Epilepsy conference for young people

A one-day conference for young people with epilepsy will be hosted in Dublin this Saturday, September 26.
 
The Talking Heads conference, the first of its kind in Dublin, is specifically designed to meet the needs of people between the ages of 14 and 21 who have epilepsy. It will be hosted by Brainwave The Irish Epilepsy Association.
 
Epilepsy is the most common serious neurological condition, and research shows that between four and five out of every 1000 Irish people in this age range have epilepsy.
 
“The purpose of the conference is to give young people with epilepsy the opportunity to have their voices heard, listen to experts in the field and meet with their peers,” said event organiser Ina Murphy, community resource officer at Brainwave.
 
A number of expert speakers have been lined up to address specific areas of interest to young people including consultant neurologist, Dr Colin Doherty from St James’s hospital, and author and columnist Tony Bates, founding director of Headstrong.
 
Talking Heads will also feature a number of workshops, including Good Emotional Health, Girl Talk for young women and Guys Talk for young men.  These workshops will provide unique opportunities to discuss within an understanding environment the many questions, concerns and uncertainties that face young people with epilepsy.
 
Epilepsy specialist nurses will be present on the day to answer questions from participants, and a number of young people with epilepsy will share their own personal experience of living with epilepsy.
 
The conference will take place in the Croke Park Conference Centre. To book a place, call Brainwave The Irish Epilepsy Association at 01 4557500 or visit www.epilepsy.ie. The fee for the conference is €20 for Brainwave members €30 for non members. Under-16s must be accompanied by an adult. For more information on epilepsy and the services provided by Brainwave, see www.epilepsy.ie.
 
 

[Posted: Wed 23/09/2009]