Figures released as Epilepsy Ireland launches new Strategic Plan
78% of the Irish public believe there is a social stigma attached to epilepsy, while 91% agree that there is a lack of understanding of epilepsy amongst the general public, according to new research conducted by Amarach Research on behalf of Epilepsy Ireland.
The new data also highlights that more than 8 in 10 people believe epilepsy to be a far rarer condition than it actually is. With the Irish population now exceeding 5 million people, it is estimated that there are over 45,000 people living with epilepsy in Ireland, almost 1 in 100 individuals.
The new figures have been released today ahead of the Epilepsy Ireland National Conference, where the national patient organisation for people with epilepsy and their families will launch their new Strategic Plan.
The plan will reiterate Epilepsy Ireland’s long-held vision of achieving a society where no person’s life is limited by epilepsy and will set out key objectives on how the organisation will work towards this vision over the next 5 years.
Epilepsy Ireland CEO Peter Murphy believes that the latest findings highlight the important role the charity plays in increasing awareness & understanding of epilepsy in Ireland.
“The overwhelming majority of people recognise and acknowledge the need for further awareness and education around epilepsy but at the same time there is a strong degree of understanding that epilepsy can be a very challenging condition for those living with it. We need to build on this understanding to ensure that the challenges facing people with epilepsy are overcome, and this is one of the key themes in our new Strategic Plan”.
“Our plan sets out a roadmap to work towards our new mission to empower all those affected by epilepsy to achieve their full potential, not just through improving public understanding and awareness, but by providing high-quality support services, training and education, conducting effective advocacy and supporting Irish epilepsy research”.
Some of the key themes contained within Epilepsy Ireland’s five-year plan include:
- Identifying and filling gaps in epilepsy service needs
- Working collaboratively with the HSE and other stakeholders to develop a more community-based, patient-centred model of care.
- Advancing strategies to reduce the incidence of epilepsy deaths
- Using campaigns and advocacy to create positive change in the lives of people with epilepsy
- Supporting efforts alongside the medical and scientific community to develop and maintain Ireland’s standing as a world-class centre of epilepsy research.
“We know that the work we have undertaken over the past five to ten years has been very impactful. For example, data suggests that our efforts to improve public understanding of seizure first aid have been successful and we’ve seen a real shift in how people with epilepsy are included and supported in education and employment. 80% of respondents in the Amarach survey agreed that in most cases, having epilepsy does not affect a person’s ability to work. This is particularly heartening because negative attitudes towards epilepsy in the workplace has been a hugely challenging issue for many people living with the condition in the past”.
“Despite the challenges created by Covid-19, 2021 was a record year in terms of the number of support contacts handed by our services team, and also in terms of the number of care and education professionals trained by Epilepsy Ireland. Meanwhile, 2022 has seen us support five new grants supporting Irish epilepsy research, also a record for a single year”.
“Looking to the future, we want to continue this positive work, but there is still much to do across all our areas of work. Our new strategy is ambitious – and resourcing it, especially in the current economic climate will be a major challenge – but it is a plan that we are fully committed to achieving on behalf of all people we represent.”
Epilepsy Ireland’s new Strategic Plan will be officially launched today at their annual conference. You can read the Strategic Plan in full by visiting the associated article in the 'News' section of our website or can download the plan at the end of this article.