Workshop:
Workshop on Brain Injury and Homelessness
June 2, 2009, Toronto
In collaboration with COTA Health and the City of Toronto, Homelessness Partnership Initiatives, the Toronto ABI Network hosted an education workshop on June 2, 2009 aimed at increasing the level of awareness about brain injury among those that work with homeless individuals.
This event was initiated in response to Dr. Stephen Hwang's recently published research in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
The study ~ conducted by Dr. Stephen Hwang of the Centre for Research on Inner City Health, St. Michael's Hospital in conjunction with a number of colleagues ~ sought to determine the lifetime prevalence of traumatic brain injury and its association with current health conditions in a representative sample of homeless people in Toronto.
The study reported that the lifetime prevalence among homeless participants was 53% for any traumatic brain injury and 12% for moderate or severe traumatic brain injury. For 70% of respondents, their first traumatic brain injury occurred before the onset of homelessness. After adjustment for demographic characteristics and lifetime duration of homelessness, a history of moderate or severe traumatic brain injury was associated with significantly increased likelihood of seizures, mental health problems, drug problems, poorer physical health status and poorer mental health status.
Dr. Hwang opened the afternoon workshop with a review of his recent research in this area. Dr. Carolyn Lemsky of Community Head Injury Resource Services then provided a presentation on the nature of brain injury. After a short break, a presentation on practical strategies for working with individuals with brain injury was provided by Kelley Anstey, behaviour therapist from West Park Healthcare Centre, and Georgina Mares, ABI case manager from COTA Health.
Following the presentations, registrants were encouraged to ask questions of the presenters through a panel discussion.
Resources:
Download article (.pdf): The effect of traumatic brain injury on the health of homeless people ~ CMAJ 197(8)
The following presentations made at the workshop are available for download (.pdf):
This workshop was videotaped. You may view the video online in Windows Media Format (.wmv):
The presentations are also available for purchase on DVD. Please contact us for details on how to purchase the DVD of this workshop.
The mission of the The Toronto ABI Network is to provide leadership in furthering equitable, accessible, responsive, cost-effective and quality publicly-funded services and support for persons living with the effects of an acquired brain injury in the Greater Toronto Area.
|
