Epilepsy learning course for education professionals
Our Training Manager, Nicola Milne, provides information on our epilepsy and learning course designed for education professionals to help keep a child or student who has epilepsy safe.
Scottish budget 2020-2021 key spending promises
Our Policy and Campaigns Officer, Rona Johnson looks at some of the key spending promises from the Scottish budget 2020-2021.
Saint Valentine, fact, fiction and epilepsy
Our Chief Executive, Lesslie Young looks at the association between epilepsy and St Valentine and 14 facts and fiction about epilepsy.
Writing a book to raise awareness of epilepsy
Read our interview with Georgina Peterson who has wrote a book about her personal experiences of living with epilepsy.
Issues important to women living with epilepsy
Our Helpline & Information Officer, Uschi Stickroth looks at issues, which are relevant and important to women living with epilepsy.
How Taekwondo helped increase my confidence
Nancy Ovenstone shares her experiences of growing up with epilepsy and how Taekwondo has helped increase her confidence.
Our new Epilepsy for Employers course
Our Training Manager, Nicola Milne provides information on our new Epilepsy for Employers course designed for managers, HR Personnel and people supporting someone with epilepsy in the workplace.
Neurological Care and Support in Scotland
In 2019, the Scottish Government consulted on Scotland’s first Neurological Action Plan. Several organisations and individuals, including Epilepsy Scotland, contributed to the consultation. This was done to ensure that any commitments made addressed issues that people with neurological conditions face.
My experience of growing up with epilepsy
Ashleigh was diagnosed with epilepsy when she was just 11 months old. Thanks to surgery, Ashleigh hasn’t had a seizure since March 2018. Below she shares her experiences growing up with epilepsy.
How businesses can support someone with epilepsy
Our Chief Executive, Lesslie Young looks at how businesses can help support someone with epilepsy to increase their chances of employment.
12 most common seizure triggers
Our Helpline & Information Officer, Uschi Stickroth looks at 12 common seizure triggers and how you can help control them.
My experiences of training with Epilepsy Scotland
Care and Support Worker, Maureen Smullen, shares her experiences of undergoing epilepsy awareness training with Epilepsy Scotland.
Epilepsy and methadone
The last policy blog post focussed on a new epilepsy register. It is currently being piloted in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Tayside. Epilepsy Scotland is very supportive of this register. We believe it will improve knowledge about epilepsy and drive better standards of care.
Make your business Epilepsy Friendly
Nicola Milne, Training Manager at Epilepsy Scotland looks at how our Epilepsy Friendly Award helps educate businesses and their employees to be more aware of epilepsy.
Complementary therapies and epilepsy
Bruce Shiell, Wellbeing Worker at Epilepsy Scotland looks at how complementary therapies in conjuction with anti-epileptic medication can have a positive impact on your wellbeing.
What to expect when you’re not expecting
Heather Morrow experienced constant feelings of self-doubt and felt that due to living with epilepsy, it would make her a bad mother. However, thanks to Epilepsy Scotland’s Wellbeing Service, Heather is now confident and looking forward to one day becoming a parent. Below she shares her experiences.
Can epilepsy register help understanding of epilepsy?
There are an estimated 55,000 people in Scotland with epilepsy. However, these are not exact figures. At the moment, NHS Scotland does not record the number of people who have epilepsy.
Issues important to men living with epilepsy
Our Helpline & Information Officer, Stuart Macgee looks at issues, which are relevant and important to men living with epilepsy.
My experience of living with epilepsy for 32 years
It has been great that people are sharing their experiences of living with epilepsy to help raise more awareness of the condition. This month, Andrew who has been living with epilepsy for 32 years, shares his epilepsy story.
Epilepsy and the justice system
Our Chief Executive, Lesslie Young explains the work Epilepsy Scotland is doing to help people working in the justice system understand epilepsy. Also, it’s impact and how some behaviour can be easily misinterpreted.
Trustees Week: Why I became a trustee
This week is Trustees’ Week and we felt it was a great opportunity to get to know our trustees and also why they joined Epilepsy Scotland. Below Kevin Roger who is the new chairperson of our board explains why he joined as a trustee.
Trustees Week: Why I became a trustee
This week is Trustees’ Week and we are sharing some stories of why our trustees joined Epilepsy Scotland. Below Lesley Carruthers shares her trustee story.
Identifying depression in young people
Bruce Shiell, Wellbeing Worker at Epilepsy Scotland looks at how being diagnosed with epilepsy can affect self-esteem for many children and how parents can identify signs of depression.
How jewellery can help with epilepsy and mental health
Inspired by her experiences of living with epilepsy and anxiety, jewellery designer Kim Tiong shares how she has created jewellery to help people with anxiety and depression.
Brexit update – Supply of medicines
Epilepsy Scotland, along with several other charities, met with the Scottish Government’s Principal Pharmaceutical Officer and Head of Medicines Policy earlier this year. This was to discuss the continued supply of medicines in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
65 years of Epilepsy Scotland
We are celebrating our 65th anniversary next month and our Chief Executive, Lesslie Young looks at 65 years of Epilepsy Scotland.
