Proclamation draws attention to migraine, headache awareness

ASHEBORO — In an effort to raise awareness and promote understanding of migraine and headache disorders, Montana Hamlet, a local resident of Randolph County, successfully advocated for a proclamation recognizing June as Migraine and Headache Awareness Month in the City of Asheboro. 

The proclamation was officially issued by Mayor W. Joseph Trogdon Jr. on June 1, 2026. 

“I was born into a ‘migraine household’ as I like to call it, with parents and family members who experience migraine. My own migraine attacks began during adolescence, but I wasn’t diagnosed with migraine disease until early adulthood,” said Hamlet, remembering growing up with limited access to neurological care and headache disorder resources in her hometown of Asheboro.

“Migraine disease is a condition that not only brings me daily pain, but also disrupts work, relationships and my ability to show up every day.” 

The Migraine and Headache Awareness Month proclamation encourages local residents, healthcare providers and policymakers to recognize the significant impact of headache disorders and the need for increased research, improved treatment options and better access to care. 

There are an estimated 1.6 million people living with migraines in North Carolina, yet access to specialized care remains limited, with only 23 headache specialists serving the region. 

Hamlet’s efforts are part of a growing national movement led by The Headache Alliance and the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy to raise awareness and drive action. As part of this effort, the organizations are leading Flags for Headache, a large-scale public art and aware ness initiative taking place in Washington, DC and communities across the country. 

The installation features 30,000 purple flags, each representing 1,500 people living with migraine and headache disorders, making the scale of this invisible disease visible to the public and policy-makers alike. 

“In Asheboro, there are people quietly pushing through migraine every single day just to keep up. This proclamation is about recognizing that reality and making it clear that people deserve better care, better understanding and more good days,” said Julienne Verdi, Executive Director of The Headache Alliance and Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy.

The organizations are also advancing federal policy solutions, including the HEADACHE Act (Headache Education, Access, Diagnosis, and Care Health Equity Act), which would establish a coordinated national strategy to improve awareness, diagnosis, treatment and research for migraine and other headache disorders. 

Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is observed nationally each June and is dedicated to increasing public understanding, reducing stigma, and advancing meaningful change for people living with these disabling conditions. 

For more information about the proclamation and events supporting Headache and Migraine Awareness Month visit www.FlagsForHeadache.org.