This Migraine Action Day, every story matters.
Migraine is one of the world’s most prevalent neurological diseases, yet it remains widely misunderstood. Too often, it is dismissed as “just a headache,” leaving millions of people feeling unheard, underestimated, and invisible.
This 12 September, on Migraine Action Day, the International Migraine & Headache Alliance (IMHA) invites people living with migraine, patient organisations, healthcare professionals and advocates around the world to join This Is My Migraine—a global awareness campaign that gives a voice to the real experiences behind the disease.
Migraine affects everyone differently.
For some, it means living with constant uncertainty. For others, it means cancelling plans, missing work, avoiding bright lights, or being unable to enjoy precious moments with family and friends.
There is no single migraine story.
Behind every person living with migraine is a unique experience that deserves to be seen, understood and respected.
Through This Is My Migraine, we want to show the world that migraine is not defined by a symptom—it is defined by the lives it impacts.
Sharing stories that matter
Participants are encouraged to share a photo or selfie alongside their Migraine Level and complete the sentence:
“For me, migraine means…”
Each story will reveal a different reality, helping to break stereotypes and remind the public that migraine cannot be reduced to a single experience.
Together, these stories will create a global mosaic of voices united by one common goal: making migraine visible.
Know your migraine
As part of the campaign, participants are invited to use the Migraine Scoring System, a free communication tool developed by IMHA and validated by an international Scientific Committee.
Available in 15 languages, the Migraine Scoring System helps people identify their Migraine Level through four simple questions.
The tool is not intended to diagnose migraine or replace medical assessment. Instead, it is designed to support better communication between people living with migraine and their healthcare professionals by providing a simple way to describe how migraine affects their daily lives.
By understanding their Migraine Level, patients can begin more informed and meaningful conversations during medical consultations.
A global movement
Patient organisations from around the world are invited to take part by encouraging their communities to share their stories on social media using the campaign materials provided by IMHA.
The campaign toolkit includes:
- Social media templates for posts and stories
- Campaign graphics
- Migraine Level stickers and badges
- Suggested captions
- Campaign hashtags and communication guidelines
Together, these resources will help create a unified global campaign while allowing every individual to tell their own story.
Join us this Migraine Action Day
This 12 September, let’s replace misconceptions with understanding.
Let’s replace silence with stories.
Let’s replace “It’s just a headache” with the voices of millions of people living with migraine.
