As a brain injury survivor, it was with great interest that I read Andre Picard’s article “It’s hard to build a knowledge economy without nurturing healthy brains” on March 24th.

I appreciate the care that Mr. Picard took in writing such an informative piece, but I was disappointed to see him extensively use the terminology brain diseases and only once refer to neurological conditions which would have been far more encompassing and inclusive to the brain injury community of Canada and North America.

In only one place did I see the word injuries and only once did I see the word concussion (A concussion is a brain injury). Brain Injuries are a silent epidemic that is not only a sport issue but a Canadian Issue AND an issue that is very often stigmatized. Brain Injuries effects all ages from 0-99.
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• Action Plan: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Making Domestic Implementation Real and Meaningful CCD – CACL Working Paper February 2011
• Action Plan Overview: CCD-CACL Working Paper on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities February 2011
• A Call to Action: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Making Domestic Implementation Real and Meaningful Article Abilities mag

Hello all,

With the government officially defeated, an election is in full swing. The NHCC has incorporated shared messaging about the need for a national brain strategy into BIAC’s election messages. For your reference, our key messages include:

Key Messages

• approximately 5.6 million Canadians live with a neurological condition and 5 million Canadians live with a mental illness today – that’s 1 in 3 Canadians living with a brain condition
• by extrapolating data from Ontario where 25% of the people living with a neurolgical condition are brain injury survivors, one can note that there are approximately 1.4 million Canadians living with an acquired brain injury
• regardless of diagnosis, people living with brain conditions share remarkably similar needs and challenges
• Canada’s neurological health charities have been working together to address these common needs
• we have developed a 7-pillar framework for a national brain strategy that when implemented, will improve the quality of life for millions and millions of Canadians
• the 7 pillars of the national brain and brain injury strategy are:

1. - research
2. - prevention
3. - integrated care and support
4. - caregiver support
5. - income security
6. - public education
7. - genetic privacy

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What is a Concussion?
A concussion is a type of Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI, caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that can change the way your brain normally works. Concussions can also occur from a fall or a blow to the body that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forth. Health care professionals may describe a concussion as a “mild” brain injury because concussions are usually not life-threatening. Even so, their effects can be serious.
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Posted by John Inserra

Spring is slowly but surely making its appearance here in the Omaha-Council Bluffs area. With the longer daylight hours and gradually increasing temperatures, people are starting to open up their houses and spending more and more time outdoors. It’s this time of year when most of us start to dig out some seasonal belongings—lighter clothes, outdoor furniture, grills, and spring sports equipment. Now that the snow and ice are disappearing, one activity that we’re seeing more and more of is bicycling.
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Budget Commitment A Turning Point For Research And Treatment Of Brain Disorders

Your Brain, A Mother’s Story of Loss and Legacy (pdf)

Victim Rights in Canada: Reaching for International Standards, April 13: is a symposium at the University of Ottawa to seek ways to advance rights and services for crime victims. Criminal justice and victim service leaders will participate. To attend, please contact Simon Yared at syare035@uottawa.ca. See attachment for more information

Droits des victimes au Canada : pour atteindre les normes internationales, 13 avril 2011, est un symposium (en anglais seulement) à l´université d´Ottawa pour avancer les droits et les services à l´intention des victimes d´actes criminels. Les leaders en justice pénale et en services pour les victimes participeront. Pour assister, contacter Simon Yared à syare035@uottawa.ca. Voir le fichier annexé pour plus de renseignements.

Irvin Waller, stop crime | assist victims | use prisons smartly
Author: Less Law, More Order: The Truth about Reducing Crime | (new!) Rights for Victims of Crime: Rebalancing Justice
President, International Organization for Victim Assistance
Full Professor, University of Ottawa
www.irvinwaller.org | www.iovahelp.org | www.ipc.uottawa.ca
twitter.com/IrvinWaller

The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) and the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) have released a poll that indicates that health care should be a top priority in next week’s federal budget.

The results show that 45 per cent of Canadians think the federal government should make health care a priority in the budget.

The joint CNA-CMA news release on the polling conducted by Nanos Research. (pdf)

Feel free to share it with your members and do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Regards,
François Lessard
Senior Advisor, Advocacy and Public Affairs│Conseiller principal, Représentation et affaires publiques
Canadian Medical Association│Association médicale canadienne
613 731-8610 │800 663-7336 ext./poste 2261
francois.lessard@cma.ca
www.cma.ca
1867 prom. Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa ON K1G 5W8
Have your say: www.healthcaretransformation.ca