National Concussion Awareness Day®2026 · Date · History · Messages
The official National Concussion Awareness Day® site states that Brooke Mills founded the observance in 2016 and that it is recognized on the third Friday of September each year. A 2018 organizer information sheet confirms the recurring rule, while U.S. Senate Resolution 349 supported only the September 20, 2019 edition. Medical and return-to-activity guidance remains deferred to qualified professionals and current CDC guidance.
About National Concussion Awareness Day®
National Concussion Awareness Day® is a U.S. awareness campaign founded by Brooke Mills in 2016. The official campaign says it is recognized on the third Friday of September each year.
The day is intended to increase concussion awareness and support people affected by mild traumatic brain injury. It is not a federal holiday, and this guide does not diagnose concussion or provide an individualized return-to-school, work or sports plan.
Why National Concussion Awareness Day® matters
The campaign encourages public discussion about concussions, recognition of possible injuries and support for people dealing with their effects.
Concussion symptoms and recovery vary. A calendar page cannot judge the severity of a head injury; suspected concussion and return-to-activity decisions should be handled with appropriate medical guidance.
History of National Concussion Awareness Day®
The official National Concussion Awareness Day® site states that Brooke Mills founded the observance in 2016 after experiencing a concussion as a high-school freshman.
An organizer information sheet for the third annual event in 2018 states that the observance is recognized on the third Friday of September each year.
On September 26, 2019, the U.S. Senate considered and agreed to S.Res.349 supporting designation of September 20, 2019 as National Concussion Awareness Day. That resolution is evidence of recognition for that 2019 edition, not a permanent federal holiday law.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Brooke Mills
The official campaign site states that National Concussion Awareness Day® was founded in 2016 by Brooke Mills.
Supported designation of September 20, 2019 as National Concussion Awareness Day for that edition; it did not create a permanent federal holiday or permanent statutory recurrence.
United States Senate · S.Res.349 (116th Congress)
National Concussion Awareness Day® campaign
The official campaign site remains active and publishes the current annual observance.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
6 fields not established in reviewed sources
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
How to Observe National Concussion Awareness Day®
Share current concussion-awareness information from the official campaign or an authoritative public-health source such as CDC HEADS UP.
If a concussion is suspected after a head or body impact, follow current medical guidance and seek appropriate healthcare evaluation rather than trying to grade the injury yourself.
For sports, school or work return decisions, use qualified professional guidance and applicable institutional rules; do not use an awareness-day checklist as clearance.
Support people recovering from concussion without pressuring them to disclose symptoms, medical history or personal recovery details publicly.
National Concussion Awareness Day® Facts
The official campaign says Brooke Mills founded National Concussion Awareness Day® in 2016.
The observance is held on the third Friday of September each year.
A U.S. Senate resolution supported the September 20, 2019 edition; that edition-specific resolution did not create a permanent federal holiday.
CDC guidance emphasizes that return-to-sports decisions after concussion should involve healthcare-provider approval and supervision.
This guide is general awareness information and cannot diagnose a concussion or determine an individual recovery timeline.
National Concussion Awareness Day® Messages
National Concussion Awareness Day® is a reminder to take possible head injuries seriously and rely on qualified medical guidance.
Share concussion awareness with care: recognize concerns, support recovery and protect people’s medical privacy.
On National Concussion Awareness Day®, support safer conversations about brain injury without minimizing symptoms or rushing recovery.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Health Information Not Medical Advice.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
CDC HEADS UP — concussion guidance (opens in a new tab)
Government Medical Context
U.S. Senate Resolution 349 (2019) (opens in a new tab)
Federal Legislative Edition Specific Recognition
National Concussion Awareness Day® — 2018 organizer information sheet (opens in a new tab)
Official Organizer History Rule
National Concussion Awareness Day® — official site (opens in a new tab)
Official Organizer
CDC HEADS UP — Responding to a Sports-related Concussion (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is National Concussion Awareness Day®?
Third Friday of September; 18 September 2026 The documented recurrence rule is: Third Friday of September.
Does National Concussion Awareness Day® fall on the same date every year?
It follows a recurring calendar rule, so the Gregorian date can change from year to year.
Is National Concussion Awareness Day® an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United States / organizer-led National Concussion Awareness Day® campaign; medical-awareness observance, not a federal holiday. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes National Concussion Awareness Day®?
The documented basis is: The official National Concussion Awareness Day® site states that Brooke Mills founded the observance in 2016 and that it is recognized on the third Friday of September each year. A 2018 organizer information sheet confirms the recurring rule, while U.S. Senate Resolution 349 supported only the September 20, 2019 edition. Medical and return-to-activity guidance remains deferred to qualified professionals and current CDC guidance.. Supporting evidence includes National Concussion Awareness Day® — official site. The site does not infer a separate creator or founder unless reviewed evidence establishes one.
Is National Concussion Awareness Day® international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to United States. Its fuller verified scope is: United States / organizer-led National Concussion Awareness Day® campaign; medical-awareness observance, not a federal holiday.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-05.
When is National Concussion Awareness Day®?
The official campaign places it on the third Friday of September each year.
Who founded National Concussion Awareness Day®?
The official campaign states that Brooke Mills founded it in 2016.
Did Congress make it a permanent federal holiday?
No. The U.S. Senate supported designation of September 20, 2019 in S.Res.349. That was edition-specific recognition, not a permanent federal holiday law.
Can I use an awareness checklist to decide whether someone has a concussion?
No. Suspected concussion should be evaluated appropriately; awareness information does not replace professional assessment.
When can an athlete return to play after a concussion?
CDC guidance says return to sports should occur only with healthcare-provider approval and supervision through an appropriate progression.
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