Children suffering with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) miss nearly 23 days of school due to illness01 July 2025 JIA Awareness Week 2025 – 7th – 15th July A 2022 report by the British Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology (BSPAR) highlighted that children with JIA face disrupted education due to medical appointments, flare-ups, and fatigue. Some experience long-term absences. Without awareness, schools may not make appropriate accommodations, potentially impacting educational outcomes and social development. This year, JIA Awareness Week is taking place between 7th-11th July. The campaign will be focusing on short educational videos covering various aspects of this condition, in hopes of raising awareness for all those living with JIA and AJIA (Adult Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis). Did you know that over 10,000 children under 16 in the UK live with JIA (juvenile idiopathic arthritis)? JIA is a type of inflammatory arthritis that affects the joints and organs and can significantly impact a young person’s mobility, sometimes leaving them reliant on a wheelchair. Facts on JIA and diagnosis Over 40% of children with JIA report significant pain despite medication. Despite advances in treatment, pain remains a major daily issue for many children with JIA. This statistic reflects the persistent physical burden and the need for more holistic approaches to care. Raising awareness can help promote the need for multi-disciplinary care that includes physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and psychological support, in addition to medication. JIA symptoms are not always recognised, which can lead to delays in referrals to specialists. Up to 40% of young people with JIA experience mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Research indicates that the chronic pain, fatigue, social isolation, and medical burden of JIA contribute significantly to poor mental health outcomes among affected children and adolescents as well as the carers impacted by the condition. Raising awareness can help build more compassionate school environments, reduce stigma, and ensure integrated mental health support is offered alongside physical treatments. A focus on the healthcare of children means that other aspects such as mental health, wellbeing and education are not always addressed. (source NCEPOD.org.uk and JointCare) “We all know education is so important, and with attendance being a hot topic recently, the fact that children are missing school with this condition cannot be ignored. The more awareness raised about this condition, the better it can be managed at home and school. JIA at NRAS has the resources that people desperately need, and this week is all about our free publications that can help so many” Stuart Munday, NRAS Chief Operating Officer Andy’s Story Andy and Vicki Richards knew something was wrong with their daughter, Maria, when she was just two years old. However, it took eight months from the onset of symptoms for her to be diagnosed with JIA. “Her walking looked off – she wasn’t moving her knee and ankle joints properly. Vicki took her to the GP multiple times, but we were repeatedly told there was nothing to worry about. The biggest battle was getting someone to listen.” At JIA-at-NRAS we want people to be aware of JIA and affect it can have on young people and their daily lives. The length of time between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis means many families are not receiving the specialist care they desperately need. This is why JIA Awareness week is so important to raise awareness of this hidden, often misunderstood disease. Contact Information eleanor@nras.org.uk 01628 823 524 https://jia.org.uk/ Notes to Editors: Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) means there is inflammation in a child’s joints that isn’t caused by any other condition. It refers to a number of different types of arthritis that occur under the age of 16. JIA-at-NRAS is a part of the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS). We design, coordinate, fund and deliver a comprehensive and wide range of high quality products and services for all affected by RA and JIA. The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) is the only patient-led organisation in the UK specialising in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).