SUDEP Action Day

The Epilepsy Foundation SUDEP Institute is proud to partner with SUDEP Action in recognizing October 23rd as SUDEP Action Day — a day devoted to raising awareness about sudden unexpected death in epilepsy around the world and inspiring action to save lives. SUDEP Action Day was previously known as SUDEP Awareness Day.

What are the Goals of SUDEP Action Day?

• Encourage people with epilepsy to learn about SUDEP and their individual risk
• Show what is currently being done to tackle SUDEP
• Promote ways people can manage their epilepsy to reduce their risk
• Highlight the need for more research into SUDEP to help save lives
• Raise public awareness about SUDEP
• Honor the lives of those we have lost

2019 Theme: #5forEpilepsySafety

The SUDEP Institute and SUDEP Action is asking everyone to raise awareness with the hashtag #5forEpilepsySafety. There are five actions all supporters can take to make a difference. Whether you choose to do one or five of the actions below, you can help raise awareness and save lives.  

Share

• Change your Facebook or Twitter cover to support SUDEP Action Day.
• Post a picture on your social media of you holding the SUDEP Action Day logo. Don’t forget to include the hashtag #SUDEPActionDay2019 and #5ForEpilepsySafety.
• Read and share our SUDEP: Knowledge is Power flyer.
• Watch last year’s Facebook Live Event, “#Empowered to Talk about SUDEP” and share it.
• Use the hashtag #5forEpilepsySafety to ask questions and highlight challenges linked to SUDEP and epilepsy.
• Share posts on Facebook from SUDEP Action and Epilepsy Foundation. Retweet posts from @SUDEPAction and @EpilepsyFdn.

Ask

• Ask your school, college, university, business, or local groups to support SUDEP Action Day and talk about SUDEP.
• Bring materials to local events, like carnivals, community fairs, and sporting events.

Join the Fight

• If you are a health care provider, talk with your patients about their risk of SUDEP.
• Donate here to support the SUDEP Institute, care for bereaved families, advocacy for epilepsy-related death reporting, research into the causes and prevention of SUDEP, and education to help people living with epilepsy reduce their risks.

Talk

• Follow the SUDEP Institute Facebook Page to show your support for SUDEP Action Day.
• If you have lost someone to SUDEP or an epilepsy-related death, contribute to an epilepsy death registry.
• Are you a health care provider? Get resources and help for talking about SUDEP with your patients.

Write

• Sign up to be SUDEP Awareness Ambassador all year long by emailing sudep@efa.org.
• Commemorate your loved one by sharing their photo and name on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #SUDEPActionDay2019 and #InMemory or by creating a Remembrance Memorial.

Visit SUDEPActionDay.org to take #5forEpilepsySafety for:

• People with Epilepsy
• The Bereaved
• Organizations

Things You Can Do to Reduce Your SUDEP Risk

• SUDEP stands for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. Learn more in this SUDEP FAQ.
• SUDEP is linked to seizures; the best way to reduce your risk is to have as few seizures as possible. Find tips for managing epilepsy and seizures.
• Take your medication regularly and reliably to get better seizure control. Learn more about medication adherence.
• Speak to your doctor before making any changes to your medication.
• Make sure you have regular reviews. Find tips for talking with your health care team.
• Discuss any lifestyle changes, such as having a baby or going to university, with your doctor.
• Avoid excess alcohol consumption and using recreational drugs for better seizure control. Learn about preventing SUDEP.
• Tell your doctor if your seizures have changed.
• If your medication isn’t working, don’t settle for continued seizures. Ask your doctor what other options there might be, such as the ketogenic diet, surgery, or implanted neurostimulation devices. Learn about epilepsy treatments.
• The risk of SUDEP varies from person to person. Not everyone with epilepsy is at risk; it is important you discuss your risk with your medical team. Find tips for talking about SUDEP.

Learn More and Share These Videos

Past Campaigns

• 2018 Theme: #Act
• 2017 Theme: Why
• 2016 Theme: United Against SUDEP
• 2015 Theme: Are You SUDEP Savvy?