The Nanaimo Brain Injury Society received $65,000 to expand their services. (Alex Rawnsley, NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

NEEDED SERVICES

Nanaimo Brain Injury Society receives provincial support

Jul 29, 2021 | 4:33 PM

NANAIMO — Local individuals living with acquired brain injury will soon have better access to support services and programs.

The Nanaimo Brain Injury Society (NBIS) received $65,000 from the ministry of mental health addictions to further expand offered services to those who have suffered stroke or concussion, had a workplace injury or acquired some other brain injury.

Kix Citton, executive director of NBIS, told NanaimoNewsNOW the money will help them meet a surge in demand.

“We’ve had a 43 per cent increase in individuals we serve, our calls from community have increased by 59 per cent over the last year as well. (The funding) enables us to enhance and expand the community navigator program which helps people with brain injury develop personalized recovery and action plans.”

Sitton said the increase can be attributed to a rising awareness of concussions.

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“(This) is great because concussions can often be misdiagnosed, people don’t end up going to the hospital. We still have the idea that if you bump your head or you see stars, you just got your bell rung and it’s not a serious injury, but concussion is a brain injury.”

Citton said while concussion among hockey players typically grabs headlines, approximately 5,500 women suffer similar injuries for every NHL player diagnosed.

The worsening drug toxicity crisis is also having ripple effects into acquired brain injury, with a direct correlation between the injury and those experiencing homelessness.

“An injury to the brain really affects the whole person’s life, their relationships and their ability to work. Over half the homeless population had a brain injury prior to becoming homeless and you can imagine that cascade of events.”

The province said in a release around 180,000 people live with an acquired brain injury in B.C.

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