Amazing Brains: mental health after stroke will take place at the Royal Society of Medicine on Thursday 27 April 2023.
Amazing Brains will bring together our valued supporters to celebrate progress and innovation in the latest stroke research, providing a unique opportunity to hear first-hand about much-needed research into mental health after stroke.
Stroke can have a huge range of emotional impacts. These can range from frustration to quick mood changes to anxiety and depression, but there's still a lot we don't know about this area. In 2021, our Priority Setting Partnership revealed that, for people affected by stroke and stroke professionals, mental and emotional difficulties are the number one aspect of rehabilitation where they want to see more research investment. That's why this year's Amazing Brains will focus on mental health after stroke, to celebrate the pioneering research we are funding in this area and raise awareness of the need for more support towards this important area of work
The event will be hosted by Victoria Broom and our Chief Executive, Juliet Bouverie OBE, and presentations will be delivered by four highly respected speakers: stroke survivor Jason Parker and stroke researchers Dr Emma Patchwood, Professor Maggie Lawrence and Professor Mark Tarrant. Each speaker will be presenting their perspective on the impact stroke can have on mental health and how we can best support people to improve and protect their mental health after stroke.
Biographies
Victoria Broom
Victoria Broom is an award-winning actor, known for her portrayal of Karen in BBC 1's 'Cheaters', Sasha in the Emmy winning series 'Marcella' and Edith Fletcher in BBC's 'Eastenders'. She won the Rising Star and Best actor award at the 'Diversity in Media' awards for her portrayal of Fran in the LGBTQ series 'Different For Girls'. Victoria is listed as one of the most influential LGBTQI people in the UK by the Guardian Newspaper's Pride Power list. She is a passionate supporter of the Stroke Association and is honoured to be hosting this years Amazing Brains.
Jason Parker, KPMG
Jason Parker is a Partner at KPMG, where he leads their work with NHS providers nationally. He is also Chair of Bliss, the national charity for babies born premature or sick. Jason had a stroke in 2019 and has had to learn to walk again after 7 months of hospital care and rehabilitation.
Dr Emma Patchwood, University of Manchester
Dr Emma Patchwood is a Stroke Association Research Fellow at the University of Manchester, where she leads the Wellbeing After Stroke (WAterS) study, and is affiliated with the Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre at Salford Royal Hospital. She combines science and medicine to translate stroke research into healthcare benefit.
Professor Maggie Lawrence, Glasgow Caledonian University
Professor Maggie Lawrence's research focuses on secondary prevention of stroke and self-management of mood disorders at Glasgow Caledonian University. She established the International Network of Secondary Stroke Prevention Researchers (INSsPiRE) in 2015 and leads the HEADS: UP (Helping Ease Anxiety and Depression following Stroke) programme of research.
Professor Mark Tarrant, University of Exeter
Professor Mark Tarrant is Associate Professor of Psychology Applied to Health at the University of Exeter Medical School. He leads a programme of funded research focused on the development and evaluation of group interventions for improving health. He was Principal Investigator of the recently completed Stroke Association-funded projects, Singing for People with Aphasia (SPA) and Community Groups for post-Stroke support (CoGS).
Full event coverage
For those unable to watch Amazing Brains live on the date, you can watch all four presentations in full below.
Event sponsorship
We rely on generous support from the public, charitable trusts and companies in everything we do to support people to rebuild their lives after stroke.
If you are interested in lending support and sponsoring this event, please get in touch with anita.jethwa@stroke.org.uk
Previous Amazing Brains events
Re-live our fabulous Amazing Brains 2022 event at the Francis Crick Institute, where we came together for the first time since Covid to celebrate thinking and memory after stroke!
You can read more about Amazing Brains events from the past five years by clicking the links below.