Have you ever been afraid to talk about your epilepsy to friends and coworkers for fear of repercussions? Epilepsy stigma is prolific and can affect all aspects of a person’s life. Approximately 50% of people in the US and Europe report feeling stigmatized because of their epilepsy diagnosis, according to recent studies.
Discover research findings about the public attitudes and beliefs about epilepsy, as well as how likely people with epilepsy are to encounter stigma due to negative public attitudes. We review how these harmful stereotypes affect quality of life, and explore what recent evidence suggests communities can do to improve public attitudes and reduce epilepsy stigma.
Let’s end these epilepsy stereotypes and shine a light on the truth.
Featured Presenter: Ann Jacoby, PhD, is Professor Emerita in the Department of Public Health and Policy at the University of Liverpool, UK. She is a social scientist whose research career has focused on the lived experiences of individuals with ill health, in relation to its daily life impacts and healthcare outcomes. She has had a particular interest in chronic neurological illness, with a major focus on epilepsy.