European Day on Pain Awareness
An annual European campaign by the European Pain Federation EFIC, dedicated to increasing understanding and awareness of chronic pain.
Marked every year on the third Wednesday of OctoberAbout the day
A shared moment to put chronic pain on the agenda
The first Global Day Against Pain was organised in 2004 by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) and the European Federation of the IASP Chapters (EFIC). The campaign was co-sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) with the aim of fostering a greater understanding of pain, reducing stigma, and advocating for comprehensive pain management policies. The idea originated from the collective efforts of pain management organisations and advocacy groups seeking to address the widespread impact of pain on individuals and societies globally. Over the years, it has evolved into a broader awareness campaign, marked by educational activities, public campaigns, and collaborative initiatives to improve the lives of people affected by pain, such as IASP's Global Year Campaign.
Starting in 2024, the European Pain Federation EFIC wishes to establish a 'European Day on Pain Awareness' dedicated to increasing understanding and awareness of chronic pain, a pervasive condition that affects millions of people worldwide. This day emphasises the significant impact chronic pain has on people's lives, often leading to physical, emotional, and economic burdens. The aim is to foster a supportive environment where people affected by chronic pain can find the resources, understanding, and care they need. Celebrated annually on the third Wednesday in October, the European Day on Pain Awareness brings together healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, people living with pain, and the general public through a collaborative campaign. This could be through events, including conferences, workshops, and public awareness campaigns. These events should be designed to inform the public, policymakers, and healthcare providers about the challenges faced by people living with chronic pain and the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to pain management. Through these efforts, the day aims to reduce the stigma associated with chronic pain, improve outcomes for people living with pain, and advocate for policy changes that prioritise effective pain management.
Prevention was identified as a key priority by the European Commission for this term's EU Health Policy Agenda. Given the critical role of preventive healthcare in managing chronic pain, EFIC has chosen to make it a central focus for this year's European Day on Pain Awareness theme.
Furthermore, it is also one of the main priorities for the Societal Impact of Pain (SIP) Platform in 2025. The Platform is drawing attention to the need for early and coordinated action to reduce the burden of pain across Europe. As part of this initiative, SIP will host its main annual event, "From Burden to Prevention: Reframing Chronic Pain in EU Health Policy," on 14 October 2025 at the European Parliament. The event will bring together policymakers, clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates to emphasise prevention as a key approach in tackling chronic pain. SIP will also present its new Position Statement on Preventive Healthcare, with the aim of influencing future EU strategies in health, employment, and research.
See the full 2025 campaignThe inaugural European Day on Pain Awareness focused on access to treatment, set against the scale of pain as a public health challenge across Europe.
- The Global Burden of Disease Study 2016 found that pain is the leading cause of disability and disease burden globally, particularly low back pain, osteoarthritis, neck pain, and migraine. The impact is even higher due to depression, cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.
- In Europe alone, almost 20% of the adult population reports having moderate or severe chronic pain. This means there are 150 million people in Europe experiencing chronic pain.
- Chronic pain has been linked to numerous physical and mental conditions and contributes to high healthcare costs, early retirement, and productivity loss.
Use all year round
Pain explainers and resources
Clear, accessible materials to introduce pain and pain management. A useful starting point for clinicians sharing introductory information with the people they care for, and for anyone marking the day.
Understand pain
Plain-language explainers on what pain is and how it is assessed.
Download and share
Ready-to-use visuals and infographics for clinics, events, and social media.
Take part
Mark the day with us
Host an event, share the resources, or connect the day to EFIC's wider advocacy work on pain across Europe. Materials in other languages are available on request from secretary@efic.org.