Wear It Red Day ignites national movement for chronic pain recognition, demanding voices be heard

Today marks the first ever national Wear It Red Day. An initiative of Painaustralia, the national peak advocacy body for those living with chronic pain, it sees community pharmacies across Australia adorned in red to show those who live with chronic pain that they are being recognised, listened to and heard.

Painaustralia CEO Giulia Jones said the purpose of the day is to send a strong message to the community and to our leaders that community pharmacies are essential to ensuring consumers get the proper pain management they deserve.

“People who live with chronic pain are everywhere and they often feel completely invisible. They are afraid to stand up and say they live with pain in case their pain is dismissed, or they are ignored by the people who should care,” she said.

“Chronic pain is a medical condition that affects 1 in 5 people over 25 living with chronic pain, so in every lunchroom, in every supermarket, on every bus and in most family homes someone lives with chronic pain. The most common reason for chronic pain is muscular skeletal conditions like arthritis and spine damage, but other diseases involved with chronic pain include endometriosis, Crohn’s disease, cancer, complex regional pain syndrome and many more.

“Like cancer and depression, chronic pain is an epidemic. Often though, people suffer in silence. Pain is often hidden because there is a huge stigma attached to it and people often worry that talking about their pain will see them loose friends and job opportunities. We want those who live with chronic pain to be seen and recognised in the community.

“Today, pharmacies all around Australia are dressed up in red balloons, posters and streamers to help us at Painaustralia launch the inaugural Wear It Red Day.”

Research shows that pain is perceived as a taboo topic. According to the Haleon Pain Index, 40% of Australians in pain say discussing their pain is taboo and they avoid drawing attention to it, whilst 37% say they are fearful of judgement from others if they discuss their pain openly.

“Pharmacists are often the first health professional that people in chronic pain go to as they are trusted, and people feel comfortable in approaching them. By taking part in the Wear It Red Day pharmacists are publicly displaying that they see, acknowledge and listen to those who are in pain and encourage patients to ask about multidisciplinary pain care,” Ms Jones said.

“We want to show people living with chronic pain that there is hope and that there is much health professionals like pharmacists can do to help them as they take steps to heal and live better despite their pain.

“We urge anyone in pain to go into your local pharmacy and talk to your local pharmacist about your pain and ways to manage it so that you can live a better life and are able to do the important day to day activities that mean so much to you.”

ANZ Head of Pain at Haleon, the makers of Panadol, Elena Pintado, said, “Panadol is proud to work together with Painaustralia and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia to bring pain out from the shadows and ensure people in pain are acknowledged, better understood, treated with compassion and have more opportunities to access the care and support they need”.

Ms Jones said Painaustralia would like to thank Panadol for their generous sponsorship of the day and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia for partnering with Painaustralia for the day.

“There is so much more that we can do for people who live with chronic pain, and we can start by making sure they realise they are heard, believed and that they know that there are health professionals who can help them.”

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