🌱 What’s one thing that helps you recharge mentally? It could be rest, quiet time, movement, music, routine, or something else entirely. Share only what you’re comfortable with.

June has been a powerful month for the brain injury community. As #BrainInjuryAwarenessMonth ends, thank you to everyone who walked alongside us. Together, we're building stronger partnerships, advancing systems change, and creating a future where brain injury is recognized in every community.

Caregivers play a vital role in the brain injury journey. Their support, advocacy, and daily care often go unseen, but they are an essential part of recovery and long-term wellbeing. Thank you to all the caregivers out there 💙

🧠 The non-visible mental health effects of brain injury matter just as much as the physical. Brain injury can impact emotional regulation, stress levels, relationships, and overall mental wellbeing. Many of these challenges aren't immediately visible, but can have a significant impact on daily life

❔ What does “invisible disability” mean? Many effects of brain injury can’t be seen — including fatigue, memory challenges, sensory sensitivities, and difficulty concentrating. Just because someone “looks fine” doesn’t mean they aren’t struggling.

📊 The Prevalence of Brain Injury Brain injury affects more people than many realize — and awareness helps reduce stigma and improve support. #BIAM2026 #BrainInjuryAwarenessMonth

📖 Looking for stories from people living with brain injury? Explore reflections and lived experiences shared by survivors on Brainstreams. 👉 www.brainstreams.ca/category/sur...

📣 Why Canada Needs a National Brain Injury Strategy Improved coordination, awareness, and support can help strengthen outcomes for people impacted by brain injury across Canada. #nationalstrategyonbraininjury #BIAM2026 #BrainInjuryAwarenessMonth

📣 Join us June 26 (10–11am) for a virtual session on BC’s involuntary treatment in the context of mental health, substance use, and brain injury-related issues. 👉 Register here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/involuntar...

Applications for Knowledge Broker & Facilitator roles close Friday. It's your chance to help change the narrative around IPV-BI. 💜 If you’re an experienced facilitator, or have expertise in policing, legal, health care or GBV, this may be for you. 📅 Apply June 19 🔗 soarproject.ca/team

📍 YOU ARE HERE Recovery after a brain injury rarely follows a straight line. There are detours, wrong turns, and moments when you need to stop and recalculate. But every journey starts from the same place: where you are right now. 👉 Read Debra's blog here: www.brainstreams.ca/survivors-st...

📣 ICYMI: Step Up for Brain Injury Walk, roll, run, or ride between May 15–June 30 for Brain Injury Awareness Month. This inclusive, province-wide initiative helps raise awareness, reduce stigma, & build community connection across BC. Register here: www.canadahelps.org/en/charities...

Brain injury can affect physical, cognitive, emotional, and sensory functioning — and every person’s experience is different. #BIAM2026 #BrainInjuryAwarenessMonth

Did You Know? 🧐 Young people can experience long-term effects from brain injury that impact school, relationships, and daily life. Awareness and support matter. #braininjuryawareness #biam2026 #braininjuryawarenessmonth

📣 Have 5 minutes? Help shape a new brain injury education resource for service providers across BC. The survey asks about content priorities, learning needs, preferred formats, and opportunities to contribute as a subject matter expert. 👉 Take the survey:

A new partnership between ICBC and BC brain injury organizations aims to reduce barriers and connect people with peer support, education, and guidance throughout their recovery journey. 👉 Read more:

🧠 June is Brain Injury Awareness Month Brain injury can affect how we think, feel, move, communicate, and connect with the world around us. Awareness helps reduce stigma, improve understanding, and strengthen support for those impacted by brain injury. #BIAM2026 #BrainInjuryAwarenessMonth

💙 Step Up for Brain Injury: Move Together Walk, roll, run, or ride between May 15–June 30 for Brain Injury Awareness Month. This inclusive, province-wide initiative helps raise awareness, reduce stigma, and build community connection across BC. Register here: www.canadahelps.org/en/charities...

📆 Save the date: Connecting the Dots: Brain Injury and Concurrent Disorders in BC from 9-11 am Join us online to explore how brain injuries and concurrent disorders connect in BC’s mental health scene. 👉 Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/connecting...

🎙️ ICYMI: The Returning to Life Video Podcast Series — sharing real stories of resilience & rediscovery after brain injury. In each episode, you will hear from survivors finding their way back to work, identity, and to the things that make life meaningful. 👉 Watch here: youtube.com/playlist?lis...

🧠 Why can multitasking feel harder after a brain injury? Switching attention between tasks takes mental energy. After a brain injury, juggling multiple tasks at once may feel more overwhelming or tiring. Taking things one step at a time can help reduce cognitive overload.

💙 Step Up for Brain Injury: Move Together Walk, roll, run, or ride between May 15–June 30 for Brain Injury Awareness Month. This inclusive, province-wide initiative helps raise awareness, reduce stigma, and build community connection across BC. Register here: www.canadahelps.org/en/charities...

😴 Sleep plays an important role in brain health. After a brain injury, changes in sleep patterns are common and can affect: • Energy • Mood • Memory • Concentration Rest and recovery are closely connected.

🧭 Looking for information about life after brain injury? Our Journey Ahead section includes resources on recovery, returning to activities, caregiving, housing, and more. 👉 www.brainstreams.ca/the-journey-...

📆 Caregiver Co-Creation Research Event on May 21 | 10am-3pm BCBIA, BrainTrust Canada, & CEDAR Brain Injury Lab from UBC are hosting a co-creation research event to bring together caregivers with lived experience of supporting individuals with acquired brain injury!

