More than 400 brain injury survivors, carers and family members from across the UK, together with healthcare professionals, attended two events to help offer support and inspiration after life-changing injury.
Marking the 13th year of Head Injury Information Days (HiiD), hosted by law firm Digby Brown, the events in Glasgow and Edinburgh enabled attendees to access vital information on recovery and rehabilitation, innovative technology, support services and hear inspiring stories from brain injury survivors.
Acknowledging the loneliness and isolation brain injury survivors can often feel, the theme of this year’s event – ‘Wellbeing – living with a brain injury’ – aimed to bridge this gap.
Head Injury Information Days are the only events of their kind in Scotland.
Since 2011 the annual exhibitions provide brain injury survivors and their loved ones with opportunities to connect with peers and seek advice from experts such as health, social, mobility, therapies, technology, and case management support.
Chris Stewart, partner at Digby Brown and Head of the serious injury department, said: “Every day we work to support survivors of serious injuries and we’re proud to run these events knowing the help they provide.
“Our aim every year is to create a platform where those living with a head or brain injury, along with their carers and families, can come together and listen to a variety of informative sessions they can relate to.
“I would like to say a huge thank you to our speakers and exhibitors who generously shared their time with us in Edinburgh and Glasgow – we hope those who attended now feel informed, supported and empowered as a result.”
Around 170 people attended the Edinburgh HiiD event and heard from guest speakers Lewis Carmichael and Harry Davies.
Lewis, a former Scotland and Edinburgh professional rugby player, spoke of his concussion that led to early retirement at the age of 26 and highlighted that more steps need to be taken to make the sport safer.
Harry, who sustained a brain injury after a road traffic accident when he was just 11-years-old, revealed Edinburgh HiiD was the first event of its kind he has ever been to and was delighted to give a motivational talk alongside his father, Nick.
He said: “It helped to have my dad with me because you get his view and his perspective.
“When it’s something important to me, probably the most important thing in my life really, it’s nice to have someone there with me. It helped me a lot, especially with confidence.
“For my first time – brilliant. I was glad I did it. Happy to do another one.”
Brain injury survivors were able to showcase their creativity in an art therapy room set-up by Edinburgh Headway who also held an exhibition stall at the event.
Phelim O’Toole, manager at Edinburgh Headway, said: “The whole day was flawless and so informative.
“As usual the guest speakers were amazing and when you are sat at the back of the room and see the shock and surprises on people’s faces and the nods of agreement you realise the importance of these days.”
The second HiiD event was held in Glasgow, where around 250 people attended.
Speakers included brain injury survivor Pamela Jack – a superfit mum-of-two who sustained multiple life-changing injuries after being hit by a tractor while out on a morning run.
After addressing Glasgow HiiD on how to live well with an acquired brain injury (ABI), Pamela said: “I’ve never shared my story before and I’ve probably always held back with friends because I have felt different, so it was nice to hear that there were other people in the same situation.
“Hopefully I carried a message to somebody who’s maybe at the early stages of their recovery that things can get better.”
Steven Cochran, brain injury survivor and president of the Brain Injury Experience Network (BIEN), has been attending the HiiD events for several years and shared his story at the virtual event held in 2020.
He said: “These are the most fantastic things to come to.
“I’ve had two brain injuries and a hemorrhagic stroke, and coming to hear people talk about what they’ve been through and how the groups they belong to are helping them get over or get through what they’ve been through is fantastic.”
Guests at Glasgow HiiD also had access to an art therapy room manned by Quarriers who were exhibiting at the event.
