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Motion · S6M-04275 · 3 May 2022

ME Awareness Day 2022

Lodged by Emma Harper Standard Motion 34 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament notes that ME Awareness Day is 12 May 2022; notes that the date was chosen as it encompasses the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who was believed to have chronic fatigue syndrome; understands that ME, myalgic encephalomyelitis, which is commonly referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome and, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), shares characteristics with fibromyalgia, affects around 20,000 people in Scotland, and is defined by WHO as a neurological condition that can cause extreme tiredness and is often linked to depression, social isolation and loneliness; understands that ME affects each person differently, but that the main symptoms include post-exertional malaise, a period of intense exhaustion that lasts for more than 24 hours following exertion, chronic pain, sleep disturbance, as well as flu-like symptoms such as headache, sore throat, painful lymph nodes, dizziness, nausea and problems with memory and concentration; further understands that, while the causes of ME remain unclear, there is evidence that suggests that the condition is caused by a change in a person's immune system and the way in which it responds to infection or stress, and that ME shares some features of autoimmune illnesses, which are diseases in which the immune system attacks healthy tissues in the body, like in rheumatoid arthritis; understands that continued research is currently underway across the globe into the link between COVID-19 infection and ME, with researchers, including at the University of the West of Scotland, examining whether long COVID shares similar characteristics with ME, and thanks the charity, Action for ME, as well as local ME support groups, including the Dumfries and Galloway ME, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Support Group, for all that they do to support and lobby for the interests of people living with ME.

Supporters (34)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.