UCL Centre for Neurorehabilitation Seminar: Professor Katerina Hilari

Please note that this event will take place in person, followed by drinks reception and networking. There will be no option to attend the seminar remotely, however we do plan to record the seminar and we will put the seminar recording on the CNR website once it is available. Please send any enquiries to: cnr@ucl.ac.uk.

People with aphasia are at high risk of mood problems post-stroke, yet limited evidence exists on effective interventions to improve wellbeing and prevent depression. The need to address wellbeing in the rehabilitation of people with aphasia will be raised. The role of the multidisciplinary stroke team and speech and language therapists in particular will be highlighted. Key points on what stroke staff can do to support emotional wellbeing will be raised. SLT-led interventions to improve wellbeing will be highlighted. The presentation will then focus on one specific intervention, peer-befriending, which capitalises on the skills of people with aphasia themselves. The SUpporting wellbeing through PEeR-Befriending (SUPERB) intervention will be described and information will be provided on key parameters to consider when setting up a peer-befriending scheme. The outcomes of the SUPERB intervention will be presented, including the views of people with aphasia receiving the intervention and people with aphasia offering the intervention. Implications for practice will be raised.