Monday, 6 May 2024

EUROPEAN ME ALLIANCE SURVEY AND REPORT a summary (part three)

Bonjour, 

This is the continuing summary of the European Alliance Survey and Report. You can find part one here and part two here 

This section is about 

SUPPORT FROM HEALTH CARE, WELFARE, SCHOOLS AND PERSONAL CONTACTs

  • answers differed across countries. ME/CFS patients generally felt that they received most support from family, other ME/CFS patients and patient organisations and least from the health care systems and social services 
  • men were more likely to have felt supported by families but also felt less supported by the welfare system, women found more support among other ME/CFS patients
  • Norway was the least dissatisfied by health care support but even then only 17% felt that they received good or very good support, 65% said that they received little or no support 
  • social services (childcare services/ social worker) had the least support with no country having more than 10% who felt that they received good or very good support
  • the workplace and schools/educational institutions were not seen to be supportive though large variations between countries
  • ME/CFS patients felt let down by public institutions like public healthcare, social and welfare services and schools and educational institutions 
  • in most countries more than half of patients felt that they received good or very good support from the family 
HEALTH CARE 
  • 94% had been in contact with their country's healthcare system, 74% had received little or no support, 12% reported good or very good support
SOCIAL SECURITY/ WELFARE 
  • among those who responded to the question about support from the social security(welfare) system 34% stated that they had received no support, 27% said that they had received little support, 3% felt that they had received good support
  • significant correlation was found between poor experiences and a deteriorated course of illness 
SOCIAL SERVICES 
  • about 65% had been in touch with the social services in their country, 66% said that they received no support, only 8% considered the support to be good or very good
WORKPLACE 
  • among the 60% that answered the question about support in the workplace, 42% stated that they received no support, 23% stated that they had received good or very good support
SCHOOL/EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
  • response came from 28% of adolescents and young adults, 45% said that they had received no support, 21% had received little support, good support in schools was 3% and 14% in universities 
FAMILY 
  • most answered this question, 60% stated that they received good or very good support from families, 25% had little or no support
FRIENDS 
  •  92% answered this question, in general the support is much lower than the family, 40% had little or no support, 34% felt that they had good support 
OTHER ME/CFS PATIENTS
  • about 70% had been in touch with other ME/CFS patients, 56% stated that they received good or very good support 
PATIENT ORGANISATIONS/CHARITIES
  • 71% answered this question, 42% stated that they had received good or very good support, 29% had received little or no support 

I hope this makes sense and helps you. There's still one more section to go! 


Au revoir
The French Femme
xxx

Friday, 3 May 2024

AWARENESS RAISING

Bonjour, 

We've now arrived in yet another M.E. awareness month. Year after year I've done so much to raise awareness and better understanding of M.E. (Maylgic Encephalomyelitis) and sacrificed my own health. 

BUT not so this year. I'm doing something completely different and something for me. In fact I'm going on holiday and staying with some special friends for the best part of a week. Yes it will be challenging. It's been so so long time since I've been on holiday and seen my friends. I feel that I deserve some time away and a change. 

I will still be sharing some of my poems via memories on social media from previous years but nothing new. All my poems and blogs are available to share from all social media sites. And of course feel free to share any of my blogs. I have blogs covering many subjects and going back over more then ten years. You can also buy any of my books of poetry. Any money raised from the sales of my books during the month of May will be donated to Invest in ME Research. 

The following are some of my blogs that I've previously written for May awareness. 

April 2014 M.E Groundhog Day 

May 2015 What are you doing in May? 

May 2015 Awareness raising all year round

May 2016 Crying 

May 2017 Awareness month 

April 2018 What are you doing in May? 

May 2018 Awareness raising all year

April 2019 31 Days in May 

May 2020 31 Days in May 2020

May 2020 M.E. Groundhog Day (again)

May 2021 More of life, love and loss 

May 2022 30th Anniversary of International May 12th Awareness Day 

May 2023 Looking back over my last ten years 

So as you can see I've tried to write a blog for May awareness every year since 2014. I think I need a break now! 

I would like to thank all those who have supported me and especially encouraged me over the years. There have been times when I've felt like giving up and felt under appreciated. However, if I help just a handful of people then all my sacrifices will have been worth it. 


Au revoir 
from The French Femme 
xxx