Brain Awareness Week 2023 will take place from March 13 to 19 and will host fascinating and important events under its theme ‘Invest In Brain Health’ …
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The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) definition of Brain Health is “the state of brain functioning across cognitive, sensory, social-emotional, behavioural and motor domains, allowing a person to realise their full potential over the life course, irrespective of the presence or absence of disorders.”
It is estimated that a staggering one in three of us will develop a neurological condition in our lifetime. The theme of Brain Awareness Week 2023, ‘Invest In Brain Health’ is important as it aims to highlight the need for investment in services for people with neurological conditions as well as promoting preventive approaches to neurological disease. Love Your Brain is an annual awareness campaign which is run by The Neurological Alliance of Ireland to coincide with National Brain Awareness Week. Their online forum is easily accessible and contains detailed information on the events happening during the week. For full details about the campaign visit www.loveyourbrain.ie.
1. March 13: NAI WEBINAR: INVEST IN YOUR OWN BRAIN HEALTH
The Neurological Alliance of Ireland is hosting a free webinar on Monday 13. From 11am to 12pm, NAI will officially launch Brain Awareness Week with an online, webinar event ‘Invest In Your Own Brain Health.’ With guest speaker Dr Sabina Brennan, Health Psychologist, Neuroscientist and author of two Irish Times No 1 bestselling books (100 Days to a Younger Brain and Beating Brain Fog). The Webinar is free and open to all; www.eventbrite.ie.
2. March 13 -19: HEADWAY BALLINCOLLIG ART EXHIBITION
Starting on March 13 and finishing on March 19, Headway, at St Peter’s on North Main Street, Ballincollig is hosting an art exhibition in support of Brain Awareness week. The theme of the show centres around ‘Sharing our Stories.’ The work of these artists clearly conveys their resilience, strength and passion. Most of the artists have discovered their love of creativity following their Acquired Brain Injury and in the years since have explored through artistic expression. Each artwork is as unique as the person who created it.
3. March 15: SBHI: THE IMPORTANCE OF EXCERCISE, MOVEMENT AND THE ARTS ON OUR BRAIN
On Wednesday March 15, Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland will host an Open Opportunity Day Service in Castleknock. This day will contain a session on ‘The Importance of Exercise, Movement, and Arts on our Brain.’ In this session you can learn all about the effect exercise, movement and the arts has on one’s brain. This will be followed by a one hour training session in an inclusive form of Taekwondo and an interactive Drama Therapy session. This session will take place on the March 15 from 10.30am – 1.30pm. Visit www.sbhi.ie for more details.
4. March 15: MOVE4PARKINSON’S OPEN DAY EXCERCISE & MOVEMENT TO IRISH MUSIC
On Wednesday March 15 Move4Parkinsons have organised an open day for exercise and movement to Irish Music at Castleknock Community Centre Laurel Lodge. The Move4Parkinsons Foundation’s mission is in patient empowerment and in helping People With Parkinson’s (PwP’s) to improve their quality of life once they have been given access to information, tools and techniques which have been proven to work. Move4Parkinson’s provides information to PwP’s on how to improve quality of life through self-management. It will take place at Castleknock Community Centre Laurel Lodge at 4pm, on March 15. Email info@moveparkinsons.com for more information.
5. March 16: CHRONIC PAIN IRELAND: RECOGNISING AND COPING WITH STIGMA: A SILENT ENEMY
On Thursday March 16, Love Your Brain partners Chronic Pain Ireland are hosting a live online event where you can learn about ASpida: Against Stigma pain intervention approaches. The ASpida team at Chronic Pain Ireland consists of psychology researchers and Chronic Pain Ireland members who worked together with the common goal of developing an intervention that helps people with chronic pain to cope with the effects of stigma, with the support of UCC, the BMP Grant and Chronic Pain Ireland (CPI). Living with chronic pain, many people regularly experience stigma, not being believed or people doubting them. Dr Vasilis Vasilou and the research team from the School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork talk about recognising and coping with stigma. You can also take part in a short evidence based exercise on how to recognise stigma in your daily life. This online event will take place on March 16 from 7-8pm. Link to join this event: www.teams.
6. March 17: BUTTERFLY SWIM EVENT
Taking place on Friday March 17, The Neurology Support Centre will be relaunching the Butterfly Swim event where they will be asking you to ‘Take a dip and post a pic’ on St Patrick’s Day, or any day during Brain Awareness Week. This is a fun way to get involved with Brain Awareness Week and show support. Whatever body of water you can find, you are being encouraged to take a dip, post a picture on social media and make a donation to the iDonate Butterfly Swim fundraising page at www.idonate.ie.
Find out more about Brain Awareness Week 2023 at loveyourbrain.ie
#investinbrainhealth #brainawarenessweek2023
