National Epilepsy Awareness Month
Support epilepsy awareness during November! 3.4 million Americans have epilepsy. Awareness reduces stigma, improves treatment access, and teaches seizure first aid.
About National Epilepsy Awareness Month
Support epilepsy awareness during November! 3.4 million Americans have epilepsy. Awareness reduces stigma, improves treatment access, and teaches seizure first aid.
History & origins
National Epilepsy Awareness Month is a U.S. observance held in November to spotlight epilepsy, seizures, and seizure first aid. The Epilepsy Foundation says it has marked November as National Epilepsy Awareness Month since 1969, making the observance a long-running public education campaign in the United States. Its modern message centers on reducing stigma, improving understanding, and encouraging support for people living with epilepsy.
Why it matters
Epilepsy affects millions of Americans, and awareness can make a practical difference in diagnosis, treatment, and safety. Learning seizure first aid helps bystanders respond calmly and correctly during a seizure, while stigma reduction can help people seek care and speak openly about their condition.
How to celebrate
Learn seizure first aid. Wear purple for epilepsy. Support epilepsy research. Share epilepsy facts. Reduce epilepsy stigma.
Facts
- 3.4 million Americans have epilepsy
- 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy
- Seizures have many causes
- Most people with epilepsy control seizures with treatment
- Knowing seizure first aid saves lives
Frequently asked questions
When is National Epilepsy Awareness Month in 2026?
National Epilepsy Awareness Month in 2026 is observed throughout November 2026. It is a month-long observance rather than a single-day holiday.
What is National Epilepsy Awareness Month?
It is a health awareness month focused on epilepsy, a neurological condition that causes recurrent seizures. The goal is to improve public understanding, reduce stigma, and encourage safer responses to seizures.
Who started National Epilepsy Awareness Month?
The Epilepsy Foundation is the organization most closely associated with the observance, and it says November has been National Epilepsy Awareness Month since 1969. The origin is best understood as a long-standing U.S. awareness campaign rather than a formal federal holiday.
How do you celebrate National Epilepsy Awareness Month?
A simple way to participate is to learn seizure first aid and share accurate epilepsy facts. Many people also wear purple, support epilepsy organizations, and help reduce misinformation and stigma.
Is National Epilepsy Awareness Month the same as Purple Day?
No, they are different observances. National Epilepsy Awareness Month is in November, while Purple Day is a separate epilepsy awareness day held in March.
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