UK-wide charity Epilepsy Action is urging people across the South East to take time to find out more about epilepsy after a poll revealed that people with the condition don’t feel comfortable talking about it, for fear they will be discriminated against.

The charity surveyed almost 700 people with epilepsy to explore how they feel about talking to others about their epilepsy. More than 150,000 people are living with the condition in London and the South East.

Of those surveyed, one-in-five people with epilepsy (19 per cent) said they feel “uncomfortable” or “very uncomfortable” talking about their epilepsy with friends. One-in-seven people (14 per cent) even feel uncomfortable or very uncomfortable talking about their epilepsy with their family.

One-in-four sufferers feel uncomfortable talking to work colleagues. The top three reasons people gave for feeling uncomfortable talking about their condition were fear of discrimination (or being treated differently), concerns that people don’t understand epilepsy, and feeling embarrassed.

Respondents who are not seizure-free were more likely to indicate that they feel uncomfortable talking about their epilepsy, especially in a work setting. Worryingly, three quarters (75 per cent) of people who do not feel comfortable talking with their employer, and are not seizure free, said that they fear they will be discriminated against.

The findings come in the run up to Purple Day, the global awareness day for epilepsy, tomorrow (Saturday) which was created in 2008 by then nine-year-old Cassidy Megan, a Canadian girl living with epilepsy. She came up with the idea as a way to dispel the myths surrounding epilepsy and raise awareness positively.

The event sees purple-themed fundraisers taking place all over the UK, as well as several landmarks turning purple to mark the event.

Philip Lee, chief executive at Epilepsy Action, said: “It’s frustrating to hear that many people with epilepsy feel embarrassed talking about it, and worry that they will be discriminated against if they do.

“Epilepsy is certainly nothing to be embarrassed about and these findings highlight why days like Purple Day are so important to those living with epilepsy. The more we talk about epilepsy, the more we can challenge common misconceptions about it and offer the general public a clearer idea of what epilepsy is.

“We really hope Purple Day inspires people to share and talk about their epilepsy so that more people can begin to understand the condition.”

For more details about Purple Day and living with epilepsy, visit epilepsy.org.uk/purpleday or call the epilepsy helpline free on 0808 800 5050.