Improving support by raising awareness: Learn about ME project
- Written by: Avril McLean — Action for M.E. — Projects and Participation Senior Practitioner
- Published: 16th July 2026
Avril McLean from Action from ME shares new resources designed to support professionals understand the impact of ME on people's lives.
Chronic Disease Awareness Day on the 10th of July asks us all to learn more about these challenging health conditions. Increased awareness of how people’s lives are impacted means we can offer better support. This awareness day asks that we educate ourselves and one way we are working to do this is through our Learn about ME project.
For this project, Action for ME and partners have produced a further podcast episode to help GPs, healthcare professionals and others feel more informed about this condition and others that can occur alongside it.
People with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Long Covid often struggle to get a diagnosis and support so these resources can help to improve their experiences. All our podcasts include the voice of lived experience as well as professionals sharing their knowledge. You can listen to the latest episode here
Dr Nina Muirhead has also updated the Learna continuing professional development (CPD) module on ME/CFS to include common comorbidities, available here.
The module offers ten clinical cases with questions to challenge clinical knowledge and patient management. It offers instant feedback and an opportunity to view further reading and a full explanation of answers to ensure that knowledge and understanding are in line with current guidelines on ME (NICE 206).
ME is a seriously disabling condition yet medical education on ME is lacking. For many people with ME in Scotland, this gap can have a negative impact. It can mean delayed diagnoses, harmful or inappropriate treatments, repeated experiences of stigma and disbelief, and not being warned about the risks of Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM).
About 25% of people with ME are severely or very severely affected. Many are house or bedbound, unable to tolerate light and sound, needing assistance with daily care and experiencing intense pain. Often, the most unwell are unable to secure the care and support they need.
This can lead to an extremely low quality of life for them and their families; the risk of suicide is six times higher than that for the general population for people with ME. In some cases, severe ME can be life-threatening. So, there is an urgent need for healthcare professionals to better understand how to safely support and treat people with ME.
You can find all the Learn about ME resources and other signposting here: https://www.actionforme.org.uk/resource/professional-development-for-me/. You can share this link with your GP or healthcare professional.
Action for ME services
Action for ME offers a range of services and support for people of all ages who have ME and those that support them. Anyone can call our Information and Support helpline.
People can email: infosupport@actionforme.org.uk or call 0117 927 9551 to access this service.
Our website offers information and resources on living with ME, you can access these here: https://www.actionforme.org.uk/supporting-you/what-is-me/.
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