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Victoria Spillane Chief Operating Officer Crohn\u2019s and Colitis Ireland<\/p>\nLiving with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is often very challenging, helping someone living with it can also be challenging as you navigate the unknown. We chat with Crohn\u2019s and Colitis Ireland to share ways you can support someone suffering with IBD. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s estimated that over 40,000 to 50,000 people in Ireland live with IBD which includes Crohn\u2019s disease and ulcerative colitis. Frequently affected are young adults aged between 15-35, however older people can receive diagnosis too. <\/p>\n
For those living with the condition, its often very challenging and difficult to navigate as the unpredictable and often painful nature of it means that invisible symptoms can disrupt daily life. While patients learn to adapt to and manage their condition, the support system around them is hugely important. <\/p>\n
Helping those living with IBD can be the difference between their quality of life. Ahead of World IBD Day on 19 May, Crohn\u2019s and Colitis Ireland wants to shine a light on the pivotal role that we all play in helping people to live well with IBD. <\/p>\n
Their new hands-on guide, It Takes a Village, has been published busting myths, advising on language to use, and to avoid, and offering guidance on how to be a great ally.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt Takes a Village to live with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). People with IBD simply can\u2019t do it alone,\u201d says Victoria Spillane, Chief Operating Officer, Crohn\u2019s and Colitis Ireland. <\/p>\n
Victoria Spillane Chief Operating Officer Crohn\u2019s and Colitis Ireland<\/p>\n
Here, Crohn\u2019s and Colitis Ireland share how best to support someone you know living with IBD. <\/p>\n
Learn the basics. <\/strong>Understanding what IBD actually is, is the first act of support. It\u2019s a lifelong, unpredictable condition that affects every area of life. When families, friends, teachers and employers understand symptoms like fatigue, urgency and pain, it immediately reduces stigma and isolation.<\/p>\n Offer flexibility. <\/strong>IBD doesn\u2019t run to a schedule and so people with IBD often need last-minute changes. This can be flexible work or school arrangements, unrestricted bathroom access, remote working, adjusted deadlines, or rest breaks. Flexibility is one of the simplest but most powerful ways communities can help.<\/p>\n Listen without judgment.<\/strong> Support isn\u2019t about having the answers; it\u2019s about believing the person and responding with compassion. Listen with empathy and avoid minimising language\u2014 \u201cbut you look fine!\u201d Respecting boundaries creates psychological safety and reduces the shame many people with IBD feel.<\/p>\n Make participation possible.<\/strong> Whether in schools, sports clubs or social settings, inclusion matters. Offer options. Allow people to step in or out without guilt or pressure. Make space for them to participate in a way that feels manageable, especially during flares.<\/p>\n Offer practical help. <\/strong>Small acts go a long way to making daily life easier. Helping with lifts, meals, errands, childcare, exam adjustments, shorter meetings, or honouring \u201cNo Wait\u201d bathroom cards. Being supportive in this way reduces overwhelm and allows people with IBD to conserve their limited energy.<\/p>\n\n
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