Hundreds join Head Injury Information Day in Glasgow

Hundreds of people joined us at our Head Injury Information Day in Glasgow on Wednesday 16th May in support of those living with a brain injury.

Every year, Digby Brown Solicitors organise these events alongside the Brain Injury Network Group, an informal network of organisations who work with people with acquired brain injury.

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This is the eighth year Head Injury Information Day has taken place in Glasgow, helping bring together people with an acquired brain injury (ABI), their families and carers as well as professionals working in the field to strengthen knowledge and support.

At Digby Brown, we understand that head injury is a hidden condition and often people with a brain injury can be misunderstood. People can mistake slow and slurry speech as a person being drunk or a sudden burst of anger as aggressive behaviour. However, these can be symptoms of a brain injury.

Hearing from people living with a brain injury

Attendees often remark that one of the biggest benefits is being able to hear from others living with a brain injury. Fraser Howie, an ABI survivor, spoke alongside Dr Fraser Morrison, a consultant clinical psychologist at Alba psychology about overcoming addictive behaviours following a brain injury.

Fraser himself developed a gambling addiction and shared his experience of recognising the change and overcoming it. Read more about Fraser’s story: My brain injury made me a gambling addict.

Paul Pearson from Headway Glasgow also spoke about his experience of further education after sustaining an ABI. He is currently a student at the University of Glasgow.

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There were also powerful talks from brain injury support groups and Digby Brown Solicitors.

Providing support for children and siblings after a relative has a brain Injury
Jennifer Kane - Regional Child and Family Support Worker, Child Brain Injury Trust and Lauren O’Neill - Occupational Therapist, Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust

Sleep problems after head injury: causes, consequences and solutions 
Dr Andrew Harrison - Director/Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist, Case Management Services Ltd

Can technology help overcome mood problems?
Dr Brian O’Neill - Consultant in Neuropsychology and Rehabilitation, Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust

Work-related activities and benefits 
Jacqueline Lange - Welfare Rights Advisor, Digby Brown Solicitors

A brief introduction to mindfulness 
Dr Bridie O’Dowd - Integrative Care Doctor, NHS Centre for Integrative Care

The Carers (Scotland) Act and what it means for carers and patients 
Claire Cairns - Network Coordinator, Coalition of Carers in Scotland

If you would like to look at the presentations from the Glasgow event please visit the HiiD website.

Find out about brain injury support available

There were more than 30 organisations at the day to share information about their services and how they can support someone following a serious brain injury, including Headway Glasgow, BIEN Group, Child Brain Injury Trust, Caudwell Children, Compass BISL, The Prince’s Trust and the NHS.

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Next Head Injury Information Day in Edinburgh

Our next Head Injury Information Day is taking place in Edinburgh next week  on Wednesday 23rd May. You can find out more about our Head Injury Information Days here.