Finding Healing and Purpose in Brain Injury Awareness

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. For many, this month is an opportunity to share with others, including family, friends, professionals, and legislators, about the impact of brain injury on the individual, the family, friendships, and physical health, to name a few areas. Another major impact of brain injury is changes to mental health and emotional wellness that result from the devastating loss of abilities, roles, relationships, identity and purpose. One way to find meaning and purpose amid these losses is to get involved in raising awareness. This doesn’t look the same for everyone. For some, this is about sharing with family and friends, for others, it is about sharing your story publicly, and for still others, it is about just being present where advocacy and sharing happens. If you would like to learn more about participating in awareness opportunities in March, see the link below. If you would like to learn more about managing mental health challenges, you will find additional resources below.

Brain Injury Awareness Day and other awareness opportunities:

https://biausa.org/public-affairs/public-awareness/brain-injury-awareness

Mental Health Resources

• Adjusting to Life After Brain Injury (BIS Workshop)
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTuRPlnpRWI
• BIAA Resources for taking care of mental health
  https://biausa.org/public-affairs/media/taking-care-of-your-mental-health
• Headway (UK) 10 ways to cope with depression after brain injury
  https://www.headway.org.uk/about-brain-injury/individuals/brain-injury-and-me/10-ways-to-cope-with-depression-after-brain-injury/

Joy Koeppen, LCSW, CBIS
Mental Health Counseling Department