Evidence-based animated video series raises epilepsy awareness, dispels myths in Eastern Mediterranean region

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By Nancy Volkers, ILAE communications officer

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Volkers N. Evidence-based animated video series raises epilepsy awareness, dispels myths in Eastern Mediterranean region. Epigraph 2025; 27(1); 55-58.

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Kareem is teased in school for losing focus and “spacing out.” He’s eventually diagnosed with epilepsy but doesn’t always take his medication. His family, believing Kareem is possessed, visits a healer who performs an exorcism.

Kareem’s story is the subject of Minds of Light, a multipart animated video series developed to raise awareness about epilepsy and dispel myths and misconceptions. The series was created by medical students and other volunteers at Mansoura University in Egypt, led by Sally Mohamed Shaaban, faculty member at Mansoura University and Young Epilepsy Section representative on the executive board of ILAE-Eastern Mediterranean.

Raising epilepsy awareness—strategically

Sally is passionate about raising public awareness of epilepsy and overcoming stigma in the Eastern Mediterranean region. The video series “allows us to reach more people across the region at the least cost possible,” she said.

The team coalesced as a group of student volunteers, all members of Mansour University’s Community Service Committee. Rather than attempting to address every knowledge gap and myth related to epilepsy, the students conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify the most common gaps and misconceptions in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

“By integrating the research findings, we have successfully identified misconceptions and have a strategy for how to correct these misunderstandings and spread the right information,” Sally said. “And we wanted to fight against false information spread through social media. So we decided to create educational material that was concise, informative, relevant, and suitable for all ages.”

The information in the videos also aligns with epilepsy-related goals of the Intersectoral Global Action Plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders (IGAP).

Minds of Light: Behind the scenes

Sally was primarily responsible for writing the scripts; a group of artists and a director planned the scenes and created illustrations. Volunteer voice-over actors read the parts. The animation and editing groups brought each video together, with additional input for sound effects and music.

The all-volunteer team was filled with gifted artists, animators, and editors. “There are many talents hiding in white coats,” she said. “It’s a lot of work, especially as the team members are mostly medical students, so they are doing this while fulfilling their medical responsibilities. But all of them enjoyed it.”

Every detail of the videos was carefully considered. The topics were drawn from the systematic review and meta-analysis, as well as IGAP goals. The story follows a family as they experience diagnostic uncertainty, treatment issues, and stigma. The title, Minds of Light, “doesn’t just refer in Arabic to people with epilepsy, but also to our aim to enlighten people’s minds,” Sally said.

The videos are narrated by an animated purple ribbon named Nour.

“We wanted something unique, something that symbolizes epilepsy awareness,” Sally said. “Nour in Arabic means ‘light,’ and we are enlightening people. We use Nour as a narrator to deliver the message to people with epilepsy that you are not alone. Many advocates are working together to overcome epilepsy stigma.”

Research experience 

The completed videos are being tested in intervention studies to assess their effects on understanding of epilepsy and attitudes toward people with epilepsy. A pilot study, presented at the 15th European Epilepsy Congress in Rome in 2024, included results on 54 university students from six countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

Students completed a questionnaire before and after viewing the Minds of Light series. Their knowledge of epilepsy significantly increased in all areas. For example, before viewing the videos, 24% of students knew that epilepsy was a neurological condition, compared with 48% afterward (p=0.002). After watching the videos, students also were more likely to be accepting of people with epilepsy at work, as friends, or as their children’s friends (see chart).

The group has written up the initial systematic review and meta-analysis and submitted it for publication. “The students are getting research experience and publication experience,” Sally said.

National and regional impacts

The team has released three videos plus a trailer, which are available on YouTube through ILAE’s Young Epilepsy Section (YES) channel. The videos are recorded in Arabic with English subtitles; viewers can change closed-caption settings to see subtitles in more than 100 languages.

“The videos have had a great impact across the region and addressed most of the regional misconceptions around epilepsy,” Sally said. “Medical students have said they thought they were knowledgeable about epilepsy, but now realized they need to learn more about it. We have also started epilepsy awareness campaigns targeting non-professionals and non-medical students.”

In December 2024, the team facilitated a training workshop on epilepsy advocacy for interested students in the faculties of medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and dentistry at Mansoura University. The workshop was sponsored by the university’s Vice President of Education and Student Affairs and the Vice President of Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs.

The team also has joined a university-based initiative aimed at improving the lives of citizens across Egypt. “This will help us reach more people and provide new audiences for our campaigns,” Sally said.

In January, the Minds of Light team qualified for Egypt’s National University Youth Creativity Initiative competition, which was held in February. At the competition, the team relayed their messages about the importance of epilepsy awareness and counteracting stigma in the presence of representatives from Egyptian universities, the Minister of Higher Education, the Minister of Youth, and government officials. The results of the competition will be announced in April 2025.

Epilepsy – and beyond

The team remains enthusiastic about their mission. “They have shared the videos among family and friends. Many of their colleagues became interested in the project and joined the team to participate in our epilepsy advocacy campaigns. And I think they are willing to produce more videos and help other departments raise awareness for other diseases. They like the idea that they can help people and help society.”

Sally believes that health care professionals can play a unique role in epilepsy advocacy.

“We are trusted and respected figures,” she said. “I encourage my medical students and my colleagues to not only engage in epilepsy advocacy, delivering the messages at the hospital but also through social media platforms. We can help to raise awareness and reach many people.”

Resources

Links to each video: Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3