Every year around 2,000 people sustain a brain injury in Northern Ireland and many more are living with the long term effects of brain injury, which can sometimes be unseen.
This year’s Action for Brain Injury Week in Northern Ireland (16-22 May) has the theme, ‘See the hidden me’, giving survivors the chance to talk about how the hidden aspects of their brain injury has made life more challenging, and to help everyone better understand the impact.
Launching Action for Brain Injury Week 2022 are (from left): Elaine Armstrong, Cedar, Gerard Anderson, Child Brain Injury Trust, Ann Marie Fox, Department of Health, Melanie Bowden, Headway and Joe McVey, Brain Injury Matters.
A group of local charities supporting children and adults with acquired brain injury, Brain Injury Matters, The Cedar Foundation, Child Brain Injury Trust and Headway UK, are working in partnership with the Department of Health and Public Health Agency to raise awareness of what life is like for individuals and families living with brain injury.
As part of the awareness campaign a video has been produced, featuring survivors and their families talking about their experiences of the hidden impact of brain injury and what helps them in being supported.
The video will run across social media platforms and will form part of a range of local activities organised to mark ABI week, including the illumination of a number of local Council buildings across Northern Ireland.
If you would like any further information you can contact the ABI Working Group via Cedar (communications@cedar-foundation.org).
Watch the video below to hear from survivors and their families talking about their experiences of the hidden impact of brain injury and what helps them in being supported.