A new video was launched today to explain and demystify multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease that now affects more than 33,000 Australians.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease that attacks the central nervous system (the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves), MS Australia, the national advocacy group, states. It is the most common acquired chronic neurological disease affecting young adults, often diagnosed between the ages of 20 to 40. In Australia, three times more women have it than men. As yet, there is no cure.
More Australians have multiple sclerosis (MS) than ever before, and the rate of incidence is rapidly increasing: 33,335 Australians had MS in 2021, a 30 per cent increase (7,728 people) since 2017 (25,607).
MS Australia commissioned the video, What is MS?, to mark their fiftieth anniversary year. They hope the video will educate the public and people with MS, especially those newly diagnosed, about the causes, different types of MS, and common symptoms of the condition.
Rohan Greenland, MS Australia’s chief executive, said most Australians know that MS means multiple sclerosis, but do not understand what MS actually is.
“MS affects everyone differently,” Mr Greenland said. “People living with MS will sometimes be well one day, and then be quite unwell the next.
“So it’s really important for employers, for family, carers, and for others in the community to have a better understanding of how MS impacts people living with the condition.”
Associate Professor Des Graham, MS Australia’s president, has MS, and agrees that there is an inherent challenge in trying to explain to the public what MS is.
“The public see someone with no visible symptoms and naturally struggle to understand the challenges that individual is dealing with, or incorrectly assume there’s nothing wrong with them,” Professor Graham said.
That lack of understanding extends to areas of government support such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
“Too often, people living with MS are denied the disability support they require and deserve,” Professor Graham said. “If you’ve got MS and you’re in a wheelchair, government may provide the support that you require, but if your symptoms are less visible, you are too often left out in the cold.”
The video was made by Couch Creative, a Canberra communication agency. Director Mike Sarah said he relished the challenge to make the invisible visible, and to work on a valuable public health campaign.
His agency and SilverSun Pictures, a Canberra film production agency, worked with MS Australia to develop a video that balances technically accurate 3D modelling and live action video to show a real person in everyday scenarios, and to bring those symptoms and challenges to life, Mr Sarah said.
With MS on the rise, Mr Greenland believes the video raises awareness and reminds government they must urgently invest more in MS research.
The What is MS? video also contains a strong message of hope, Professor Graham thinks.
“For over 50 years, MS Australia has led the world in ground-breaking research to help improve the lives of Australians living with MS.
“MS Australia is now doubling its efforts to advocate for greater government investment in MS research that will bring us closer to treatments that will slow or stop disability progression for everyone,” Professor Graham said.
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