Epilepsy is relatively common in Australia according to the World Health Organisation, but advocates say myths and misinformation are enduring. Young Australians are calling for more understanding of the impact of epilepsy on their lives beyond seizures.
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00:00DJing in sports used to fill Sebastian Johnston's social calendar until an unexpected seizure
00:08turned his life upside down.
00:10So I was home all the time being looked after by mum and dad.
00:15Social life takes a big hit as well, you get anxiety and you don't like talking about
00:21it to people.
00:22He's gone from just being a regular teenager out there living the life and having a great
00:27time going travelling, he went backpacking to having all of his liberties taken away.
00:32The WHO estimates about 50 million people worldwide live with epilepsy.
00:36Advocates say fear, myths and misinformation are still rife and this can negatively impact
00:41people's mental health.
00:42There's still this today, there's a real fear out there about seizures and culturally
00:48too there's a lot of beliefs, we have to respect different cultures.
00:51Sarah Ripper is an avid artist.
00:53Sort of mapping it out and then deciding triangles.
00:56She lives with epilepsy and says it affects every aspect of her life, but it's not all
01:01bad.
01:02Like what have I harvested that I maybe wouldn't have if I didn't go through these things?
01:07She wants to change how epilepsy is seen.
01:10We've arrived at, as a collective someone, acknowledging that neurodiversity has immense richness.
01:18Mr Johnston says living with epilepsy isn't a reason to stop living life to the fullest.
01:22Just grow with it, learn it and live with it.
01:26Advocating for greater understanding in the community.