📖 New Blog Post: What Not to Wear by Debra Erickson 👉 Read here: www.brainstreams.ca/survivors-st...

🧠 What is overstimulation? After a brain injury, busy environments can sometimes feel overwhelming. Noise, bright lights, crowds, or multitasking may lead to: • Fatigue • Headaches • Difficulty concentrating • Irritability or stress Taking breaks and reducing sensory input can help.

📖 Looking for stories from people living with brain injury? Explore real experiences, reflections, and journeys shared by survivors in our blog. 👉 Read them here: www.brainstreams.ca/category/sur...

Myth: You need to hit your head to have a brain injury. Truth: Not always. Brain injuries can also occur from lack of oxygen, stroke, infection, or other internal causes. These are called non-traumatic brain injuries.

🆕 Episode 4 of Returning to Life What comes next when things don’t go as planned? In this final episode, Debra shares how she navigated after her initial return to work didn’t go as planned and what opened the door to a new beginning. 👉 Watch the full episode: youtu.be/vRAkMJ-B4Wo

💬 What’s one small adjustment that has made your day-to-day life easier, such as a routine, tool, or habit? Share only what you’re comfortable with, your experience might help someone else.

🧠 What is “brain fog”? After a brain injury, some people describe feeling “foggy,” like thinking is slower or less clear. This can include: • Trouble concentrating • Forgetfulness • Slower processing • Feeling mentally “cloudy”

🆕 Episode 3 of Returning to Life The journey back to work isn’t always straightforward. In this episode, Debra talks about her attempt to return to her pre-injury job — her mindset going in and what the experience ultimately looked like. 👉 Watch the full episode: youtu.be/l7hc6k2z7zE

🆕 Blog post: Winter Parsnips by Debra Erickson 📖 Read here: www.brainstreams.ca/survivors-st...

Are you a caregiver looking for some resources? offers a variety of free e-courses for family caregivers of people with brain injury. 👉 Check them out here:

🆕 Episode 2 of Returning to Life What does it mean to return to life after everything changes? In this episode, we continue with Debra's story, exploring her injuries and return home from the hospital after her accident. 👉 Watch the full episode: youtu.be/oya8IOHGsds

Millions of people around the world live with brain injury. Part of our research involved looking at international standards for voting accessibility, and how these practices could make the voting experience better: https://ow.ly/HQ5z50YECTf #accessibility #asc #elections #canada #cdnpoli

📆 Save the date: Caregiver Co-Creation Research Event on May 21 Connect with other caregivers through guided, small-group conversations to share experiences, discuss challenges, & explore solutions. Join in-person at UBC Okanagan or online on Zoom More info to come soon!

🔎 Looking for government support? Navigating programs and benefits can be overwhelming, we’re here to help. Explore our Government Support resources to find services available to you:

What does it mean to return to life after everything changes? Introducing Returning to Life, a new video podcast series. In this four-part series, we'll hear from Debra as she shares her journey of returning back to work. 👉 Watch the full episode: youtu.be/41gRpvHGUF0

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, with April 11 recognized as Parkinson’s Awareness Day 🌷 Parkinson’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that damages dopamine-producing neurons, impacting movement and cognition. #ParkinsonsAwareness #ParkinsonsAwarenessMonth

April 7 is National Caregiver Day in Canada 💙 Caregivers provide essential support every day, often unseen. Today, we recognize their impact and continue advocating for the resources and support they need. Thank you to all the caregivers in our community. #NationalCaregiverDay #BrainInjurySupport

Join Time to Talk Traumatic Brain Injury’s podcast host Greg Goldberg, as they meet with Dale Breese, Service Access and Transition Leader, to hear all about their fantastic Life Redesign Program and facility for brain injury and stroke survivors. 👉 timetotalktbi.libsyn.com/website/a-li...

Community events help us learn, connect, and support one another 🫂💙 Do you have an upcoming event related to brain injury, caregiving, or community support? We’d love to help spread the word. Share your event with us and we can help amplify it with the Brainstreams community.

Everyone’s story matters 💙 If you’re living with a brain injury or supporting someone who is, we invite you to share your experience on Brainstreams. 👉 Submit your story here: www.brainstreams.ca/submit-your-...

Upcoming Event: National Caregiver Day Symposium on April 7 from 6AM-2PM PDT This event brings together various groups to reflect, learn, & advance meaningful solutions that support caregiver wellbeing. Join in-person or virtually. 👉 Learn more: www.brainstreams.ca/event/nation...

📖 New Blog Post: Beyond the Podium by Debra Erickson 👉 Read here: www.brainstreams.ca/survivors-st...

🧠 Protecting your brain is part of protecting your health. Some common causes of brain injury include falls, vehicle collisions, and sports-related impacts. Reduce risk with prevention, including: • Wearing helmets when appropriate • Taking care on slippery surfaces • Following safety practices

Help shape priorities for overdose-related brain injury. Take a 10-min survey by UVIC, no prior knowledge needed. 🗓️ Deadline: March 30, 2026 Take the survey here: uvic.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

🧠 The brain is your body’s command centre It controls many functions that keep us alive & interacting with the world, including: • Memory & learning • Movement & coordination • Emotions & mood • Speech & decision-making • Breathing & heart rate 👉 Learn more: www.brainstreams.ca/about-the-br...