Headway - the brain injury association

Nature is all around us through all the seasons, whether we are indoors or outdoors, at home or abroad, awake or asleep, aware or unaware of it. It is accessible, it is free, and did you know… it can be a form of therapy? Click through to read this article and discover... What is nature? How can nature help after brain injury? How can brain injury survivors connect with nature?

From Headway East London - watch The Magic of Chaos, a remarkable film by @KitVincent about #braininjury, community and new identities. The Magic of Chaos invites you into the magical world of Headway East London’s Hackney centre, a sanctuary for over 200 individuals living with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). ABI is a silent epidemic; every 90 seconds someone from the UK is admitted to hospital with a brain injury. The film follows the journeys of four Londoners and through their stories, opens up the often-hidden nature of acquired brain injury; the cataclysmic effect it has on loved ones and our relationships with them, navigating a world not adequately designed for many disabilities, and creating a new sense of self. Discover a place where the transformative power of art, music, food and above all community bring light to lives forever changed by brain injury. Watch it on https://buff.ly/3UJ3g5f #magicofchaos #headwayeastlondon

🏁 4 Days to go until I finish my 1,200km trek at Cardiff Castle. Today I’ve been walking through Llanelen and heading towards Cwmbran. It’s hard to believe the finish line at Cardiff Castle is so close now! Every step brings me closer to completing this challenge, and the support from all of you has been incredible. We’re almost there, but there’s still time to make a difference! Every donation counts and goes directly to Headway - the brain injury association who support thousands of brain injury survivors. 👉You can donate here or on my profile: https://lnkd.in/enD6zt67 What challenge?? I’ve been walking 1,200km across 4 nations: 📍Scotland ✅ 📍England ✅ 📍Ireland ✅ 📍Wales Why am I doing this? I want to show people that you can beat trauma, rebuild your life and achieve great things. I’m walking for everyone out there battling demons, living in darkness, suffering with trauma and feeling lost. Over 20 years ago, I was pronounced dead after a major accident. I spent 4 weeks in a coma, and was told I would never wake up… I’m here now 👋 After years of hating myself after my accident and living in depression, I pushed myself to face to face my demons. Rebuilding myself hasn’t been easy I’m still doing it and your support is everything! Let’s make these last few days count and finish strong together! 💪 #wales #mentalhealth #charitywalk #fitnesschallenge #charity #braininjuryawareness

Headway helpline "Whether it seemed like the daftest question in the world or the most serious of matters, Headway picked us up and guided us on our way. Nine years on, they still do." – Headway helpline caller We are open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, but you can leave an answerphone message anytime.

National insurance increases, NHS funding and welfare reforms: We go into further detail on last week's budget, outlining the most relevant announcements for brain injury survivors and their loved ones.

Headway charity shops sell a fantastic range of quality products at affordable prices. This helps us raise the money we need to continue our frontline services, like our freephone nurse-led helpline, to ensure we can be there for brain injury survivors and their families. Recycling your pre-loved items does much more than simply declutter your house. It also benefits the environment, supports local shoppers, and everything you donate and Gift Aid helps us to improve life after brain injury. Find your nearest Headway charity shop:

Carbon monoxide poisoning Every year, carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is responsible for approximately 4000 attendances at A&E departments and around 30 deaths. CO exposure can lead to anoxic brain injury. What is Carbon Monoxide (CO)? CO is a colourless and odourless gas, making its presence difficult to detect. It is formed when domestic fuels such as gas, coal, wood and charcoal are burned and by petrol engines. When fuel burns in an enclosed room, the oxygen in the room is gradually used up and replaced with carbon dioxide. If carbon dioxide builds up in the air, the fuel is prevented from burning fully and starts releasing carbon monoxide instead. How is Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning caused? CO is so dangerous because it binds very tightly to haemoglobin in the red blood cells and so reduces the amount of oxygen which can be carried in the bloodstream. Haemoglobin is the molecule in the blood that oxygen binds to in order to be carried around the body. The binding of CO to haemoglobin is actually more than 200 times stronger than for oxygen, so the CO effectively takes up all the space on the haemoglobin. In addition, CO interferes with the delivery of oxygen from haemoglobin into the body tissues. These effects severely reduce the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood and limit the availability of oxygen to the body, with the brain and heart being particularly vulnerable. This can lead to anoxic brain injury. Pregnant women and the foetus are particularly susceptible to the toxic effects of CO. Read more, including signs and symptoms to look out for:

Fireworks are a common symbol of celebration and can be impressive to watch. However, the flashing lights and loud noises can be a challenge for brain injury survivors to cope with, in addition to the crowds of people that come with organised displays. Remember, remember - to look after yourself and others - on the 5th of November.

Introducing your three nominees for this year's Alex Richardson Achiever of the Year Award, sponsored by Slater & Gordon: https://buff.ly/3YVU4Nr 🌟 Yokabet Mekuria from London: "I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to support those who have a brain injury, to keep doing what I’m doing for people with brain injuries and their families. I want to show how important Headway is.” 🌟 Ross Scott from Northern Ireland: "I hope my story reminds others that it can happen at any time. People need to take care, as it could easily be them.” 🌟 David Sinden from Wales: “My photography is an attempt to get my head around the extraordinary and life-changing experience I have been through, and as a tribute to all the other people I have met who have had similar experiences.” They'll be honoured at a glittering ceremony on 5th December at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House in Mayfair.

Driving after brain injury Although we may take it for granted, driving is a very complex activity requiring a number of cognitive and physical skills, as well as the ability to co-ordinate these. Any of these skills may be impaired after a brain injury. We've gathered all of the relevant information and helpful resources to help you: