RECOGNISING, ACKNOWLEDGING, BELIEVING, UNDERSTANDING

Recognising the injury and its effects and acknowledging what has happened were recognised as vital for many of the people we talked to. This recognition and acknowledgement were important both from the person who had the injury and from the people who were important in their lives and in their recovery (for example, medical staff, but also family and friends). Recognition and acknowledgement were crucial to get the support required for recovery and adaptation.

Key people also need to acknowledge and believe the effects of the injury the person with the injury says they are experiencing in order for the person to get appropriate services and support. Finally, having significant people who either understand (e.g. from their own life experiences) or seek to understand what the person is going through can make an enormous difference in helping the person with the injury to feel supported through their recovery and adaptation.