Will you stand up for Epilepsy awareness?
International Epilepsy Day is an annual event and in 2024 takes place on the 12th February. As part of the day, we will be devising a new campaign aimed at increasing public understanding and awareness of epilepsy, as well as promoting knowledge of seizure first aid and the key words of Time, Safe, Stay.
Parts of our campaign have already been unveiled, with our fantastic media volunteers Paul & Lucy fronting this initial phase of our campaign – you can see more on this, and read Paul & Lucy’s stories, by visiting the ‘Awareness’ section of our website.
While the overall campaign for #EpilepsyDay continues to be developed and planned, we are appealing for you to stand up for epilepsy awareness in a number of ways!! We have outlined these below.
Become a Media volunteer
Epilepsy is an individual condition, and it is only through individuals living with the condition day-to-day, that we can showcase this fact. Usually, in the lead up to #EpilepsyDay and on the day itself, we receive increased attention from the media, seeking to feature personal stories about the lived experiences of epilepsy – both from the perspective of people living with the condition and their family members. When we receive these requests, we call on our media volunteers to potentially take part if they are comfortable in doing so. The more people we have on the list, the better! If you’re interested in becoming a media volunteer, download and fill out the form which is available at the end of this article and email to our Advocacy & Communications Manager, Paddy McGeoghegan, on pmcgeoghegan@epilepsy.ie. Paddy will then get in touch then to discuss adding you to the list.
Share your story on our channels!
Throughout the years, our #EpilepsyDay campaigns have been further amplified by people sharing their stories with us, directly on our social media channels. These stories not only help with raising awareness, but also can be of great support to others within the epilepsy community to help realise that they are not alone in their own journey with the condition. . If you are interested in sharing your story directly on our channels, please get in touch with our Advocacy & Communications Manager by emailing pmcgeoghegan@epilepsy.ie. You can watch and read previous examples of personal testimonies that we have shared by visiting the ‘Personal Testimonies’ section of our website – you can also find more examples in the menus associated with various campaigns in the ‘Awareness’ section of our website.
Like, share and invite your friends!
In the lead up to #EpilepsyDay, we will be sharing posts across our social media channels, aimed to organically raise awareness of epilepsy – through what we are planning for the campaign, as well as personal stories mentioned above. By liking and sharing, you can help our messages reach your friends and followers – helping us educate even more people about epilepsy!
Did you know that you can also invite your friends and followers to like our key pages on Facebook and on Instagram?
Did you know that you can also invite your friends and followers to like our key pages on Facebook on Instagram?
On Facebook:
- Visit Epilepsy Ireland’s page.
- Click the three dots below the Page's cover photo and select Invite friends.
- Click the names of the profiles that you want to invite to like or follow the Page.
- Click Send Invitations.
On Instagram:
- On the Instagram App (on mobile), visit Epilepsy Ireland’s page.
- Click the three dots on the top right-hand side corner
- Select share this profile and lick the names of the profiles that you want to invite follow the Page.
- Click Send Invitations.
Encourage EVERYONE to learn more about Seizure First Aid and Time, Safe, Stay!
As noted, our campaign will aim to increase knowledge of seizure first aid, to educate the public on how to correctly respond to a seizure. Whether at home, work or school, on social media or not, any help you can bring to draw attention to this in your day-to-day life would be greatly appreciated. If anyone asks you why it is so important to be aware of Seizure First aid, answer them by encouraging them to visit the 'Seizure First Aid' section of our website.
Thank you for standing up for epilepsy awareness in advance of #EpilepsyDay – we really really appreciate your support as it is only by working together that we can achieve a society where no person’s life is limited by epilepsy.
Note
If you are a member of the media and have a media request related to International Epilepsy Day 2024, please get in touch with our Advocacy & Communications Manager, Paddy McGeoghegan, by emailing pmcgeoghegan@epilepsy.ie.