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

2020 Theme: #SpeakUp2SaveLives

This year’s SUDEP Action Day theme, #SpeakUp2SaveLives, is your opportunity to talk about Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy with your healthcare provider and epilepsy community. Only by talking about SUDEP, what it is, and how to prevent it, can we reduce risk. Have honest conversations on, up to, and beyond October 23rd this year about SUDEP and risk prevention. 

Find out how to have the conversation with your medical professional with our brochure, SUDEP: Knowledge is Power.

• 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 #SUDEPActionDay2020 and #SpeakUp2SaveLives.
• Use the hashtag #SpeakUp2SaveLives to talk about how you are reducing your SUDEP risk. Learn how to reduce your risk. 
• Talk to your healthcare provider about SUDEP. Share how the conversation went with the campaign hashtags.
• Share posts on Facebook from SUDEP Action and Epilepsy Foundation. Retweet posts from @SUDEPAction and @EpilepsyFdn.

More Ways to Get Involved

• 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.
• If you are a health care provider, talk with your patients about their risk of SUDEP.
• 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 #SUDEPActionDay2020 and #InMemory or by creating a Remembrance Memorial.

Visit SUDEPActionDay.org to take #SpeakUp2SaveLives 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

• 2019: #Take5ForEpilepsySafety
• 2018 Theme: #Act
• 2017 Theme: Why
• 2016 Theme: United Against SUDEP
• 2015 Theme: Are You SUDEP Savvy?