Mornings with Simi: Brain Month
March is Brain Awareness Month and VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation announces over 2,500 per cent growth in BC Brain Wellness Program.
Listen to the 980 | CKNW Mornings With Simi episode, as they are joined by Dr. Silke Appel-Cresswell, Co-Founder and Director of the BC Brain Wellness Program and discuss how new advancements can help your brain health.
VANCOUVER, BC (March 23, 2023) – VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation today announced that the BC Brain Wellness Program (“BCBWP”) has grown by over 2,500 per cent since its inception in 2019. By leveraging the collective power of clinical care, lifestyle programs, education, and research, BCBWP has established a provincial network of wellness programs to support people living with chronic brain disorders, their care partners, and healthy agers. Since 2019, BCBWP has grown from 75 to 2,000 participants, with an increase of five classes to 28, and over 3,000 hours of free programming. Since the pandemic, the program has successfully shifted into a hybrid model, increasing access to those across B.C., including under-served areas.
“Our team is thrilled with the tremendous growth of the BC Brain Wellness Program over the past three and a half years. The program’s free, evidence informed lifestyle and wellness programs and mental health workshops for people living with chronic brain disorders, their care partners, and healthy agers, are providing a new standard of care that is personable, patient-centric, and sustainable,” said Dr. Silke Appel-Cresswell, co founder and director of the BC Brain Wellness Program. “Individuals with chronic brain conditions are benefitting from an extension of care, beyond their established clinical treatment.”
The Brain Wellness Program provides evidence informed lifestyle and wellness programs for individuals living with chronic brain conditions, their care partners, and healthy agers. It brings together an interdisciplinary team of physiotherapists, kinesiologists, musicians, psychologists, mindfulness teachers and more to deliver a combination therapy that supports an individual’s brain health. Emboldened by evidence that creativity, diet and exercise can positively impact brain health, the team delivers specialized sessions, including exercise classes, music, performance and visual arts programs, mindfulness, self-management, nutrition, sleep, group learning and community building activities.
"I cannot overstate how valuable these classes have been. They certainly did challenge me each, and every time—and always with a different mix, a new emphasis, a new skill. The physical benefits were substantial. I have a new sense of confidence (I got stronger in some areas) as well as an acute awareness of areas that need work and more attention (in my case, balance)."- Nancy Roberts, participant
In addition, classes are provided for care partners. A specially designed series of online expressive classes is taught by experts in the field. It helps care partners develop coping strategies and manage their anxiety. This series offers care partners solace and the combination treatment for clients improves their mental and physical wellbeing, while treating them with respect and dignity. BC Brain Wellness brings meaning and connection to often isolated individuals and empowers participants to embark on a healing process.
During Brain Awareness Month, Dr. Appel-Cresswell recommends these five tips for everyone to improve brain health:
1. Get moving - You don’t need to take up cross-fit or train for a marathon to see the benefits — daily walks or yoga sessions are a perfect way to get started.
2. Eat for your brain - Wholesome nutrition such as following the principles of the Mediterranean diet is another key component for wellbeing and can prevent or delay cognitive decline and possibly Parkinson’s disease.!
3. Connect with your community - Connections with your friends, family and neighbours are key aspects to your mental health. The Harvard Study of Adult Development concluded that loneliness could kill as easily as smoking or alcoholism. Social integration and community are crucial for happiness and longevity.
4. Keep learning - An active brain is a healthy brain.
5. Take a mindful moment - Mindfulness is the practice of purposefully focusing your attention on the present moment and accepting it without judgement. By immersing yourself in the sights, sounds and feelings of a particular moment you can improve your ability to focus, reduce stress and better manage anxiety and other mental health challenges.
“By combining clinical care with ongoing interventions that support healthier lifestyles, our team strives to improve and sustain quality of life for people living with chronic brain conditions and their care partners,” said Dr. Appel-Cresswell. “The program also empowers healthy agers to enhance well-being and engage in preventative lifestyle measures.”
The BC Brain Wellness Program is funded by private donations, which includes VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. For more information on BC Brain Wellness Program visit bcbrainwellness.ca.
About VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation
VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation is Vancouver Coastal Health‘s primary philanthropic partner, raising funds for specialized adult health services and research for all British Columbians. We partner with donors to drive innovation and sustainable health care at VGH, UBC Hospital, GF Strong Rehab Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, and Vancouver Community Health Services. Together, we deliver a healthy continuum of care – from research to patient care, rehabilitation, and community health services. For more information, please visit vghfoundation.ca.
Dr. Silke Appel-Cresswell, Co-Founder and Director of the BC Brain Wellness Program
A BC Brain Wellness Program group class
Mornings with Simi (Monday – Friday: 5.30 – 9 a.m.) helps you wake up, reconnect, and get your day off on the right foot. Simi dives into the headlines of the day with veteran Global News anchors and contributors. They help you navigate through the details of the stories, highlight essential information and share new perspectives on how the daily news affects you. Simi loves the Lower Mainland. She’s lived here her whole life and truly understands the history and challenges our communities have faced over the years.
Spend your Mornings with Simi and spend the rest of your day talking about what you heard on the show.