My experience of living with photosensitive epilepsy
We are looking for people to share their experiences of living with epilepsy and get people talking about epilepsy to help fight the stigma attached to the condition. This month, Jenni who has photosensitive epilepsy, describes her experiences and how she had her first seizure whilst on a plane going to Australia.
Epilepsy and sleep: Ways to get a good night’s rest
Our Helpline & Information Officer, Uschi Stickroth looks at a lack of sleep and how being tired is a common seizure trigger and ways to help improve your sleep.
Ways to help you stay healthy at work
Bruce Shiell, Wellbeing Worker at Epilepsy Scotland looks at ways to stay healthy at work.
Epilepsy Scotland’s National Conference
Following the success of our last conference in Edinburgh, we have decided to host an event in Glasgow, Saturday 2 November. The conference will focus on individualised methods to treating and managing epilepsy.
Epilepsy and memory: How to improve your memory
Stuart Macgee, Helpline & Information Officer at Epilepsy Scotland looks at epilepsy and memory and how you can improve your memory.
Artist Helen Butler shares her experiences of epilepsy
Artist Helen Butler will be exhibiting at Lifeworks19 art for Epilepsy Scotland exhibition next month. Here Helen shares her experience of being diagnosed with epilepsy at a young age and why she started to take up art.
Epilepsy Scotland’s Annual General Meeting
Our Chief Executive, Lesslie Young looks ahead to our Annual General Meeting on Saturday.
How to reduce stress and anxiety
Bruce Shiell, Wellbeing Worker at Epilepsy Scotland looks at ways to reduce stress and anxiety, which for some people may be a seizure trigger.
Raising awareness of SUDEP – Alana’s story
Hayley McGurk was diagnosed with epilepsy when she was just nine years old after having her first seizure in primary school. Unfortunately, when Hayley was 20 years old her seizures got worse and sadly, she passed away due to Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) in 2015.
Introducing our teachers guide
Uschi Stickroth, Helpline & Information Officer, at Epilepsy Scotland provides information on what to expect from our new teachers guide and how it can help teachers look after children living with epilepsy.
My experience of living with epilepsy
We are looking to encourage people to start talking about epilepsy and share their experiences. Each month, we will be sharing these on our website and on social media. This month, Shona shares her experiences of being diagnosed at a young age and how epilepsy has affected her.
Our Petition about Personal Independence Payment
For the past few months we have been campaigning about social security – specifically Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
Making your business Epilepsy Friendly
Our Chief Executive, Lesslie Young talks about our Epilepsy Friendly Award.
Coming to terms with a diagnosis of epilepsy
Bruce Shiell, Wellbeing Worker at Epilepsy Scotland looks at how you can come to terms with a diagnosis of epilepsy.
New guidelines for Buccal Midazolam
The Epilepsy Nurses Association (ESNA) has launched new best practice training guidelines for the administration of Buccal Midazolam for epilepsy patients.
Travelling abroad living with epilepsy
Stuart Macgee, Helpline & Information Officer at Epilepsy Scotland provides a few things people living with epilepsy should consider when travelling abroad.
Introducing our new Ayrshire Information Service
Our Chief Executive, Lesslie Young explains the exciting launch of our new Ayrshire Information Service.
Mental health for children living with epilepsy
Last week, we discussed the problem of mental health in children who have epilepsy. We noted the significantly higher rates of mental health problems in children with epilepsy and how it is currently under diagnosed and not recognised. NHS Lothian has developed and piloted an effective screening method.
The Scottish Budget – Mental Health
In December 2018, the Scottish Budget was announced. This decided Scottish Government spending for 2019/2020. We noticed that in the budget mental health received a significant amount of attention – something which we fully support.
Exciting times for Epilepsy Scotland
Our Chief Executive, Lesslie Young shares some of the exciting advances, achievements and developments within Epilepsy Scotland so far this year.
Why I decided to fundraise for Epilepsy Scotland
One of our fundraisers, Ben Smith explains why he started fundraising for Epilepsy Scotland.
Staying safe with epilepsy guide
Uschi Stickroth, Helpline & Information Officer at Epilepsy Scotland explains how our revised Staying safe with epilepsy guide can help identify and minimise possible risks.
Volunteer Focus: Kimberley Burns
Kimberley Burns has been volunteering with Epilepsy Scotland for the past couple of months and has been involved in helping out with collections and events. This week is National Volunteers Week and below Kimberley explains why she got involved with Epilepsy Scotland and why others should think about volunteering as well.
First Neurological Action Plan developed
The Scottish Government have developed the first Neurological Action Plan. This is a significant step forward in improving how people with neurological conditions are cared for. Also, after consulting people with neurological conditions, clinicians and third sector organisations, the Government came up with five aims and seventeen commitments.
