The “Sharing Experiences with Concussion/TBI” Podcast Season 2 Premieres June 1st!
every 3 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.
In addition to this, there are 200,000 concussions that occur in Canada each year. Most of these concussions are a direct result of partaking in sports, but are one of the most complex sports injuries to diagnose and treat.
These statistics are cause for concern and are one of the main reasons why there is such a need for education and awareness on these injuries. 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!
What is the “Sharing Experiences with Concussion/TBI” Podcast?
Our podcast series is a collaborative multimedia project between the OBIA and HeadsupCAN. Our joint mission is to bring awareness to brain injuries such as concussions and traumatic brain injuries during Brain Injury Awareness Month in Canada. This effort is bursting with both passion and scientific evidence that aims to provide value to people with lived experience and professionals who work with people who may have sustained a brain injury.
Through experience-driven information, our multi-media podcast will increase brain injury awareness and decrease the social stigma that surrounds these injuries.
During Season One of "Sharing Experiences with Concussion/TBI" last June, our seven episode series rocketed to success. We were able to successfully compliment existing concussion resources using a podcast format, while facilitating conversations that provided a wealth of information that represented different perspectives.
Topics such as the diagnosis of brain injury, the importance of support systems, and what life looks like after experiencing a brain injury were discussed in Season One, amongst other important issues.
We are looking forward to discussing more of the details surrounding concussions and other brain injuries in Season Two as we build off of the success of last season.
The Start of Season Two
With great expectancy, we are excited to announce the start of Season Two of the “Sharing Experiences with Concussion/TBI” podcast and the five episodes that are going to air within this season.
The following titles will be part of the Season 2 listening experience:
Episode 1: Brain Injury and Justice
Episode 2: Concussion/TBI Within the Veteran Community
Episode 3: Impacts of Brain Injury on Family Members
Episode 4: Recovery at Home
Episode 5: Accommodating a Concussion in the Classroom
Below, we will expand upon each one of these topics and discuss the details of their release. Continue reading in order to find out more!
Listen to the Season 2 Trailer
Click the play button to listen to the podcast trailer!
Learn more about each episode
Episode 1: Brain Injury and Justice
In episode one, we will discuss the issues that those with brain injury face while navigating the justice system. Doctor Carolyn Lemsky will be with us to bring the professional side of the discussion to the table.
Episode one will be released on June 1st, 2022.
Episode 2: Concussion/TBI Within the Veteran Community
Concussion and traumatic brain injury in the veteran community in Canada are prevalent, and often this issue is disregarded. However, veterans who have experienced a brain injury are met with unique struggles that require specific solutions.
Featured in episode two, Simon Kardynal will present his thoughts surrounding brain injury among veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces. This conversation will explore the challenges these veterans face as a result of their brain injury, their medical discharge from the Armed Forces, and the stigma which surrounds brain injury in the military. These topics are often overlooked, and Kardynal brings a fresh perspective to bringing them awareness.
Episode two will be released on June 8th, 2022.
Episode 3: Impacts of Brain Injury on Family Members
While experiencing a brain injury is most difficult for the individual who suffers the injury, the family members of those who share the effects of this condition often face difficulties as well. Therefore, the hearts and minds of these loved ones need and deserve care as well.
In episode three, guest Caron Gan will guide a discussion with a group of family members who have loved ones who have experienced a brain injury. This episode will feature a mother, a sibling, and a wife of loved ones with brain injuries and allow them to shine a light on both their challenges and triumphs as they navigate the time following the brain injury that their loved ones experienced.
Episode three will be released on June 15th, 2022.
Episode 4: Recovery at Home
While a person with a brain injury will not be able to recover fully from home (as the beginning stages of their care will require professional intervention), they can take certain steps at home in order to improve their symptoms and help them to better care for themselves.
Libby Nicholaou of LoveYourBrain Yoga will come together with other professionals in the field in order to talk about the ways in which individuals who face the challenges accompanying a brain injury can support their recovery within their own home.
Combining a focus on nutrition, mindfulness, support groups, and specific physical activity, one can aid in their recovery from a brain injury and improve their symptoms from the comfort of home.
Episode four will be released on June 22nd, 2022.
Episode 5: Accommodating a Concussion in the Classroom
Students often face concussions, whether they are partaking in school sports or facing the consequences of a car crash. Rejoining the class presents unique challenges for both the afflicted student and the teacher in charge. For this reason, accommodating a concussion in the classroom can create many questions in the minds of teachers.
Executive Director of HeadsupCAN, Ryan Sutton, and Stephanie McFarland, Holland Bloorview’s Concussion Center’s Clinical Manager and Occupational Therapist, will conduct a detailed conversation together in episode five.
They will answer the questions from Ontario’s educators on the topic of accommodating a concussion in the classroom. The answers to these questions will lead to the betterment of the experiences of students and teachers alike who each have to navigate the complexities of accommodating a concussion in the classroom.
Episode five will be released on June 29th, 2022.
Season 2 Brief
Our hope and expectation is that by sharing the experiences of people with lived experience and professionals who are experts in the field of brain injury we will bring brain injury awareness to as many people as possible by representing diverse perspectives.
Not only that, but it will also begin to challenge the stigma surrounding brain injuries. In doing so, we can decrease the likelihood of brain injuries occurring and improve the treatment of those who have experienced them.
By doing this, we will be able to save lives, improve them, and create a safer and improved experience for everyone in the world.
Visit our podcast’s website today to find out more about our efforts in helping those who have experienced a brain injury. Every single person who listens to this podcast is another person who has the chance to live a better life. Your participation in this effort can be part of the solution. Join us now.
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A very informative conversation between 2 journalists that provide a unique perspective on the topic! https://t.co/vghMKGzAk9