World IBD Day 2025: Voices, Visibility & Support from the miGut-Health Community

Each year on May 19, the global community comes together to recognise World IBD Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which affects over 10 million people worldwide.

Organised by the miGut-Health partner European Federation of Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis Associations, this year's World IBD Day focused on breaking down the stigma and taboos surrounding IBD, particularly the difficulties in discussing bowel movements. Open conversations are essential to improving patient well-being, influencing clinical practices and changing societal perceptions. By normalising the conversation, we can challenge outdated norms and promote a future where no one feels ashamed of their condition.

Advice for the Newly Diagnosed
To mark the day, we dedicated our social media channels to share advice from members of the IBD community. Hopefully, these messages will offer guidance and help those newly diagnosed.

Here are the messages we shared:

These quotes, drawn from our ongoing “Voices of IBD” series, aim to remind patients that they are not alone, and that their lived experience is valuable, valid, and essential in shaping research, care, and public understanding.

You can explore more voices here: Voices from the IBD Community

Turning Purple for IBD
World IBD Day is also symbolised by the purple colour, a signal of visibility, solidarity, and awareness. Across Europe and beyond, our miGut-Health partners marked the day with creative acts of support:

• The purple lighting of buildings and landmarks
• Partners wearing purple ribbons and sharing solidarity messages
• Publishing a song about IBD: Kiel is joining the global World IBD Day 2025
• Photos and stories posted across social media under the hashtags #WorldIBDDay2025, #IBDHasNoBorders, and #BreakingTaboos

We are proud to be a part of a network that not only advances scientific discovery but also makes space for empathy and community.

To everyone who participated, shared a story, wore purple, or simply took a moment to learn — thank you.

Together, we can reduce stigma, raise awareness, and accelerate progress toward a future where IBD is understood, manageable, and ultimately preventable.

EURICE team photo

Kiel University

Kiel University

Kiel University

RISE team photo

Kiel University

LSMU Hospital building