Mental health and wellbeing

Get top tips and coping strategies and hear from other young people with epilepsy about how they are supporting their mental health wellbeing.

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How are you feeling?

I am feeling

Living with epilepsy can be tough and can affect your mental health and wellbeing. As a young person with epilepsy, you may face challenges that your friends don’t have to deal with.

You’re juggling school, friends, family, growing up – and on top of that, you might be dealing with seizures, sticking to medication routines, hospital appointments, all while navigating everyday life. It’s a lot for anyone to handle.

Epilepsy can bring added stress and emotions, and you might notice it affecting your confidence, sleep, or how you feel about yourself. You might be worried about having a seizure in public, or you might be trying to protect the people around you from worrying about you.

If you’re struggling with your mental health and wellbeing, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. How you feel makes sense, and there’s lots of support out there to help you to feel better.

young woman with red hair looking at the camera

Watch this short film of young people discussing the impact of epilepsy on their mental health

Mental health is about your mind and emotions. It’s how you think, feel, and act. It’s also how you handle stress and make decisions. It can range from good mental health to mental health problems or disorders (like anxiety or depression).

Wellbeing is about your whole life, not just your mind. It includes your thoughts and feelings, your physical health (sleep, exercise, food), your relationships and your happiness and sense of purpose. Wellbeing is about your overall quality of life and how well you are doing in all areas.

Anxiety

Anxiety is common emotion that many people experience, from mild to more severe forms. And it’s ok to feel anxious, especially during times of stress.

Depression

Depression effects on average 1 in 6 people in the UK. If you have epilepsy this is 1 in 3. Everyone feels sad from time to time, but a constant low mood shouldn’t be ignored.

Isolation

Isolation is a word we may associate with being physically alone, but you can feel isolated in a room full of people. As a young person with epilepsy, isolation is a feeling you may know well.

Overwhelmed

Overwhelmed is an emotion that can cause physical strain during difficult times. It can make you feel like there’s not enough hours in the day, like you have too much to cope with.

Self-Worth

Self-worth is how you value yourself, it’s also easily bruised, because it can be the hardest thing to protect.

More information

Do you need mental health support?

Learn how young people with epilepsy can access mental health support, including where to find help and tips for starting the conversation.

Epilepsy and mental health wellbeing

The emotional, physical, and social impact of living with epilepsy, along with support and resources to improve quality of life.

Getting a good night's sleep

Discover helpful tips for improving sleep quality, especially for those with epilepsy, from bedtime routines to creating a sleep-friendly environment.

Asking me about my mental health

Tips from young people living with epilepsy about how to check in with them and their mental health, whether you're a friend or a professional supporting them.

A young man looks solemnly at his phone outside.

Are you struggling to cope?

For anyone struggling with their mental health, we have partnered with SHOUT, a FREE 24/7 confidential text service.

To start a conversation Text PURPLE to 85258

Find out more