Supporting People with Epilepsy – Celebrating Purple Day 2025
March 26 marks Purple Day - a dedicated date to raising support and awareness for epilepsy and the research into treating the condition. Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is proud to be leading the research in South Wales with a dedicated unit and many ongoing clinical trials.
What is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a common condition, affecting around 630,000 people in the UK and 50 million people globally. It is a neurological condition where people have seizures that start in the brain.
The brain uses electrical signals to control how we move, think and feel, and it is a disruption to these electrical signals that cause a seizure. Epilepsy affects each individual differently and there are many different ways a person may have a seizure.
There are many causes of epilepsy from genetic causes to acquired causes such as after a stroke, brain injury, or infection. People with epilepsy are disproportionately affected by poor mental health, such as stress, anxiety or depression. Poor self-esteem due to the condition and stigma that surrounds the condition can have a large impact on mental and emotional wellbeing.
Clinical Trials
The Neuroscience Research Unit (NRU) at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is a 4 bedded research facility conducting clinical trials in collaboration with the Advanced Neurotherapies Centre.
There are currently 6 clinical trials or research studies happening for people with epilepsy and the Health Board urges people who are eligible to take part by engaging with their clinicians and asking if there are any trials they may be suitable for.
The current clinical trials are
testing new anti-seizure medications to stop seizures
assessing new ways to measure seizures using an implantable EEG device to help treatment choices
trialling advanced brain imaging to detect causes of seizures that can lead to curative epilepsy surgery and
collecting clinical and blood sample data to better understand the causes of epilepsy and new ways to treat or prevent epilepsy altogether.
Professor Khalid Hamandi, Consultant Neurologist (pictured) said: “Epilepsy is common, and more common that you think. It still carries stigma, impacts relationships, employment and lifestyle, can be severely disabling, and have tragic consequences with death as a result of seizures.
“Epilepsy research is needed to gain a better understanding of the way the brain works, why people get seizures and ways to stop and prevent them. The Cardiff and Vale Clinical and Research Epilepsy Teams are proud to support Purple Day.”
Ongoing support
Nesta is a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Epilepsy (pictured) based at the Welsh Epilepsy Centre in the University Hospital of Wales. She said: "As epilepsy nurses, we have a key role in providing information, education, advice about the condition, the prescribed treatment, risks, and lifestyle adjustments. Receiving a diagnosis of epilepsy is life-changing and can impact every aspect of that person's life, affecting their ability to drive, work, plan a family, to name but a few.
“We continue to offer support to our patients via our outpatient clinics or by responding to patient queries to our helpline. Every day, we receive calls and emails from patients, family members and other health professionals asking for advice and support."
Raising Awareness
Purple day was started in 2008 by Cassidy Megan, a young girl from Canada, who has epilepsy and wanted to get people talking about the condition. Cassidy not only wanted to raise awareness but also assure people with epilepsy that they are not alone. The day is named as such as lavender is the official flower of epilepsy and was historically used to treat seizures before modern medicine.
Purple day takes place on the 26th March every year, it is an international effort, where people are invited to wear purple, and events are held around the world to raise epilepsy awareness and the much-needed services and research that patients deserve.
Thank you to the team working in Cardiff and Vale University Health Board for the support they provide to those living with epilepsy.