International PKU Day, celebrated every year on June 28th, serves as a powerful catalyst for raising global awareness about life with Phenylketonuria. Each year, the European Society for Phenylketonuria and Allied Disorders (ESPKU) focuses on a specific facet of the PKU experience. Throughout the month of June, we dedicate our efforts to shedding light on a chosen aspect of PKU, helping the world understand the daily realities, triumphs, and hurdles faced by patients and our community.
Living with a rare or chronic condition inevitably leaves a trace on a person’s mental well-being, and PKU is no exception. This year, we are placing these invisible struggles front and center. This year’s International PKU Day campaign ‘Traces of PKU’ is dedicated entirely to mental health.
In this year’s campaign, we are giving a platform to those who know the journey best: patients, their families, patient advocates, and dedicated leaders of PKU organizations. We are committed to exploring topics that have been overlooked or kept behind closed doors. We won’t shy away from bold statements or difficult truths; our goal is to speak openly about the issues that should no longer be met with silence.
We invite all patients, medical professionals, and industry partners to join us in this vital conversation. Please follow our social media channels and actively participate in the campaign. Your engagement is what gives this movement its strength. Whether it is reacting to a post, sharing your thoughts in the comments, or reposting our content to your own networks, your voice helps us erase the stigma and support the mental health of the PKU community.