IBE Youth Programme
The IBE Youth Programme aims to connect young people with epilepsy around the world, raise awareness of epilepsy, develop young epilepsy advocates and enable them to partner with those working across epilepsy research, healthcare and policy making.
If you’re a young person (18-35) living with epilepsy, there are lots of ways you can get involved in IBE’s work. For more information or to get involved, get in touch with Claire ([email protected])
Meet Our Global Youth Team
The Global Youth Team is a group of young epilepsy advocates (aged 18-35) from across the world who work together with IBE to plan and deliver IBE Youth Programme activities.
YEAH – Young Epilepsy Advocates Hub
The teenage years and early adulthood can be a traumatic and challenging time for many people. Peer pressure, the wish to be the same and yet different, changing hormones and developing bodies can all exert emotional influences. For young people with epilepsy, the desire to be the same as their peers- to be able to stay out late and party until dawn, to drink alcohol, to go on dates, to enjoy nightclubs with flashing lights, can bring extra stress.
YEAH (Young Epilepsy Advocates Hub) recognises the value of peer support at this challenging time in young people’s lives. Via a private Facebook Group, this project represents a safe online environment for young people with epilepsy to meet and discuss issues of relevance to them – not only those that might relate to epilepsy, but also their day to day activities and interests. The upper age-limit is 30 years.
Publications
Exploring Epilepsy and the Family
A Report from the Global Youth Team of the International Bureau for Epilepsy [IBE] on International Day of Families 2023.
For young people with epilepsy, the role of family is crucial to support their development and allow them to reach their true potential. Ahead of the UN International Day of Families, the IBE Global Youth Team asked their families about their experiences supporting loved ones with epilepsy. Youth Team members then produced a report outlining their findings and making some important recommendations for the epilepsy community and beyond.
We invite you to download this article and get in touch with your own work or research on this topic, or any experiences, comments or reflections on this work ([email protected]).