Brain injury
If someone falls, is in a car crash, or has an infection causing a lack of oxygen to the brain, they might develop a brain injury.
Sometimes, brain injury can cause you to experience changes or problems with your mental health, including depression, anxiety, problems with thinking, and anger. In other cases, you might have experienced mental health issues before getting a brain injury, but the brain injury makes your existing mental health challenges worse. So, brain injury and mental health challenges can sometimes overlap.
There can be many different effects of having a brain injury on a young person. Some of these include:
Physical:
- Problems with movement
- Weakness in body
- Sensory difficulties affecting hearing, vision, smell, taste and touch
- Difficulties with swallowing (dysphagia)
- Seizures
- Issues like headaches, pain, tiredness, and sleep problems
Cognitive:
- Challenges with memory, perception, attention, problem-solving
- Difficulties with making decisions
- Difficulties using language
- Lack of self-awareness
- Difficulty with controlling behaviour, impulsive behaviour
Emotional:
- Sadness or depression
- Changes in mood
- Irritability and anger
- Anxiety
- Difficulties managing changes in life
- Aggressive behaviour
- Low motivation
Brain injuries can cause some neurodevelopmental conditions, such as:
- Learning disabilities
- Dyslexia
- Attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD)
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Epilepsy
Self-help tips to manage your mental wellbeing
- Physical activity can help boost your mood and raise your self-esteem. Try walking to school instead of getting the bus. Or walk part of the way!
- Play with friends outside.
- Take up a sport, like swimming, horse-riding, or jogging.
- Learn a skill or craft, such as knitting, painting, cooking or drawing – this can help to boost self-confidence and connect more with others.
Helpful resources
- Parental worry: https://childbraininjurytrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Parental-Worry-anxiety-and-stress-v1.2.pdf
- Behaviour changes: https://childbraininjurytrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Changes-in-behaviour-V1.5.pdf
- Managing emotions: https://childbraininjurytrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Thinking-Learning-and-dealing-with-emotions-V1.5.pdf
- Brain Injury Matters (NI) website: Brain Injury Matters (has a range of services for young people including family-based support, advocacy, and social activities).
- Mental health and brain injury | Headway
- Cognitive and emotional effects of acquired brain injury | The Children’s Trust (thechildrenstrust.org.uk)
