The lack of knowledge of the disease fuels prejudices, which make life difficult especially for young people: two Licea campaigns provide education, in schools and in meeting places in the city
Don't be afraid of epilepsy anymore by talking about it more and more to young people in schools, to the entire population in cities. And not just on the occasion of International Epilepsy Day on February 12thwhen the Colosseum is lit up in purple, the color that recalls this neurological disease: to break down prejudices and really make everyone aware of the pathology, so as not to fear it anymore, two campaigns of the High School Foundation (Italian League against Epilepsy) destined to last in the months and years to come.
Epilepsy at the cinema
The first of the two initiatives, Epilepsy at the cinema: real storiesincludes meetings with schools and mornings at the cinema for the screening of short film Out of the Waterpresented last year at the Giffoni Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival, and the documentary film Dissonanze, which chronicles the experiences of two young adults with epilepsy. The meetings, which will be held in ten cities throughout Italy in February and March, will be an opportunity to talk to young people about epilepsy, to educate and to break down some of the stigma surrounding the disease and that, as he explains the president of Lice Laura Tassi, depends on the lack of knowledge of epilepsy, which is still scary because we don't know what it is or how to deal with it. Epilepsy is a chronic disease with a strong, inevitable impact on daily life and relationships with people, classmates, friends. The short film, based on the true story of a boy, tells it well, and the language of cinema and the emotions it arouses can be a privileged means to better understand and welcome those who suffer from epilepsy.
Epilepsy at school
Also because they are often young people: Epilepsy affects 1 percent of the population and the onset in the majority of cases is in childhood and adolescence, although cases of appearance in over 75s following cardiovascular events or other central nervous system problems are increasing. Also for this For example, since 2016, Lice has collaborated with the Bambino Ges Hospital on the project The school is not afraid of criseswith which over the years 6 thousand teachers have been trained so that they know how to manage an epileptic attack in the classroom: 90 percent of seizures last less than two minutes and resolve without medical intervention, if it lasts longer, the timely and correct administration of specific drugs can interrupt the crisis and avoid hospitalization. From the start of the project to today, hundreds of attacks have been recorded in participating schools, but thanks to the knowledge and skills acquired they have been managed well and improper access to the emergency room has been eliminated.
Benches in cities
Knowing means not being afraid, which is why Lice's second campaign for 2024 is aimed at all citizens and will continue for years: with Bench epilepsy many purple benches, designed and made with Big Bench Community Project Foundation by Christopher Bangle, will be fixed in parks, hospitals and other public places in numerous cities throughout Italyfrom North to South. These purple benches will be a way to talk to everyone about epilepsy and are places where it is possible to sit and be together: the bench specifically designed for the initiative a love bench in which three benches alternate to ensure that whoever sits on one can see the face of whoever sits on the other: a way to also symbolize the fact that people with epilepsy should not be left alone, but we must sit next to them. As he explains Oriano Mecarelli, past president of Licethe purple benches will be a lasting testimony to the fact that epilepsy is a very socially impacting disease, but little known and a source of discrimination. It will be nice to sit on our benches to encourage the inclusion of people with epilepsy and the claim “Put epilepsy on the bench” also has a particular metaphorical meaning: Let's make sure we can defeat the disease and the stigma it entails.
Bill
The hope that in the future the percentage of people who feel penalized by the disease will decrease: today, according to a survey by the Italian Epilepsy Federation presented on the occasion of the World Day, 40 percent of people with epilepsy rate their health negatively and one in two believes that the disease greatly interferes with their daily life, especially at work and in the possibility of planning a future or managing free time. 61 percent feel different in their social life and relationships with others, many give up playing sports for fear of crises; furthermore, one in three states that illness-related expenses exceed 30 percent of the overall family budget. A burden that should be lightened, rights that should be guaranteed: also for this reason, in line with the directives of the Global Intersectoral Action Plan for Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders (IGAP), ratified in 2022 by the World Health Organization healthcare, by 2031 Italy will have to adopt specific legislation on epilepsy. There are four bills in the Senate, two in the House and the hope is that a synthesis will be reached soon, because as he concludes Francesca Sofia, president of the International Bureau for Epilepsy, the goal to protect the human rights of people with epilepsy. The main barrier is the high level of ignorance and prejudice about epilepsy, a lack of knowledge that results in stigma and social exclusion at all levels, in school, the workplace and the community, and which also causes inadequate levels of care and assistance, wrong diagnoses and therapies. All this can only change if the needs of people with epilepsy will be recognized within specific public policies and programmes.
Corriere della Sera also on Whatsapp. sufficient click here to subscribe to the channel and always be updated.
February 15, 2024 (changed February 15, 2024 | 07:08)
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
#Epilepsy #campaigns #underway #schools #cities #Italy #stop #afraid