National Epilepsy Awareness Month: Ready-to-Use Campaign Resources
Key Facts:
- Prevalence: 3.4 million U.S. residents, 470,000 are children (CDC, 2024).
- Economic Impact: Direct and indirect costs exceed $15.5 billion annually (NIH).
- Treatment Gap: Roughly one-third of people with epilepsy have uncontrolled seizures despite medication.
- Equity Issue: Seizure-related mortality is 2x higher in low-socioeconomic communities.
Editor's Note
This article is part of the BHM Healthcare Awareness Series, designed to provide quick, ready-to-use content and links to official resources for internal staff communications, patient education, and social media.
Feel free to copy, adapt, and share.
Observation Date
November
History & Impact
National Epilepsy Awareness Month (NEAM) was first established in 1983 by the Epilepsy Foundation to spotlight the 3.4 million people in the United States living with epilepsy. Over four decades, it has grown into a coordinated, global movement that promotes seizure first-aid training, research funding, and anti-stigma efforts. Hospitals, public-health agencies, schools, and employers mark the month with purple-themed events (“Go Purple”), social-media challenges, and educational outreach supported by the Epilepsy Foundation, CDC, and WHO.
Why it Matters
- Epilepsy affects 1 in 26 Americans, making seizure preparedness a workforce, compliance, and patient-safety priority.
- C-suite leaders can reduce risk, enhance equity, and align with Joint Commission emergency-preparedness standards by championing NEAM activities.
Quick Actions for Your Organization
For Leadership
Adopt a system-wide seizure action plan policy and include it in emergency preparedness audits.
Fund Purple Day (Nov 17) or “Bring Your School to NEAM” partnerships to amplify community engagement.
Integrate epilepsy stigma-reduction goals into DEI and patient-experience dashboards.
For Implementation Teams
Enroll staff in the free 30-minute Seizure First Aid Certification from the Epilepsy Foundation.
Publish weekly “Purple Facts” intranet posts; link to seizure-response posters and patient handouts.
Host a virtual Q&A with a neurologist; record and repost on social channels with #NEAM2025.
Resources
Ready-to-Use Assets
The following links provide resources & information for creating internal or external campaigns to support or promote this healthcare observance. Please vet these resources for alignment with your organization.
Talking Points
Copy & Paste Friendly
“1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy—learn seizure first aid this November. #SeizureSmart”
“Go Purple for National Epilepsy Awareness Month and help end stigma in healthcare and workplaces.”
“Free seizure-response posters and training are now available—share with your teams today.”
Disclaimer: Please verify all information, usage rights, and related guidelines with the official observance organizers and your organization’s policies to ensure proper alignment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. How do you create a seizure action plan for multiple healthcare facilities?
Standardize the seizure action plan template from the Epilepsy Foundation, assign a clinical champion at each site, and integrate the plan into Joint Commission emergency-preparedness checklists to ensure consistent rollout across all locations.
Q2: What KPIs show a successful National Epilepsy Awareness Month campaign?
Track seizure first-aid certification completions, intranet page views of epilepsy resources, social-media impressions for #NEAM posts, and any reduction in seizure-related incident reports to quantify impact and ROI.
Q3: How can hospitals quickly boost staff engagement during Epilepsy Awareness Month?
Offer 30-minute online seizure first-aid courses with CE credits, launch a “Go Purple” selfie contest, and recognize departments that reach 100 percent training completion to drive rapid participation and shareable content.
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