FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday 5th February 2026
Acts of Love: How small acts of self-care can help people live well with chronic pain
New Valentine’s Day campaign from Chronic Pain Ireland and Societal Impact of Pain Ireland, highlights the role of self-care, education and compassion in living well with chronic pain.
- Acts of Love campaign reframes Valentine’s Day to focus on self-compassion, awareness and understanding of chronic pain
- The campaign links small acts of self-care to living well with chronic pain and reducing stigma
- A €5 pledge invites people to commit to an act of self-love while supporting vital chronic pain services
Dublin, Ireland — This Valentine’s Day, Chronic Pain Ireland (CPI) and Societal Impact of Pain(SIP) Ireland are inviting the public to rethink what love looks like through a new awareness and fundraising campaign, Acts of Love.
Rather than focusing on romantic gestures, Acts of Love uses direct, affirming messages to highlight everyday acts of self-care that are often discouraged or misunderstood — including “chill without earning it”, “say no without guilt”, “stop when I need to”, and “ask for help without shame”. These messages reflect behaviours that research shows are important for recovery from chronic pain and for living well with persistent pain, while challenging the stigma that often surrounds rest, boundaries, and support.
Chronic pain affects more than one in three adults in Ireland, yet it remains widely misunderstood and under-recognised. Many people living with chronic pain report not being believed, feeling pressure to “push through”, or struggling to access timely, appropriate support. Alongside its personal toll, chronic pain also has a significant societal impact, costing Ireland an estimated €5.34 billion annually, largely through reduced participation in work and daily life.
The campaign will reach people across Ireland through social media content on Instagram and Facebook, email newsletters to CPI supporters, and direct outreach to members. As part of the campaign, the public is invited to make a €5 pledge as a commitment to themselves to carry out one small act of self-love. This €5 donation through iDonate.ie will help sustain vital services including self-management workshops, educational webinars, a confidential helpline, and advocacy for people living with chronic pain.
Martina Phelan, Chair of Chronic Pain Ireland, said:
“People living with chronic pain often feel they must justify rest, explain their limits, or minimise their needs. Acts of Love challenges those beliefs. It encourages understanding, reduces stigma, and reminds people that caring for yourself is not a weakness — it is an essential part of living well with chronic pain.”
Professor Brian McGuire, University of Galway Professor of Clinical Psychology and representative of Societal Impact of Pain Ireland, said:
“Chronic pain is complex and often misunderstood, in part because it is invisible and does not behave in the ways people expect illness to behave. Research shows that effective pain care requires a multidisciplinary approach — one that goes beyond medication alone and includes education, psychological understanding, and early intervention. Campaigns like Acts of Love help translate that evidence into public understanding and highlight the need for health and social policies that reflect what we now know about pain.”
Through Acts of Love, Chronic Pain Ireland and Societal Impact of Pain Ireland are highlighting the role of understanding, education and compassion in helping people live well with chronic pain — and reinforcing the need for responses to pain, in healthcare and society, that reflect this evidence.
The Acts of Love campaign runs throughout February.
To learn more or to support the campaign, visit https://www.idonate.ie/event/ActsofLove
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For more information or to request interviews with members of Chronic Pain Ireland living with pain contact Chronic Pain Ireland on 01 8047567 or email info@chronicpain.ie
NOTES TO EDITORS
ABOUT CHRONIC PAIN IRELAND
Chronic Pain Ireland (CPI) is the national charity providing information, education and support to people living with chronic pain and their families. CPI advocates for greater awareness, improved care, and an inclusive society where people with chronic pain are believed, understood, and supported.
ABOUT SIP IRELAND
The Societal Impact of Pain (SIP) Ireland is a national multi-stakeholder platform working to reduce the personal, social and economic burden of pain in Ireland. SIP Ireland brings together patients, healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, regulators, advocacy groups and health system leaders in a collaborative coalition to improve pain care, cut costs, and support people in work and daily life.
SIP Ireland is part of the wider European Societal Impact of Pain initiative, which is jointly led by the European Pain Federation EFIC (the professional organisation for pain science, education and practice) and Pain Alliance Europe (PAE) (the umbrella NGO representing people with chronic pain across Europe). SIP national platforms, including SIP Ireland, translate these European-level objectives into national contexts – building awareness, informing policy, promoting best practice, and ensuring that the voices of people affected by pain are heard in decision-making.
SOURCES
- Raftery, M. N., et al. Chronic pain in the Republic of Ireland – prevalence, severity, disability and health care use: a population-based study. Pain, 2011.
- PRIME Study, National University of Ireland Galway.
- Societal Impact of Pain Ireland, based on national economic modelling and data presented at the European Pain Federation (EFIC) Congress 2022.
- European Pain Federation (EFIC): https://www.europeanpainfederation.eu
- Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME): https://www.healthdata.org/gbd
