Coronavirus & Brain Injury Resources
Social distancing and lock-down can be a mixed experience for survivors of acquired brain injury. On the one hand you are at home, in a predictable and familiar environment. There may be less expectations of you from others on the outside.
On the other hand, by having to stay home, you may have lost valuable face to face opportunities with local social groups, or lost the opportunity to engage in meaningful, purposeful activity such as work (voluntary or paid) or a leisure activity. If you live with others in your home, perhaps several people are feeling stressed at the same time and are struggling to live side by side with one another.
Sources of Support:
1. Contact your local sources of social support (e.g., a brain injury charity) to see if they are offering support now via phone or video-call.
2. The main UK Acquired Brain Injury Charities have both general information and helplines to assist you in this difficult time. I have listed the charity (with its helpline and website in brackets), plus the specific resources each has launched for coronavirus support.
The Brain Tumour Charity (0808 800 0004; https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/about-us/contact)
https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/media-centre/news/charity-news/coronavirus-and-brain-tumours/
Different Strokes (0345 130 7172; https://differentstrokes.co.uk/contact/)
https://differentstrokes.co.uk/how-coronavirus-can-affect-people-who-have-had-a-stroke/
Encephalitis Society (+44(0)1653 699599; https://www.encephalitis.info/support)
https://www.encephalitis.info/Blogs/coronavirus-and-encephalitis/Category/coronavirus-and-encephalitis
Headway (0808 800 2244; https://www.headway.org.uk/contact-us)
https://www.headway.org.uk/supporting-you/coronavirus/
https://www.headway.org.uk/about-brain-injury/individuals/brain-injury-and-me/kavitas-tips-for-self-isolation/
SameYou (https://www.sameyou.org/contact)
https://www.sameyou.org/covid-19-a-message-from-sameyou/
The Stroke Association (0303 3033 100; https://www.stroke.org.uk/finding-support/stroke-helpline)
https://www.stroke.org.uk/finding-support/information-coronavirus-stroke-survivors
UKABIF
https://ukabif.org.uk/page/Coronavirus
Specific Stories/Campaigns for Coronavirus and Brain Injury:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ken-rekowski-shawn-hill-jodi-graham-brain-injury-covid-19-1.5534642?fbclid=IwAR1_zOPNgL1-6smHAk9dQdPRCBiBo-KzrHiE9-eDS17b4u5r9KKJ2cjky0s
https://www.brainline.org/blog/getting-back-bike/social-distancing-isolation-survivors-perspective
If you are a young person (16-25) who has had a stroke and would like to receive regular peer support on the phone from other young stroke survivors, please access this scheme:
https://differentstrokes.co.uk/launching-our-teen-young-adult-befriending-service/?fbclid=IwAR2vaCLbQIF15R7hSZO7YyrDsrC4Zs4tLWAhKWlCiuJicqV8hJcW6gqmhnU
In addition, the following helpline resources may be helpful:
https://amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/mar/17/silver-linings-how-to-stay-positive-during-the-coronavirus-crisis?fbclid=IwAR2eVpvOFtCGTinpo3FfQhw0JHbnlsCCV4YEPeltV5nDRgtMGzDhAz7f0IY
The Samaritans (116 123; https://www.samaritans.org)
Domestic Violence Helplines (Refuge, Domestic Abuse Helpline)
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-abuse-how-to-get-help
On the other hand, by having to stay home, you may have lost valuable face to face opportunities with local social groups, or lost the opportunity to engage in meaningful, purposeful activity such as work (voluntary or paid) or a leisure activity. If you live with others in your home, perhaps several people are feeling stressed at the same time and are struggling to live side by side with one another.
Sources of Support:
1. Contact your local sources of social support (e.g., a brain injury charity) to see if they are offering support now via phone or video-call.
2. The main UK Acquired Brain Injury Charities have both general information and helplines to assist you in this difficult time. I have listed the charity (with its helpline and website in brackets), plus the specific resources each has launched for coronavirus support.
The Brain Tumour Charity (0808 800 0004; https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/about-us/contact)
https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/media-centre/news/charity-news/coronavirus-and-brain-tumours/
Different Strokes (0345 130 7172; https://differentstrokes.co.uk/contact/)
https://differentstrokes.co.uk/how-coronavirus-can-affect-people-who-have-had-a-stroke/
Encephalitis Society (+44(0)1653 699599; https://www.encephalitis.info/support)
https://www.encephalitis.info/Blogs/coronavirus-and-encephalitis/Category/coronavirus-and-encephalitis
Headway (0808 800 2244; https://www.headway.org.uk/contact-us)
https://www.headway.org.uk/supporting-you/coronavirus/
https://www.headway.org.uk/about-brain-injury/individuals/brain-injury-and-me/kavitas-tips-for-self-isolation/
SameYou (https://www.sameyou.org/contact)
https://www.sameyou.org/covid-19-a-message-from-sameyou/
The Stroke Association (0303 3033 100; https://www.stroke.org.uk/finding-support/stroke-helpline)
https://www.stroke.org.uk/finding-support/information-coronavirus-stroke-survivors
UKABIF
https://ukabif.org.uk/page/Coronavirus
Specific Stories/Campaigns for Coronavirus and Brain Injury:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ken-rekowski-shawn-hill-jodi-graham-brain-injury-covid-19-1.5534642?fbclid=IwAR1_zOPNgL1-6smHAk9dQdPRCBiBo-KzrHiE9-eDS17b4u5r9KKJ2cjky0s
https://www.brainline.org/blog/getting-back-bike/social-distancing-isolation-survivors-perspective
If you are a young person (16-25) who has had a stroke and would like to receive regular peer support on the phone from other young stroke survivors, please access this scheme:
https://differentstrokes.co.uk/launching-our-teen-young-adult-befriending-service/?fbclid=IwAR2vaCLbQIF15R7hSZO7YyrDsrC4Zs4tLWAhKWlCiuJicqV8hJcW6gqmhnU
In addition, the following helpline resources may be helpful:
https://amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/mar/17/silver-linings-how-to-stay-positive-during-the-coronavirus-crisis?fbclid=IwAR2eVpvOFtCGTinpo3FfQhw0JHbnlsCCV4YEPeltV5nDRgtMGzDhAz7f0IY
The Samaritans (116 123; https://www.samaritans.org)
Domestic Violence Helplines (Refuge, Domestic Abuse Helpline)
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-abuse-how-to-get-help