Did you know that an estimated 14% of Canadians are affected by migraine? Out of that percentage, 1-2% live with chronic migraine, meaning they experience 15 or more days per month with migraine symptoms.
Affecting predominantly 15-18% of women and 6-8% of men in Canada, migraine is the leading cause of years lived with disability among Canadians aged 15 to 49.
Despite how widespread it is and how debilitating it can be, stigma and lack of awareness make getting help an uphill battle.
This June, for Migraine Awareness Month, Pfizer Canada has partnered with Migraine Canada to ask Canadians to repurpose their out-of-office alert for four hours — the minimum duration for an average migraine attack — to educate their peers about the impact of migraine and help destigmatize the disease in the workplace.
A person working at a laptop. vikarayu | Adobe Stock
What is migraine?
Migraine is an often mis- or undiagnosed neurological disease that is complex and frequently debilitating.
The term "migraine" has become almost synonymous with "a terrible headache" when that's only one of many symptoms of the condition. Though unique to each person, the most common symptoms of migraine include head pain, dizziness, tingling, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea and vomiting.
A busy office space with people working at laptops. Kirsten Davis/peopleimages.com | Adobe Stock
Overall, people living with migraine face a significantly impacted quality of life. While there is currently no cure for migraine, it can be effectively managed through accurate diagnosis, supportive care and treatment.
Migraine stigma in the workplace
Given the symptoms of migraine and their potential severity, working with the condition can be difficult or, often, impossible. Plus, migraine symptoms tend to peak between the ages of 30 and 40, when most people are working hard on their careers.
"I witness firsthand the profound challenges that patients face when managing this complex disease in the workplace, touching all aspects from professional relationships to daily functioning," said Dr. Elizabeth Leroux, Neurologist and Founder of Migraine Canada.
"People with migraine often work through their debilitating episodes, but patients and their peers alike require education and resources about the realities of migraine so those who suffer can manage accurate diagnosis and supportive care. This campaign marks a significant step forward in addressing an area of high unmet need."
Without support and understanding, Canadians with migraine can experience job insecurity, limited career opportunities and difficulty reaching their goals. In fact, 25% of people living with migraine report being disabled, and 36% had to take between 4 and 16 days off work yearly due to attacks.
A person looks out the window while working at a standing desk. Christina Morillo | Pexels
According to a study done in Canada on 28,000 employees and 16 health conditions, migraine came third for cost related to missed days at work, after back pain and mood disorders. Migraine was more costly than asthma, diabetes, cancer and arthritis.
However, the situation is largely misunderstood in workplaces, which leads to those impacted by migraine to frequently try and work while experiencing debilitating pain and symptoms.
Colleagues have a meeting at a table.fauxels | Pexels
By asking Canadians to turn on their out-of-office alerts for four hours in June, Migraine Canada wants Canadians to show support for their colleagues and help reduce the stigma around taking time off due to migraine.
Your out-of-office message can not only raise awareness of migraine (four hours is the minimum duration of an average migraine attack) but also share more information to improve understanding and support in your workplace.
What does Migraine Canada do?
Migraine Canada is a nationally recognized charity dedicated to supporting Canadians living with migraine in hopes of a future where everyone living with the disease has the support they need.
They run solely on a volunteer basis and travel the country, providing advocacy, awareness, education and research to improve quality of life for people with migraine.
Two people co-work in a park looking at a laptop. Keira Burton | Pexels
Migraine is a persistent disease that affects one billion people worldwide. Though the science around it is evolving, social contexts like the workplace still have a ways to go.
With this partnership, Migraine Canada and Pfizer Canada hope to help more people understand the disease and reduce the stigma around needing time off when experiencing migraine attacks.
So this June, turn on your out-of-office alerts for four hours, as frequently as you can, to improve awareness of migraine, support your colleagues affected by it, and build a more supportive and stigma-free workplace.
To learn more about migraine, visit Migraine Canada’s website or follow Migraine Canada on Facebook, Instagram, X or YouTube.
The information in this article is not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. Consult your health care provider before making any health care decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition.