Being well-informed about epilepsy stops youngsters feeling excluded

Being kept well-informed by health care professionals about how to live with epilepsy leaves youngsters feeling more positive about how the condition affects them.

A new survey by UK charity Epilepsy Action, found that young people aged between 12-20 who are able to talk about their condition and medication with their doctor left them feeling better supported at school with the condition having less of an impact on their academic work than those youngsters who did not.

There are around 40,000 youngsters in this age group living with epilepsy in the UK, making an average of three or four children with the condition in every secondary school.

Spokesperson for Epilepsy Action, Aimee Gee said: “It’s great to see that lots of young people with epilepsy feel they are getting the support they need, but more can be done. There is no reason why young people with epilepsy can’t do many of the same things as their friends, providing they are well-informed about how to handle their condition. It is also vital that young people with epilepsy receive support at school or college to enable them to reach their full potential.”

Epilepsy Action is hoping to reach these young people with its relaunched Upfront information booklet created specifically for them.

To download a free copy of ‘Upfront’ or for more information about living with epileptsy, visit: www.epilepsy.org.uk/nationalepilepsyweek