Two free courses aimed at helping people and their loved ones understand the effects of brain injury or a neurological condition will take place in the New Year, run by charity Headway Suffolk.
The Understanding Brain Injury courses, run by Headway Suffolk’s multidisciplinary team, look at how the brain works, the impact of trauma on areas of the brain, practical strategies and tips to manage difficulties with memory, attention, function, communication, fatigue, anxiety and mood.
They are free to anyone with anyone with an acquired brain injury or a neurological condition but with a suggested donation of £5 to offset costs.
The courses run over a period of six weeks and cover topics: Introduction and Brain Injury Overview; Physical and Functional Impact of Brain Injury; Living with Fatigue; Emotional and Psychological Impact of Brain Injury; Cognition, Attention and Memory; and Effective Communication.
They also provide a valuable opportunity to meet others who are going through similar experiences for peer support.
Following completion of the programme, there is a day that is designed specifically for family and friends only, covering the topics outlined above.
The first course takes place in Ipswich on Monday mornings from 14 January – 18 February, between 10.30am – 12.30pm, at Headway Suffolk, Epsilon House, West Road, Ransomes Europark, Ipswich, IP3 9FJ.
The family and friends day takes place on Monday 25 February from 10am – 2pm, with a light lunch included.
The second course takes place in Bury St Edmunds on Tuesday mornings from 5 February – 12 March, between 10.30am – 12.30pm, at Headway Suffolk, St Georges House, Olding Road, Bury St Edmunds, IP32 6TF.
The family and friends day takes place on Tuesday 19 March from 10am – 2pm, with a light lunch included.
Places are limited and on a first come, first served basis. To book, telephone 01473 712225 or email: [email protected].
To read the full syllabus, visit the website: www.headwaysuffolk.org.uk/courses.
Go to the Facebook Event pages – Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds.
In Suffolk, there were 3,201 admissions (1,780 male, 1,421 female) to hospital with acquired brain injury in 2016-17. That is 8.7 admissions per day.
Of the total admissions, 1,318 were head injuries (789 male, 529 female), 1,215 stroke (657 male, 558 female) and 421 tumours (228 female, 193 male).
Headway Suffolk supports 250 adults a week who have an acquired brain injury or a neurological condition through an extensive range of rehabilitation, therapy and support services.