European Day on Pain Awareness 2025 – Preventive Healthcare for Chronic Pain
Each year, the European Day on Pain Awareness offers an important opportunity to recognise the impact of chronic pain on people’s lives and to highlight the need for better understanding, treatment, and prevention.
Background
The initiative has its roots in the Global Day Against Pain, first launched in 2004 by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) and the European Federation of IASP Chapters (now the European Pain Federation, EFIC). The campaign was co-sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and grew from the shared goal of pain management organisations worldwide: to raise awareness of the profound personal, social, and economic effects of pain.
Over time, this has evolved into a global movement for change — with awareness campaigns, educational activities, and collaboration between patients, healthcare professionals, and policymakers.
In 2024, EFIC established the European Day on Pain Awareness, held annually on the third Wednesday of October. The day brings together the pain community across Europe to promote greater understanding and support for those living with chronic pain.
Theme for 2025: Preventive Healthcare for Chronic Pain
Prevention has been identified as a key priority within the European Commission’s current EU Health Policy Agenda, reflecting a growing recognition that early intervention and coordinated care can significantly reduce the burden of chronic pain.
As part of this focus, EFIC and the Societal Impact of Pain (SIP) Platform are leading a Europe-wide conversation on prevention. SIP’s 2025 event — “From Burden to Prevention: Reframing Chronic Pain in EU Health Policy†— will take place on 14 October 2025 at the European Parliament. The event will gather policymakers, clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates to highlight how preventive healthcare can play a transformative role in pain management. As Chronic Pain Ireland and the Irish Pain Society are part of the SIP Irish Chapter we will be represented at this event where a new Position Statement on Preventive Healthcare, is being launched and is aiming to inform future EU strategies in health, employment, and research.
The Growing Burden of Pain
Chronic pain continues to be one of the most significant yet under-recognised public health challenges of our time.
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Almost 20% of adults in Europe experience moderate to severe chronic pain — that’s around 150 million people. In Ireland that figure is higher and is estimated to be up to 1 in 3 people.
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Pain is the most common reason people seek healthcare and a leading cause of disability and reduced quality of life.
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Despite its scale, research into pain management remains underfunded.
To address this, EFIC has developed a Pain Research Strategy for Europe, setting out research priorities and advocating for greater investment in understanding and managing pain.
Working Together
At Chronic Pain Ireland, we are proud to support initiatives like the European Day on Pain Awareness. These collective efforts help to reduce stigma, improve patient outcomes, and advocate for policies that recognise chronic pain as a major health issue requiring attention and resources.
We encourage our members, healthcare professionals, and community partners to take time this October to engage with the campaign and explore the resources provided by EFIC.
European Day on Pain Awareness 2025
Learn More and Access Resources
EFIC has developed a range of materials in support of this year’s theme which are available in English and other languages:
Resources now available
Feel free to use these to promote this year’s theme, spread awareness and draw further attention to this important campaign.
You can access these directly on EFIC’s website: Visit EFIC’s European Day on Pain Awareness 2025 Resources
