Steph Nanos had to give up sports in high school because of concussions.
Now, she’s heading up a group intent on changing perceptions. Nanos, ArtSci ’16, is one of two co-presidents of the Queen’s Concussion Awareness Committee, a club founded last year to lend support to students who have suffered a concussion — and challenge any misunderstandings about the injury.
Nanos and Co-President Julia Hamer started the club last year, and while Hamer hasn’t suffered concussions, she’s had several people she knows deal with them.
“We just aim to bring awareness to an invisible injury, where a lot of people feel alone because there are so many misconceptions,” Nanos said. “We just want to act as a breath of fresh air — making sure people know there are resources on campus, that they’re not alone.”
The club is the first on campus to deal with the day-to-day impact concussions have on individuals. Unlike injuries like fractures or sprains, concussions don’t have obvious physical symptoms, making them more difficult to notice.
Nanos’ concussions occurred when she was playing hockey — a sport she eventually had to quit due to multiple head injuries — and caused her to suffer from brain damage and mood disorders.
At the time, rest was the prevailing treatment for dealing with a concussion. While Nanos did this, she noticed changes in her behaviour, mood and her general cognitive functions.
As she did more research on the topic, she found out that depression, anxiety and other long-term effects could arise from concussions.
“With some people, especially we’ve noticed on campus, they’ll say ‘I’m feeling sad after my concussion, is that normal?’ Yes, it’s normal,” Nanos said. “But not a lot of people would know that. So it’s really, really important to put up personal stories because it kind of challenges the stigma.”
Nanos said one thing the club wants to work on is creating resources — such as tips on what do after suffering a concussion — to allow injured students to return to day-to-day life “The entire concept is how to return to a healthy lifestyle,” she said. “How to contact your TAs and professors, should you be drinking. Things that would involve a university student’s lifestyle because that’s what we’re dealing with.
“I just genuinely hope [the committee] has a positive effect on people’s lives and that people don’t feel so alone,” Nanos said. “I felt alone when I had mine and I just don’t want other people to feel alone.”
Last March, the club held a speaker event — something the group is seeking to do again this year, involving students, medical staff and former professional athletes. As well they help point people in the right direction towards getting help.
The committee isn’t connected to Athletics and Recreation, but on an individual level, several varsity athletes have supported the club, including current vice-president and former men’s hockey player Jordan Auld.
While athletes are often at risk for concussions, Hamer said the club is for anyone who might suffer a concussion.
“We hope to reach all the Queen’s community,” Hamer, ArtSci ’15, said. “That includes Queen’s varsity athletes, or athletes in general who might be at higher risk of concussions. It includes non-athletes who might not think if they fall and hit their head on the curb they could be concussed. They need to think about that the same way a football or hockey player would.
“I would love for us to be sustainable enough to keep going, to keep having the strength we have now,” she added. “And to eventually be able to make a chip in the mentality that exists now. I think we’re off to a good start there.”
Tags
Concussions, Hamer, Health, Nanos
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