Brain Awareness Week is an international public awareness campaign organised by leading neuroscience organisations around the world. In 2009, Brain Awareness week has already commenced, beginning on the 16 March and ending on the 22nd. Mentioned briefly in this Sydney Morning Herald article, Brain Awareness Week has not been well publicised in the media. This article states that simple, regular mental stimuli, such as doing a cross word, is the key to long-term brain health.
“Doing crosswords or other puzzles, you’ll activate part of your brain but that leaves massive amounts of it unactivated,” said Prof Robinson, of the School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine at Melbourne’s Monash University.
“To get those other areas activated you need to do things that concentrate on the ability to listen carefully, or movement.”
Having an active social life and keeping physically fit, to ensure strong blood flow to the brain’s tiny vessels, also protected the brain as a person aged, he said.
Prof Robinson said studies that looked at identical twins found the sibling who was more active from their 50s had a lower rate of mental deterioration.
In our local Wollongong region the importance of mental health funding and awareness has been touched upon by the Illawarra Mercury, following a statement from South Coast MP, Shelley Hancock.
“There are many important issues such as the Princess Hwy, police numbers and jobs, but my gut feeling is still mental health” she said. “We have some serious problems with mental health and early intervention in the Illawarra” Mrs Hancock pointed to Helping Hands as an effective program that could be used in areas of the Illwarra in need.
A follow-up story for this short article could be to track the funding that is given to promote awareness of mental health and support mental health research throughout the Illawarra. The NSW Cabinet’s reaction to Mrs Hancock’s statement could indicate whether action will be taken toward fixing the Illawarra’s mental health system.
Information on how you can take part in Brain Awareness Week and increase brain awareness can be found on www.brainaustralia.org.au
