Martin Whitfield MSP is supporting Migraine Awareness Week (23^rd-29^th September) to call attention to the serious impact that migraine has on people living with this condition and the need for better migraine care.

Released this week, research by The Migraine Trust has found high numbers of people with migraine report not being believed or taken seriously, including in employment and when accessing healthcare. Over half of respondents say their mental health has been significantly affected as a result of living with migraine and sadly a third had had thoughts of suicide.

90% of people with the condition believed that most people think migraine is just a bad headache. Migraine is a common condition, affecting around 10 million people in the UK. Symptoms of a migraine attack can include head pain, nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to lights, sounds or smells and fatigue. Around one-third of people will experience aura before an oncoming migraine attack, most commonly in the form of visual disturbances.

The Migraine Trust surveyed 2,028 people with the condition and found the impact of migraine goes far beyond the physical head pain often associated with it.

Key findings include:

• 89% of respondents with migraine said their mental health has been affected as a result of the condition, with 55% saying the impact is significant.
• As a result of their migraine, 80% participate less in social occasions, 59% have lost confidence and 48% feel isolated.
• Impact on work is significant. 49% say migraine has a negative impact on ability to work and 27% say it has caused significant financial difficulties.
• 34% said they have thoughts of suicide due to their migraine.
• Many expressed feelings of guilt from letting colleagues down, fear of losing their job or shared experiences of employers who have dismissed their condition or not provided adequate support.
• While pain has one of the greatest impacts on mental health, feeling guilty, worrying about the next attack and the unpredictable nature of attacks rank highly.

Despite so many people experiencing migraine, the condition is poorly understood. A key theme throughout the research was migraine being dismissed or invalidated, with many respondents referring to migraine being mischaracterised as ‘just a headache’.

When asked ‘how does migraine make you feel’, ‘anxious’ was the most common response (62%). Followed by ‘depressed’, ‘hopeless’, ‘lonely’ and ‘angry’.

Martin Whitfield MSP said:

“We are seeing a stark picture of the reality for many who live with migraine. It is far more than just a headache and not being taken seriously can have a significant impact on the lives of those with the condition. Many speak of social stigma, as well as poor understanding of migraine, and it’s clear that these are contributory factors to the wellbeing challenges faced by people living with migraine. It is essential that we change the perception of migraine and increase understanding about the true impact of living with the condition.”

Fiona, who lives with chronic migraine with brainstem aura, said:

“My migraine attacks come out of the blue, sometimes they last 3-5 days but often I am unwell for weeks or months at a time. Migraine has made me suicidal on three occasions. One time I remember sitting in my car knowing if I got out, I wouldn’t be safe. There’s the pain, losing

my job, dealing with the grief of losing the well you. I’ve been made to feel like a hypochondriac so many times. If I had had appropriate support, I think I would have cost the NHS and society less in terms of mental health fallout. If someone early on had told me ‘I believe you’, or ‘it’s not your fault’ I really think I could have averted my mental health crisis.”

A third of callers to The Migraine Trust’s helpline report a decline in mental health due to their migraine. The charity is highlighting the need for the condition to be taken seriously so that those living with it get the support and care they deserve.