

Women in the United States struggled for more than a century to obtain the right to vote. In 1920, the suffrage movement finally achieved victory with the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution. A biography of social activist, abolitionist, and women’s suffrage pioneer, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, is provided in this selection from Defining Moments: Women’s Suffrage.

Additional information about the events leading up to the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, along with biographies of other key figures and related primary source documents, can be found in Defining Moments: Women’s Suffrage.