POWELL RIVER BRAIN INJURY SOCIETY
- Local Contact:
- Debbie Dee - 604 485-6065
- info@braininjurysociety.ca
Powell River Brain Injury Society's mission statement is "To promote prevention, recovery, education, community awareness and life beyond brain injury". They offer a variety of services including individual and group support, advocacy and liaison services, assistance filling out forms, referrals for other professional services, accompanying to appointments, reminders about upcoming appointments, counseling, social opportunities, art therapy, music therapy, fitness and walking groups and community education and awareness campaigns.
They have had many successes over the past 18 months. Members tell of feeling lost and uncertain about their future and not knowing the long term effects of brain injury. They have found great relief in the peer support and the reference material available through the society. Getting together for weekly socialization has been very effective in reducing depression and elevating self-worth and joy of life. This transfers to a general well-being that reduces the number of visits to doctor and hospital and allows for a greater sense of empowerment in personal lives and community interaction. The brain injury society in Powell River also offers services for family members, friends and caregivers of persons living with brain injury. We are building a library of resource material and have many books, videos and journal articles. We have also created an educational program for grades 3 and 4 students teaching them about the need for brain injury prevention.
Bicycle helmets are available, by donation, at the society for anyone to enjoy.
Funding through United Way goes to support the activities for clients and fills in the gaps that funding through Vancouver Coastal Health does not reach.