The Florey proposes Australian-first youth stroke recovery service
Originally published on September 5th 2018.
The proposal for the world-first Youth Stroke Service, led by the Stroke Foundation and Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, has been delivered as an election pitch to reduce the burden of stroke in working-age adults.
One in every four strokes now occur in people under 65, and 1400 Victorians aged 18-55 have a stroke each year. Almost all report having ongoing needs and “hidden disabilities” such as fatigue and cognitive problems.
Half of survivors who want to return to work report not being given the support to do so, leading to almost $1 billion in lost earnings.
Florey Professor Julie Bernhardt said the current rehabilitation system was designed for elderly stroke patients who had a different set of physical, psychological and social needs to young survivors hit during peak periods for work, study and raising a family.
“It’s surprising how many young people don’t have rehab, so we want this to work as a referral system so when people finish their hospital stay they can come to us and link them to the services relevant to this population,” Professor Bernhardt said.
“The research arm aims to find better ways to help survivors return to work, identify new targets to prevent further strokes and uncover what causes strokes in young people.”
The Florey team, with Austin Hospital’s head of stroke Professor Vincent Thijs, is surveying stroke survivors about their unmet needs to help design the proposed service.
Previous research, led by medical student researcher Jessica Shipley, found that on top of physical changes, young stroke survivors often experienced long-term depression and anxiety, loss of identity and relationships, and were often dismissed by the medical system and society for being “too young” to have a stroke.
Stroke Foundation chief Sharon McGowan said given the number of working-age people affected by stroke was expected to increase, the proposed service would address innovative ways of addressing rehabilitation gaps.
Minister for Health Jill Hennessy and Opposition health spokeswoman Mary Wooldridge both said they were committed to investing in stroke treatment, prevention and recovery.
Story reported by Brigid O’Connell. Read the story published in the Herald Sun here.
Update: Major funding awarded to establish Australia’s first young stroke service