PURPLE HOUR
Creating a space where teens with epilepsy feel seen, heard, and supported
Why Purple Hour Matters
Teens with epilepsy often feel lost in the crowd: 67% of the population don’t even know what to do if a peer has a seizure, and nearly half feel stigmatized. Over 60% want to talk to someone who understands them, yet most have no peer support. These stats aren’t just numbers. They reflect real struggles, real loneliness, and a real need for connection.
STIGMA AND ISOLATION
42% of youth with epilepsy reported stigma, and 65% reported stress due to low awareness in a public survey
PEER SUPPORT
A major NIH review found 62-64% of young epilepsy patients wanted to talk to peers with seizures.
MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS
A 2023 survey revealed that most had no peer support and believed having so would improve mental health, coping, self-management, and reduce loneliness.
VOICES FROM REAL TEENS
“I don’t know anyone with epilepsy…no one in my life will ever understand how I feel.”
“I wish I had friends 17-24 who I can just vent to about young adulthood and epilepsy.”
Join Us
Purple Hour exists to support teens with epilepsy through meaningful outreach and tangible care. Rather than traditional meetings, we focus on reaching teens directly through delivering care kits through hospital partnerships and connecting with individuals via Instagram to offer encouragement, understanding, and support.
By working with pediatric hospitals in Boston and Rhode Island, including Boston Children’s Hospital, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, and Baystate Pediatrics, Purple Hour provides thoughtfully assembled care kits meant to bring comfort during difficult moments. At its core, Purple Hour is about reminding teens with epilepsy that they are seen, supported, and never alone, even on the quiet days
Discover More
- When Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms Meet Seizures: Understanding the Overlap Between Epilepsy and OCD
- The Future of Epilepsy Treatment: Brain Stimulation Devices 101
- Ketogenic Diet vs. Modified Atkins: What’s the Difference for Epilepsy?
- The Science of Seizure Auras: What They Mean & Why They Happen
- Photosensitivity Explained: What’s Really Going On with Flashing Lights