Migraine Australia is launching a new awareness day for migraine, Burple Day, to be held on the first Friday in June.
Migraine Awareness Month is held in June each year. It is the major annual awareness activity of the global migraine community with over 35 countries conducting activities throughout the month. Migraine Australia, the only patient body supporting Australians living with migraine, has led the month of activities each year since bringing the event to the country in 2020.
In many parts of the world, there is a ‘wear it purple’ day for migraine on June 1 to start the month of awareness activities. However, as there was already a successful and important ‘Wear It Purple’ day for LGBTIQ+ young people in Australia, Migraine Australia previously skipped that part of the global program, focusing on ‘Shades for Migraine’ day on June 21.
Founder of Migraine Australia, Raphaella Kathryn (RK) Crosby, said that in the lead up to this year’s Migraine Awareness Month the team revisited whether they wanted to have a day of action early in the month to get people engaged, and whether we should have a burgundy or purple day for people to show their support.
“We already have a number of buildings and landmarks that will light up in burgundy or purple for Migraine Awareness Month, but wanted to extend that to something everyone could do.
“One thing led to another, quite literally in burgundy and purple getting smooshed together, and Burple Day was born.”
There are three Burple characters being introduced who will help draw attention to some of the facts about migraine.
“Bennie, Bindi and Billie are particularly keen to let people know there is no ‘s’ on the end of ‘migraine’, and migraine is not a headache.
“The ‘just a headache’ stigma is really challenging for our community, and often stops people with migraine from getting the care and support they need,” Dr Crosby said.
Migraine is a complex genetic neurological disorder that has a wide spectrum of presentations. Symptoms of migraine attacks are diverse, ranging from nausea, dizziness, and fatigue, through to stroke-like hemiplegia and significant gastrointestinal upset, as well as the common throbbing headache.
“1 in 5 Australians, or five million people, live with some form of migraine disorder, with working age women the most affected by frequent debilitating migraine attacks,” Dr Crosby said.
“It is hoped that the fun element of The Burples and Burple Day will help to raise awareness about migraine and break down the ‘just a headache’ stigma.
“We know that getting the government to take migraine seriously starts with the whole community understanding we aren’t talking about headaches,” she said.
All Australians can show their support for people with migraine by wearing burgundy and purple on Burple Day, Friday June 7, 2024.