Turning the world purple for epilepsy awareness — a global grassroots movement started by a nine-year-old girl who wanted no one to feel alone.
Purple Day is a global grassroots event held annually on March 26. Unlike many other awareness days, Purple Day was started by a child — not an organisation or government — to help other children and adults feel less alone.
In 2008, Cassidy Megan, a nine-year-old girl from Nova Scotia, Canada, created Purple Day to get people talking about epilepsy, dispel myths, and let those living with seizures know they are not alone in their journey.
Her message resonated around the world. Today, millions of people in countries across every continent wear purple on March 26 in solidarity with the epilepsy community.
Age 9 when she started the movement. A child with her own epilepsy, she wanted to replace isolation with understanding.
To support the epilepsy community, we must first understand what is happening in the brain.
The brain works via organised electrical signals passing between nerve cells. This constant, coordinated communication is what controls everything we think, feel, and do.
A seizure happens when a group of nerve cells discharges in an unusual, sudden burst of energy — disrupting the brain's normal communication and causing temporary changes in movement, sensation, behaviour, or consciousness.
Over 50 million people worldwide live with epilepsy, making it the fourth most common neurological disorder — after migraines, strokes, and Alzheimer's disease. It affects people of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds.
It is a common mistake to think all seizures involve falling and shaking. There are actually over 40 different types.
These affect both sides of the brain at once and usually cause a loss of consciousness. They are the type most people picture — but represent just one of many kinds.
These start in just one part of the brain. The person might remain awake but experience unusual sensations, confusion, or "staring spells" — often mistaken for daydreaming or inattention.
Some people only have seizures while asleep. They may wake with unexplained injuries, a bitten tongue, or a severe headache — with no memory of the event.
Purple Day encourages everyone to learn the Stay, Safe, Side protocol — three simple steps that can make a real difference.
Stay with the person and stay calm. Look at your watch to time the seizure. Your calm presence is the most important thing you can offer.
Keep them safe by moving hard or sharp objects out of the way. Cushion their head with something soft — a folded jacket, a bag, your hands.
Once the shaking stops, if they are not awake, gently turn them onto their side. This helps them breathe and prevents choking.
Triggers are events that make a seizure more likely to happen. Identifying them can help people with epilepsy manage their condition more effectively.
Being overtired is one of the most common and powerful triggers for seizures.
High anxiety and emotional stress can provoke unusual electrical activity in the brain.
Forgetting even a single dose of anti-seizure medication is a very common trigger.
A high temperature can lower the "seizure threshold" — the point at which a seizure occurs.
Affects approximately 3% of people with epilepsy (photosensitive epilepsy) — from strobes, screens, and sunlight patterns.
Keep a seizure diary to identify the specific warning signs and triggers unique to each individual.
Sensitisation means replacing fear with facts. Every myth we bust is a wall we break down between people and the help they deserve.
| ❌ The Myth | ✅ The Fact |
|---|---|
| Seizures are caused by "spirits" or bad luck. | Epilepsy is a medical condition caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain — fully explainable by science and highly treatable. |
| You should force a person's mouth open during a seizure. | Never put anything in the mouth. A person cannot swallow their tongue. Forcing the mouth open can break teeth or fracture the jaw. |
| People with epilepsy cannot work, study, or live full lives. | With proper treatment, 70% of people with epilepsy can become seizure-free and lead fully independent, productive, and fulfilling lives. |
Purple Day is a grassroots effort — it grows when you take action. Here are four meaningful ways to join the movement.
Show your support by wearing purple clothing, accessories, or a purple ribbon on March 26. A simple gesture that starts countless conversations.
Share "Seizure First Aid" posters in your school, office, community hall, or on social media. Knowledge shared is lives potentially saved.
Organise a bake sale with purple treats, a "purple dress-up day," or a fundraiser to raise money for epilepsy research and support organisations.
Commit to learning one new fact about epilepsy, or train your team in the SSS First Aid protocol. Knowledge is the best medicine for stigma.
At Swayamkrushi, we understand deeply what it means to live with a condition that others misunderstand. We have spent over 30 years working to replace stigma with dignity, isolation with community, and silence with education.
On Purple Day, we stand proudly alongside the global epilepsy community — wearing purple, sharing knowledge, and affirming that no one should face a neurological condition alone.