Migraine and Headache Awareness is recognized worldwide during the month of June. The campaign began in 2012 or 2013. This year, Health Canada has added Migraine to its calendar of health promotion days, which should feel encouraging but also seems a little late in the game.
Globally, it has been estimated that prevalence among adults of current headache disorder is about 50%. Headache on 15 or more days every month affects 1.7–4% of the world’s adult population. Despite regional variations, headache disorders are a worldwide problem, affecting people of all ages, races, income levels and geographical areas. In the Global Burden of Disease Study updated in 2013, migraine on its own was found to be the sixth highest cause worldwide of years lost due to disability (YLD). Headache disorders collectively were third highest. Repeated headache attacks, and often the constant fear of the next one, damage family life, social life and employment. The long-term effort of coping with a chronic headache disorder may also predispose the individual to other illnesses. For example, anxiety and depression are significantly more common in people with migraine than in healthy individuals.
World Health Organization
Organizations all over the world are running campaigns and events to draw attention to the disease, treatment and research, and to reduce the stigma surrounding migraine.
Migraine organizations to follow
- IHS (International Headache Society) and Cephalalgia
- Migraine Canada
- American Headache Society and Headache Journal
- American Migraine Foundation
- Migraine Australia
- Migraine World Summit
- Migraine Again
Migraine Awareness is represented by a purple ribbon during the month of June. The hashtag on social media is #MHAM. On June 21st and 22nd, landmarks across Canada will light up in purple in support of Migraine Awareness.
Whether or not it’s personal to you, your support means a lot to those who live with migraine.
To see other posts I’ve written about migraine, you can click here, or over on the migraine tag in the right sidebar.
Stationery in the photo
P.S. Funny but true.
