Telling people you have Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

For some people telling others that they have MS may be the first thing that they want to do, for others it will be the last. No two people will be the same, but it is important to remember that once you have told someone, you can't take it back.

It is also worth considering that some people will realise that there is something wrong, and it may not be a surprise to them to be told that you have been diagnosed with something, even if they wouldn't have realised that something is MS.

For some, talking about your diagnosis can be really helpful, both for you and for those around you.

We all have lots of different types of relationships – intimate, family (including children), friendships, work colleagues, employers, teachers/education. It is likely that your decision to tell different people will be different depending on your relationship with them, and there may be specific things to consider for different types of relationships.

The MS Society and MS Trust have good resources about telling people that you have MS and can be found here:

Telling people you have MS | MS Society

Telling people about your MS | MS Trust

Telling your partner

If you have a partner, their life will also be altered by your diagnosis of MS, and they may need advice or support.

The MS Society has more advice here: Telling your family | Multiple Sclerosis Society UK (mssociety.org.uk)

If your partner would like to discuss you and your MS with one of our team, we would be happy to arrange a phone or video call with them but would need your consent. A consultation can be done with or without you present. If this is something you and your partner would find beneficial, please request this by contacting the MS helpline on 0300 019 2363 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Telling your employer – disclosure

Our section on Work has excellent information and advice on disclosing your diagnosis to your employer. It is important to note that there are some areas of employment where there is a legal requirement to disclose that you have MS. More information can be found in Work.

The MS Society and MS Trust also have information regarding disclosure at work.

Talking to children about MS

Discussing MS with your children is a very personal thing and you are the best judge of when the right time to discuss your MS with your children may be.

It is useful to bear in mind that:

• Children pick up on things and may already be wondering if something is wrong and what is happening. On occasions, what they are thinking in their head may be worse than the reality, so it can sometimes be a relief when you talk to them about it
• Many children are very resilient and will take things in their stride more than some adults

Children will all react differently and will have their own unique concerns, fears, and questions about MS and when you start talking to them about MS these will need to be talked about.

There are some excellent resources to advise and help you talk to children and teenagers about MS.

These websites give good information:

Explaining MS to Children - Tips & Support | MS Society UK

Speaking with children and teenagers | MS Trust

There are also publications designed specifically for children from the MS Trust that you can download or order:

Talking with your kids about MS | MS Trust

Kids' guide to MS | MS Trust for 6-10 year olds

Young person's guide to MS | MS Trust for 10-16 year olds

For younger children the MS Society has videos that may be useful and can be found here:

Annie And Dan Talk About MS | Part 1 - Introducing MS | MS Society (youtube.com)

Annie And Dan Talk About MS | Part 2 - What happens in MS? | MS Society (youtube.com)

Annie And Dan Talk About MS | Part 3 - Having a relapse | MS Society (youtube.com)

An MS Service nurse/practitioner can also arrange to do a session with your child/children, if you think this would be useful. You can request this by contacting the MS helpline on 0300 019 2362 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Digesting Science Workshop for Children

What is Digesting Science?

Digesting Science is a set of activities to help children learn more about MS. It is aimed at 6–12-year-olds. Digesting Science.

Why would it benefit me?

It was developed by the 'Barts' MS research team at Queen Mary University in London, to help teach children about the science behind MS as well as enabling them to experience how some of the symptoms can affect their parents.

They realised that talking about MS at home could be daunting for both the parents and the children, so they came up with these 5 activities that enable people to learn about science in fun and interactive ways but also in small digestible chunks.

What does it cover?

Digesting Science covers the effect MS can have on vision, bladder function, walking, the mechanisms of action of disease modifying treatments, the potential importance of vitamin D supplementation, and risk factors of developing MS.

The courses are run sporadically in the year, dependant on volunteers and number of families interested. It is often an external organisation that runs them, usually the MS Society.

If you would like to register interest in you and your child/children attending a Digesting Science event, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Please include in the email:

• Your name and (if attending) partner's/other family member's name
• Telephone/email contact
• Child/children(s) name(s) and their date(s) of birth
• Confirmed consent for sharing the above information to the course coordinator for the purpose or organising the event and contacting you about it (this may to someone in an external organisation such as the MS Society)