March is Epilepsy Awareness Month, and Epilepsy Canada is calling on all Canadians to show their support by wearing purple on March 26 – Purple Day. Founded in 2008 by Canadian Cassidy Megan, Purple Day has grown into a global movement to increase awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding epilepsy.
Epilepsy is more than just seizures:
- There are over 30 different types of seizures, and no two people experience epilepsy the same way.
- Approximately 30% of people with epilepsy do not respond to available medications.
- Hormonal changes can influence seizure frequency in women with epilepsy.
- People with epilepsy have three times higher mortality rates and are 20 times more likely to experience sudden death than the general population.
For Cassie, who lives with epilepsy, raising awareness means shedding light on the realities of the condition: “It’s more than the seizures themselves, it’s the anxiety that comes with not knowing when the next one will strike or who might witness it. It’s the fear of losing control in front of strangers, the vulnerability of collapsing without warning and the isolation of feeling misunderstood. There is so much stigma around epilepsy, people see the seizure but rarely the story behind it.”
CEO Johanna McDougall has a deep personal connection to the cause—her own child experienced a grand mal seizure at just three years old. She understands firsthand the fear and uncertainty that come with an epilepsy diagnosis. “Epilepsy is more common than most people think, yet it remains widely misunderstood,” says McDougall. “By wearing purple on March 26, you’re not just showing support—you’re helping to start conversations that could save lives.”
Join the movement. Wear purple on March 26 and help us change the future for Canadians living with epilepsy.
