Our community blog page is a collective of stories, articles and important discussion topics put forth by the Headsup Concussion Advocacy Network. We are so grateful to have so many amazing advocates and writers who are passionate about sharing their experiences and perspectives of concussions. Our blog is an amazing lived experience resource that touches upon several different aspects of the concussion recovery experience. Each story will provide you with a unique perspective that may help people going through an brain injury of their own. Please feel free to leave comments on each blog post and give feedback on how the article may have helped you or stimulated curiosity in a new area. Happy reading!
Stephanie Cowle has spent nearly 15 years working in injury and trauma prevention. Stephanie is the Director of Knowledge Translation at Parachute, a national charity focused on preventing serious and fatal injuries through evidence-based solutions.
Read MoreKatie Mitchell is a clinician-scientist in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education at Wilfrid Laurier University. Her research interests involve factors that influence recovery of concussion in athletes. She is the founder of Thrive NeuroSport, providing clinical education and consulting.
Read MoreKim will highlight important research influencing AT practice and predictors of outcome and treatment protocols. Kim will share how ATs use a patient-centered approach with individualized assessment, including risk factor analysis, neurocognitive testing, thorough symptom evaluation and unique treatment protocols that come with the AT profession’s benefit of being point of injury first responders.
Read More“You are your greatest advocate. Give yourself the same advice, acceptance, and compassion you would give a teammate.”
Read MoreConcussion education should be a fundamental safeguard for everyone involved in sport, ensuring we recognize signs and symptoms, prioritize safety, and make informed choices. From the grassroots level to elite levels of play, I believe we all share a collective responsibility to protect the health of athletes and promote a culture of prevention and well-being in sport.
Read More“Concussion education is vital to promote early recognition, proper management, and safer environments in sports and daily life, ensuring better outcomes and supporting individuals' well-being.”
Read MoreIn November 2017, I sustained a concussion while doing an activity I loved, dancing. Ever since that day, my life has changed forever, and my passion has been concussion research, advocacy, treatment, and education. When I sustained my concussion, my family doctor told me I would recover in two weeks and to sit in a dark room with nothing to do. My concussion then took six years to recover. And now, I am here trying to make a difference so no one has to go through what I went through.
Read MoreWe are grateful to announce a community partnership with the Ontario Athletic Therapist Association (OATA) to provide them with concussion education and awareness resources as well as welcoming them to our growing network of researchers, community organizations, advocates and volunteers!
Our latest concussion docuseries “Recognize, Remove, Manage, Prevent” that we created in partnership with Peterborough Athletics Concussion Awareness (PACA) for ATs in Ontario.
Read MoreIn the #concussion space, we felt there was yet to be a concussion resource that appealed to the general publics consuming behaviours and learning style, and this fact is what ultimately led us to using the documentary (docuseries) method for this project.
Read MoreHello, my name is Clayre. I am 20 years old and I’ve decided to break out of my comfort zone and share my concussion journey publicly through HeadsupCAN to bring more awareness surrounding brain injury. I also hope that my story can help folks dealing with brain injury feel a little less alone.
Read MoreOver the last 3-5 years, there has been extensive change in the treatment and support of pediatric concussion. So, what does this mean for our children? How can teachers better support kids with concussions in returning to and succeeding in school?
In this episode of The Sharing Experiences With Concussions/TBI podcast, Ryan Sutton sits down with Stephanie McFarland, an Occupational Therapist at Holland Bloorview Concussion Clinic, to talk about how to effectively accommodate concussions in the classroom. As one of the leading experts in the field of pediatric concussion, Stephanie works with students every day to build strategies for their recovery.
We asked teachers and educators across Ontario to submit their questions and experiences regarding concussion support in the classroom. Listen in as Stephanie answers these questions while busting myths and highlighting her best tips and advice for educators on creating accommodations in the classroom.
Read MoreIn this episode of The Sharing Experiences With Concussions/TBI podcast, Libby Nicholaou, the Manager of Outreach Operations at LoveYourBrain, welcomes Krystal Merrells RD, Vijaya Kantipuly MSW, and Dr. Eric Guillemette to talk about recovery at home after a concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Listen in as they break down their special roles in the concussion/TBI recovery process, along with advice and insights on nutrition therapy for TBI patients, at-home concussion rehabilitation exercises and strategies, and the powerful benefits of online support groups for people recovering from brain injuries. You’ll also learn tips and tricks for creating a home environment that is conducive to the recovery process.
Read MoreIn this episode of The Sharing Experiences With Concussions/TBI podcast, Caron Gan, a Registered Psychotherapist and Marriage and Family Therapist, welcomes Anne Sanger, Stacey Campbell, and Madeline Roitman to talk about what life is like for families whose loved one has suffered from a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Listen in as they share stories and experiences of caring for their spouse, brother, and child who are recovering from brain injuries. They highlight their initial thoughts and feelings after the injuries, the most significant impacts the injury has had on them and their families, how existing healthcare systems can better prepare families for life after brain injury, and how roles, responsibilities, and communication dynamics have since changed.
Read MoreIn this episode of The Sharing Experiences With Concussions/TBI podcast, Simon Kardynal welcomes May Machoun, Ryan Carey, and Blair Hennessy to talk about brain injuries and head trauma in the military and veteran community.
Listen in as these veterans shed light on their experiences with concussion and TBI, the systemic healthcare problems veterans are facing in Canada, and how we can continue advocating for better treatment of veterans with TBI and improving TBI education throughout the military. Whether you’re a veteran, a medical professional, or a family member of a concussion survivor, you have the power to make a positive change, so let’s do this together!
Read MoreIn this episode of The Sharing Experiences With Concussions/TBI podcast, board-certified neuropsychologist Dr. Carolyn Lemsky welcomes Catherine Wiseman-Hakes, Katie Almond, and Meri Perra to talk about the intersection between brain injury and the criminal justice system.
Read MoreAre you aware that every three minutes, a traumatic brain injury occurs in the life of a Canadian citizen? This number equates to over 455 Canadians experiencing a traumatic brain injury daily each year, meaning that 165,000 people in Canada experience a traumatic brain injury every 365 days. Traumatic brain injury is prevalent in Canada at a rate 100 times more than that of spinal cord injury.
Thankfully, action is being taken by the Headsup Concussion Advocacy Network (HeadsupCAN) and the Ontario Brain Injury Association (OBIA) to combat these concerns. That is where the "Sharing Experiences with Concussion/TBI" podcast comes in!
Read MoreAmy provides a complete history of her experiences after sustaining multiple brain injuries and the impact it had on various aspects of her life. Throughout her story she explains the difficulties she faced during the unpredictable recovery process and how she was forced to navigate through this complex landscape as a result. Read this article to learn more about our newest Concussion Advocate!
Read MoreLogan shares her history with concussions in the hopes to provide more awareness and education towards this invisible injury! Read this article to learn more about our newest Concussion Advocate!
Read MoreIn this bonus episode of The Sharing Experiences with Concussions/TBI podcast, we bring all of the facilitators from the series together in a conversation to share their insights and perspectives on these invisible injuries.
Read MoreBecky Moran, Occupational Therapist with the Acquired Brain Injury Outpatient Team at Parkwood Institute facilitates this discussion about adapting to a new way of life following a concussion. Some of the topics this episode explores are the challenges of pacing oneself, relationships, and changes in identity.
Read More
