My experience as president of my school’s Active Minds chapter and as a participant in the Active Minds Mental Health Advocacy Academy helped shape Purple Hour’s approach to supporting teens with epilepsy. It reinforced the importance of addressing the emotional and social challenges that can accompany a medical condition and inspired me to incorporate that support into our care kits.
What’s In A Care Kit?
1. Custom T-shirt
A Purple Hour shirt isn’t just merch; it’s a reminder that no one is alone in this journey.
2. Calming strips
Textured stickers provide sensory grounding, which can be especially useful before or after a seizure, when the nervous system may feel overwhelmed.
3. Stress balls
Stress balls promote muscle relaxation and stimulate blood flow, which can reduce cortisol (the stress hormone)
4. Infinity cube
The infinity cube provides calming, repetitive movement that can help reduce anxiety and improve focus by engaging both the hands and brain in a soothing, sensory way.
5. Coloring books
Coloring supports mindfulness and stress reduction by encouraging focused, present-moment creativity, helping slow down and regulate anxiety through structured art.
6. Pocket Hugs
Pocket hugs offer a small but meaningful sense of comfort and connection, serving as a physical reminder that support, care, and reassurance are always within reach.
7. Sensory Bands
Sensory bands provide calming stimulation that helps with managing stress, anxiety, and sensory overload; these are common seizure triggers for certain individuals.
8. Motivational Messages
Motivational cards give encouragement, emotional support, and positive reminders that can help pediatric epilepsy patients feel more confident, resilient, and less alone in their journey.
9. Virtual Meeting and Tutoring Flyers
One goal of Purple Hour is to grow it into a virtual community where teenagers with epilepsy meet once a month over Zoom and spend time together to build support and relationships. This poster is included in the kits to introduce this.
