For the Media

“People with epilepsy continually face social stigma and exclusion. A fundamental part of ridding the world of this stigma is to raise public and professional awareness.”

~World Health Organisation

Epilepsy Action Australia welcomes enquiries from the media in relation to: epilepsy; its impact upon the people we serve; and, the services we provide.

The provision of professional services and medical intervention for people living with epilepsy is only a part of enabling people to live with confidence in their day to day lives. To provide choice about how and when they participate in life, community education and awareness is also needed to change attitudes and dispel myths about the condition.

There are many common misconceptions about epilepsy. These include the beliefs that epilepsy is rare, that it is a mental illness and that people with epilepsy are disabled and can’t lead a rewarding life. In fact epilepsy is more common than Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy.

Epilepsy is not a mental illness but a neurological condition that disrupts the normal electrical and chemical activity in the brain. Given the right support and community understanding, people with epilepsy should have the same opportunities as those living without the condition.

Media communications can improve public awareness by disseminating factual, up-to-date information that over time will help to dispel the stigma and myths.