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A support group for people with brain injuries or concussions started in Warkworth this month.
Set-up by Headway, an organisation specialising in brain injury education, the monthly gatherings are open to anyone navigating life after concussion or a brain injury.
Headway educator Rose Michaels says concussion affects around 53,000 New Zealanders annually and remains one of the country’s most significant yet misunderstood health challenges.
According to Headway, brain injury is also the leading cause of disability in New Zealand and a major contributor to mental health issues, homelessness, addiction and the prison population. Nearly a third of adults will experience at least one mild traumatic brain injury, including concussion, before the age of 25, with young people aged 15 to 19 having the highest incidence.
Michaels says that the aim of the group is to bring people together over coffee to connect, share experiences and learn from others in similar situations.
“They are designed for those who may feel isolated or who are simply looking for additional social interaction, with the broader goal of building a sense of community,” she says. “Each session varies depending on attendance and participants, but the emphasis remains on providing a relaxed and informal environment, without structured presentations or formal leadership.
“We hope more people will join, as research shows that connecting with peers-people with lived experience of brain injury-can ease isolation, offer encouragement and provide practical ideas for navigating daily challenges.”
Headway was established in 1981 by Dr Dorothy Gronwall and Dr Phillip Wrightson, with the mission of reducing the harm caused by concussion and brain injury, and ensuring fewer people experience them.
“We are guided by our advisory board, which includes some of New Zealand’s leading neurological experts,” Michaels says.
The group meets on the first Tuesday of the month. For more information, contact Rose Michaels at rose@headway.org.nz.
