As part of Migraine Awareness Week 2025 which runs from 22nd September to 28th, the Migraine Trust Charity has published new research which shows that people with migraine are not taken seriously both in their personal lives as well as the workplace.
Additionally, the charity found a concerning lack of understanding about the condition among those without migraine, with over half thinking it was just ‘a bad headache’ and 66% thinking migraine is caused by ‘stress or anxiety’.
Migraine is a complex neurological condition characterised by migraine attacks. Symptoms can include headache, nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to lights, sounds or smells and fatigue. Up to one third of people also experience aura with migraine attacks, most commonly in the form of visual disturbances.
With 1 in 7 suffering from this debilitating condition, its vital to increase awareness amongst the public and in the workplace about the frequency, duration and types of symptoms that can affect those who experience migraines. This new research reveals that 15% of people with migraine have previously been forced to move from full-time to part-time work and 19% have had to leave a job entirely.
In addition, 65% of people with migraine felt that others often don’t believe them when they report their symptoms, while 77% said they felt people don’t take migraine seriously and joke about the condition. This negative perception of migraine among the public and employers means people with the condition are less likely to speak up.
I’m pleased to support the work of The Migraine Trust this Migraine Awareness Week to highlight how this condition is so much more than ‘just a headache’. More information can be found at https://migrainetrust.org/.
