November 01, 2026
WHEREAS; Epilepsy Awareness Month is a nationwide effort to raise awareness about the epilepsy, seizures, and side effects, as well as to improve the lives of people affected by epilepsy through education, advocacy, research, and connection; and,
WHEREAS; epilepsy is defined by a tendency to experience seizures—sudden, abnormal bursts of electrical activity in the brain that can disrupt behavior, awareness, and bodily control; and,
WHEREAS; there are multiple types of seizures and they can look different in different people; and,
WHEREAS; epilepsy can also lead to challenges such as fatigue, memory difficulties, mood changes, anxiety, and trouble concentrating, all of which can significantly impact daily life; and,
WHEREAS; epilepsy is a spectrum disease comprised of many diagnoses, including a growing number of rare epilepsies that are increasingly being identified through their genetic links; and,
WHEREAS; epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder. Nearly 3.4 million people in the U.S. including 108,900 in Michigan live with active epilepsy; and,
WHEREAS; about half of adults with active epilepsy have annual family incomes of less than $25,000, and adults with epilepsy are more likely to report being unable to afford needed prescription medications. Children and adolescents with seizures are more likely to live in poverty and have food insecurity. Racial and ethnic minorities represent more than 40% of people living with epilepsy and face various disparities in obtaining appropriate diagnosis, care, and epilepsy mortality; and,
WHEREAS; an increasing number of people are diagnosed with rare epilepsies which are largely complex, severe, chronic, and even life-threatening, and collectively rare epilepsies account for a growing percentage of the epilepsy population; and,
WHEREAS; people with epilepsy need access to affordable, comprehensive, physician-directed, person-centered healthcare, and delays in accessing effective treatments increase the likelihood of breakthrough seizures and related complications including injury, disability, or even Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). Each year, it is thought that 1 in 1,000 people with epilepsy die from SUDEP and this number increases drastically to 1 out of 150 for people whose epilepsy is not controlled by treatment; and,
WHEREAS; many treatments are approved to treat seizures, 30 – 40% of people with epilepsy still live with uncontrolled seizures and the epilepsy-related medical costs associated with uncontrolled epilepsy are 2 to 10 times higher than those of controlled epilepsy; and,
WHEREAS; 21% of people with epilepsy have reported not being able to afford their prescription medication(s) in the last year; and,
WHEREAS; non-medical drivers of health, such as social, economic, and environmental conditions including housing, employment, food security, transportation, and education account for 80-90% of a person’s health outcomes; and,
WHEREAS; epilepsy and/or seizures impose an annual economic healthcare burden of $54 billion in the U.S.; and,
WHEREAS; 456,000 children live with epilepsy in the U.S. and students with epilepsy aged 6 – 17 years old have missed 11 or more days of school the past year on average and 336,000 kids have at least one seizure annually; and,
WHEREAS; protections exist in the Americans with Disabilities Act and related civil rights laws but people with epilepsy still encounter discrimination in areas including employment, education, and housing; and,
WHEREAS; we must increase public knowledge about the epilepsies and seizure first aid to change the way people think about the epilepsies and seizures, decrease stigma and improve outcomes because 25% of the general public say they would be nervous around a person with epilepsy;
NOW THEREFORE; I do hereby proclaim November 2026 as, "Epilepsy Awareness Month," to encourage Michigan residents to take action together so no one faces epilepsy alone.
