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St Andrew’s schools initiative raises awareness of brain injury risks
St Andrew’s Healthcare in Northampton is rolling out an initiative to raise awareness amongst local school children about brain injury and the measures that young people can take to reduce the risks of this happening to them. Five secondary schools in Northampton have already taken part in the initiative and more schools are scheduled to participate throughout 2010. The thought provoking education programme is designed to raise awareness of the causes and the effects of brain injury on the individual and their family and explore the ways of minimising the risks of brain injury occurring. The aim of the initiative is to make young people think and ultimately save lives. Statistics show that in England alone there are over 100,000 admissions to hospitals with a head injury each year and 30% are children under 15 years of age. The interactive education programme provides students aged 14-16 with an opportunity to actually experience what it is like to have a range of physical problems due to a brain injury, as well as hear extracts via a DVD from children who have experienced a brain injury and discuss the preventative measures they can take to keep safe. Consultant Psychiatrist at the National Brain Injury Centre in Northampton Dr Sally Cubbin comments “The initiative has been a great success and St Andrew’s has received very positive feedback from all the local schools involved” Adrian Colman, Head of year 12 at Caroline Chisholm School commented “The presentation was extremely informative, emotional and at times hard hitting. All 120 students were sat in silence throughout the thought provoking presentation and left the session with a greater insight into the causes of brain injury and the methods of treatment. More importantly, our students and staff saw that the young victims of brain injury only ask that they are treated with equality as fellow human beings” Student Hannah commented “The presentation helped us to understand what it is like for a person with a brain injury. It really made us think and appreciate what we have. It helped us to put our own lives in prospective.” St Andrew’s Healthcare provides services for brain injured adults at the National Brain Injury Centre in Northampton. As part of the Charity’s commitment and dedication to bridge the gaps in secure mental health provision, they are launching a new national service in Autumn 2010 which will be the UK’s first Acquired Brain Injury Residential Rehabilitation Unit for Young People aged 13-18. The schools initiative has been devised to raise awareness of brain injury ahead of National Brain Injury Awareness Week which commences on 15th March.
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