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Brainstreams > brain injury
HomeTag: brain injury

brain injury

GF Strong Virtual Workshop Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury

Join G.F. Strong Rehabilitation for this informative virtual workshop. Registration is required. If family members are attending on different devices, please ensure each person registers individually. The link for the actual meeting will be sent directly to registrations. Click here or on the poster to register. 

GF Strong Virtual workshop

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Acquired Brain Injury Included in the Minister of Health’s Mandate Letter

Government of BC logo 400x235We are very excited to report that acquired brain injury has been included in the BC Minister of Health’s mandate letter.

The inclusion of acquired brain injury (ABI) in the BC Minister of Health’s mandate letter is a significant milestone for several reasons:

  1. Recognition of ABI as a Public Health Priority
  • Mandate letters outline the government’s core priorities and signal areas of focus for a minister’s term. By including ABI, the government explicitly acknowledges it as a critical public health issue, elevating its importance alongside other pressing concerns.
  1. Policy and Funding Implications
  • Mandate letters often set the stage for policy development and […]
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Life is Like a Box of Chocolates by Debra Erickson

Box of ChocolatesWe’re all familiar with Forrest Gump’s words in the 1994 movie “Life is like a box of chocolates.”

I have purged my cupboards from all tempting holiday treats. Some boxes of chocolate still had a few pieces remaining but out they went, temptation removed!

As I hang my new calendar for 2025, I look at twelve clean pages, void of scribbles plans or deadlines. I cautiously lift the lid off the new year, peering at the months, wondering what each one will hold?

I’m not a believer in New Year’s Resolutions. For many of us dealing with chronic pain and cognitive impairment, just getting out of bed some days is a triumph! I […]

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A Case of Mistaken Identity by Debra Erickson

Blonde woman wearing a mask

I would have to say that nine times out of ten when I’m introduced to someone, they will say: “you look very familiar”.  This is always followed by: where do you work? Where do you live? Are you related to …etc. I tell people I’m a twin, which is true so they automatically assume they must have seen my twin – until I tell them it’s my brother and he is much larger than me! It can be challenging to describe who we really are. I suppose I could be someone’s doppelganger, but I prefer to be known for who I really am!

This month there will be […]

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Provincial Strategy for Brain Injury Support and Advocacy Needed Now by Janelle Breese Biagioni

This post is in rBC Consensus on Brain Injury, Mental Health, and Addictionsesponse to the recent announcement regarding involuntary care under the Mental Health Act. I want to acknowledge the thoughtful work that has gone into developing this important strategy, aimed at supporting individuals with complex mental health and addiction challenges, including those with acquired brain injuries. The goal of creating safer, healthier communities is one that we can all support.

However, it is crucial that the enforcement of involuntary care be reserved for only the most extreme circumstances. To truly address the challenges faced by individuals with brain injuries and concurrent disorders, we must find a balance between crisis response and preventative […]

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Let The Games Begin by Debra Erickson

Olympic Torch

On Friday, July 26, the world watched as the Olympic Games were officially opened in Paris, France. Two hundred and six countries are taking part. For the first time ever, the ceremonies took place outdoors. Ninety boats formed a parade down the Seine transporting 6,800 athletes over six kilometres of river.

It was indeed a grand beginning to the games. The exuberant mood of our Canadian athletes was wonderful to see. Not one person had yet entered into competition and that didn’t seem to matter. It was just the joy of taking part. It reminded me of what the spirit of the […]

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Mother’s Metamorphosis by Debra Erickson

Family wedding photoWe will take a moment this month to wish Happy Mother’s Day to the person who fills that role in our lives. It is a role that is always changing. We find ourselves flexing and stretching through the years to straddle the demands of home and work. Throw a Traumatic Brain Injury into the mix and all bets are off! 

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The Impact of Brain Injury on One’s Inner Calendar

head with puzzle pieces for the brain

Forgetting something here and there usually isn’t a problem. It happens to everyone.

Memory loss is often associated with aging. People say things like, “My memory isn’t what it use to be.” But what if you were in your 20s and as a result of a traumatic brain injury, your memory was significantly impacted.

Sheila Willis of Alberta, shares her story of traumatic brain injury and the challenges of her inner calendar shifting as a result. Although she was in her early 20s when she was injured, she did not receive a diagnosis of post-concussive syndrome until her late 40s.

Sheila Willis’ story highlights the challenges faced by individuals […]

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BC Royal Purple’s BrainLove Stitch & Glue Retreat

Join BC Royal Purple's BrainLove Stitch & Glue Retreat for crafting, friendship, and delicious meals. Proceeds to BC Brain Injury Association Prevention and Awareness.

