Changing the Narrative on Brain Injury: Using the TRC Calls to Action as a Path Forward

The Truth and Reconciliation Report has made several recommendations concerning the delivery of health care to Indigenous people. It’s my intention to identify how the calls to action can be acknowledged and used to change the narratives and approaches to the delivery of care for Indigenous people living with brain injury.

I will outline the importance of not only acknowledging the truth, but also understanding what that means in terms of relationship with Indigenous peoples as the crucial first step. Next I will talk about some strategies that can be useful to promote good relationships with Indigenous clients. It is my hope that participants will come away with a fuller understanding of the historical traumas and intergenerational traumas Indigenous people have experienced with health care and an openness to anticipating these considerations and using trauma informed interventions in their practice.

Traumas and Triumphs: My Experience as a Caregiver

My talk will be about the traumas and triumphs of my personal journey as a loving Caregiver of a young woman living with brain injury. I will also address the ripple effects of brain injury on the entire family.

I respectfully acknowledge that this is only one family’s experience. Therefore, my desired take-aways are as varied as the group of attendees:

• For fellow caregivers – to feel completely understood and acknowledged, with no judgement whatsoever
• For people living with brain injury – to feel completely loved, supported, acknowledged, and admired
• For loved ones of people living with brain injury – to feel inspired to keep loving and to keep learning
• For friends and acquaintances of people living with brain injury – to resolve to be present for, and available to, the individual and his/her family
• For all health professionals involved – to acknowledge that love and hope pair well with science

Advocating for Yourself in a “No-Fault” World

In this talk, I will share my experience as a criminal lawyer to provide insight on how persons with brain injury can advocate for themselves in today’s “no fault” insurance world, including how to navigate a Civil Rights Tribunal to resolve a personal injury claim.

Psychological Treatment for Brain Injury: Current Approaches and Future Growth

Psychological impacts, including anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress are common following a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Psychological treatment is a critical component of TBI rehabilitation and plays a significant role in improving clinical outcomes. In this talk I will discuss the links between TBI and emotional function and will review empirically supported treatments that specifically address the unique barriers faced by those who have suffered a TBI. Finally, I will discuss new and cutting-edge psychological approaches for TBI treatment and will discuss how these can be used by health-professionals, clients and care-givers to improve overall function.

Cannabis, Substance Use, and Public Health
This talk will review the research on how cannabis can be used in the context of harm reduction as a substitute for other potentially more dangerous substances. We will examine how cannabis substitution may have an overall positive impact on public health, with a particular focus on issues of relevance to individuals living with acquired brain injury, their loved ones, and their caregivers.

Considerations for Decolonizing the Healthcare System: An Indigenous Perspective

The mission of this conference, Changing the Narrative on Brain Injury, is to dialogue on how we can shift away from models that focus on ‘one size fits all’ approaches and to enrich understandings of alternative models and practices. This presentation starts with recognizing how the health care system remains deeply rooted in colonial practices which has resulted in extreme health inequities for Indigenous peoples. This is followed by exploring how we can do better and work towards decolonization.