Event(s) Summary
Number of Events Organized During Brain Awareness Week:
1
Year:
2021
Type of Events Held:
- Press Briefing
- Social Media Campaign
Target Audiences:
- General Public
- High school students (9-12)
- Patients & Caregivers
- Professionals
- Seniors
- University students
Approximate Number of People Reached:
N/A
Details of Major Brain Awareness Week Events/Activities:
Our 2021 BAW had a special character, because of the ongoing seismic activity in Central Greece. Our campaign evolved around safety, how the brain translates information into memories and feelings, and what makes everyone’s brain unique. Our Instagram platform https://www.instagram.com/alzheimersassociationlarissa/ and the fingerprint BAW logo by Emmanuel Ghandilyan, Armenia were used. Topics included: 1) Brain wiring – brief review by Bobby Kasthuri, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opqIa5Jiwuw 2) Brain vulnerability to mechanical stress: i) the woodpecker analogue and earthquake tips ii) Metin Basoglu, Ted Kaptchuk and Irene Tracey interviews to Claudia Hammond, BBC about earthquake survivors, https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b0112g4r iii) the “quake brain” study, University of Otago, New Zealand, https://www.otago.ac.nz/otagobulletin/news/otago824112.html 3) The interconnection between body and brain, highlighted on World Delirium Awareness Day – Dr Matt & Dr Mike’s medical podcast on “brain failure”, https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/dr-matt-and-dr/delirium-pmkQSJ_zI6y/ 4) The role of microglia on brain function: i) recognize the signs of glia malfunction, a patient perspective, https://www.wired.com/story/the-tiny-brain-cells-that-connect-our-mental-and-physical-health/ ii) vaccination concerns, neuronal dysfunction and auto-immune diseases, https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/guillain-barre-syndrome.html iii) gut microbes as drivers of brain disorders, https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00260-35) Neurodiversity – Simon Baron-Cohen on autism, human invention, and identity first language, https://scottbarrykaufman.com/podcast/simon-baron-cohen-how-autism-drives-human-invention/
Event Planning & Publicity
Publicity Methods Used:
- Emails
- Press Release/Media Advisory
- Social Media
Which of These Publicity Methods Was The Most Successful?
Resources
What other downloadable materials would you like the Foundation to provide?
- Other
Other Downloadable Materials:
- We would need some material in our native language. HSFN has made an attempt to build a guidebook. It would be better to have a more functional print with clear pictures and messages as those in English educational material. It would be also helpful to have some booklet prints as a prize. Hopefully
- grades 9-12 could find this rewarding
- even if written in English.
Which BAW graphic materials did you use in publicizing your events?
- Brain Awareness Week Logos
Feedback & Keys to Success
How do you feel BAW participation benefited your organization and the local community?
In line with Larissa Alzheimer Association goal to promote brain health in the local community, BAW is an excellent opportunity to target young audiences. We have also received positive feedback from Medical Students.In addition, because of the repeated seismic activity, since the event on March 3rd, 2021, we had the opportunity to revisit more efficiently basic safety tips, and talk about trauma, PTSD, and resilience, to improve the management of the situation at personal and communal level.
Did/do you like our Facebook page?
Yes
Was the information provided on Facebook useful?
Special note: our social platform aims to minimize availability of viewers profile information. With respect to (patient) rights Instagram has been used as the ideal solution to communicate posts without having an account/subscription. On the minus side, this doesn’t allow us to track visibility directly.