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Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury – A Workshop for Family & Friends

Understanding TBI Workshop

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Purple Thursday – The Intersection of Intimate Partner Violence and Brain Injury

The Canadian royal Purple Society and the Saskatchewan Brain Injury Association proudly presents Purple Thursday, a symposium on the Intersection of Intimate Partner Violence and Brain Injury. 

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Moderate to Severe Brain Injury as a Chronic Condition

Brain Injury CanadaBrain Injury Canada issued a statement announcing the momentous collaboration with Canadian Traumatic Brain Injury Research Consortium (CTRC) to produce a position paper calling for the official classification of moderate to severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as a chronic condition in Canada.

This announcement represents a significant milestone in the recognition and proposed designation of moderate to severe TBI, an issue that affects Canadians of all ages. The condition primarily arises from motor vehicle collisions among the younger population and falls among the elderly, making it the leading cause of death and disability in children, youth, and adults under the age of 40.

The collaboration […]

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Survive-Strive-Thrive 2023

The Cridge Centre for the Family, BC Brain Injury Association, and Brainstreams are pleased to host the 2023 Survive-Strive-Thrive Conference. This event is for survivors, family members, caregivers, and anyone touched by brain injury.

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Music and Guitar aid in Brain Injury Survivor’s Recovery

Allan Boss, a CBC radio producer living in Alberta, credits music and guitar playing to aiding in his recovery following a brain injury.

Music has been found to have a variety of beneficial effects on brain injury recovery in several ways, including emotional and psychological support, cognitive stimulation, motor rehabilitation, speech and language recovery, mood enhancement and stress reduction, and social interaction and engagement.

Boss also credits ‘resilience and grit’ for his recovery. He states “I’m sure that music and guitar were a big part of why my brain healed as well as it did. As I’ve learned, music enhances neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to adapt and change due to training and experience. […]

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Voices of Brain Injury (VBI)

Head with sketch of brainVoices of Brain Injury (VBI) was founded during COVID-19 with the aim of bridging the gap between the general public and the brain injury community.

We conduct online interviews with brain injury survivors, healthcare workers, caregivers, and family members; VBI hopes to help raise awareness of the challenges that survivors face, while also giving individuals a platform to share their stories and inspire others.

Our team was grown to 25 volunteers from across the world, contributing by conducting interviews, writing research and informative posts, hosting webinars and various other projects.

To learn more about us, visit our site, Voices of Brain Injury. Follow @voicesofbraininjury on Instagram […]

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Survive-Strive-Thrive Conference – Save the Date!

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Technology for Living

Technology for Living “We work with people with disabilities.” 

Technology for Living (TFL) is dedicated to helping people in BC with limited movement, and physical disabilities reduce barriers to participation in their home and community.

Provincial Respiratory Outreach Program (PROP)

For over 20 years, PROP has supported individuals who require ventilatory assistance to move into and continue living independently in their communities. Our team of Respiratory Therapists provide equipment, supplies, education, and ongoing support both remotely and in the home, no matter where you are in BC. Our team of Biomeds keeps our equipment up-to-date, safe, and available for the over 700 members we serve across BC.

We have extensive experience facilitating transfers from hospitals, care facilities, and rehabilitation […]

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Blind Sighted by Anne Mok – TEDxSFU

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”

~ Helen Keller (1880 – 1968)

Anne Mok

Helen Keller, after becoming ill at the age of two, which resulted in her becoming deaf and blind, grew up to become a world-renown author, disability rights advocate, political activist, and lecturer. In an eerie similarity, at the tender age of three, Anne Mok began experiencing vision challenges and she too, has grown to become an amazing woman dedicated to creating change.

“I’m a digital storyteller seeking beauty with purpose and inspiration to the visually impaired community to make the view accessible.”

In her TEDxSFU talk, 

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    An Evening of Black & White – Because Gray Matters

    This charitable event promises an evening of good food and entertainment. All proceeds go towards supporting survivors of brain injury.

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    Call for More Research on Intimate Partner Violence and Brain Injury

    Domestic ViolenceResearchers are calling for more research on brain injury and domestic violence.

    Many will equate concussion with sports-related injury. But a concussion can be sustained from a punch to the face or someone’s head being hit repeatedly against the wall or the floor.

    Halina Haag, a social worker and PhD candidate in social work at Wilfrid Laurier University and Dr. Carmela Tartaglia, a neurologist with the Canadian Concussion Centre in Toronto, in a recent article, share the need to do more research on the impact of brain injury for women. For the Globe and Mail article, click on the link below.

    Article:

    Globe and Mail Intimate Partner Violence and […]

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    The British Columbia Brain Injury Association
    c/o Janelle Breese Biagioni
    PO Box 37091 MILLSTREAM PO
    Victoria, BC V9B 0E8

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