What is HEADS: UP?

Many stroke survivors experience emotional difficulties and problems with mood. This could include feelings of stress, anxiety and depression after stroke. Mindfulness has been found to help individuals manage these issues.

HEADS: UP is an innovative 9-week course designed to help individuals affected by stroke to learn mindfulness skills that might help them to cope with emotional difficulties, particularly anxiety and depression. It is based on Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction therapy.

What is Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction?

Mindfulness expert Jon Kabat Zinn explains mindfulness as paying attention to the present moment on purpose and without judgement.

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a self-management course that teaches people mindfulness skills that may help them to cope better with anxiety and depression. Exercises used during the course include meditation, mindful breathing, and mindful movement. With practice, these exercises can help improve your mindfulness skills. Working together with people affected by stroke we developed the HEADS: UP course –  a stroke-specific version of MBSR.

Take Part Online

Currently we are working on a feasibility research study (F2) to test the HEADS: UP course online. We are recruiting people now to take part in the research in January 2021. An experienced MBSR trainer will lead the HEADS: UP course, online, for a block of 9 weeks. Each week, a small group of participants will attend the online sessions. Participants will have access to materials and resources to support their practice. As this is a research study, participants will be asked to complete a series of questionnaires before and after the HEADS: UP course. We will also ask participants to discuss their experience of HEADS: UP Online in a small focus group. If you’re interested in taking part, or know someone who might be interested, please get in touch.

Publications & Media

• Parkinson, B., Lawrence, M., McElhinney, E., & Booth, J. (2019). Mindfulness for people with long-term conditions and their family caregivers: A systematic review. Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 34, 76-86.     
  

• Lawrence, M., Booth, J., Mercer, S., & Crawford, E. (2013). A systematic review of the benefits of mindfulness-based interventions following transient ischemic attack and stroke. International Journal of Stroke, 8(6), 465-474. 
  

• Report to Chief Scientist Office CSO

• Newspaper article from The Herald: Glasgow stroke study uses mindfulness to manage anxiety and depression

Registered Protocols

• HEADS: UP Pilot Feasibility Protocol

Project Team

• Professor Maggie Lawrence is the Lead HEADS: UP Researcher
• Dr Bridget Davis is a Senior Research Fellow and HEADS: UP Project Manager
• Naomi Clark is the HEADS: UP Researcher 
• Catherine Vost is the HEADS: UP Administrator

Funders

Project Advisory Group

The Project Advisory Group is a group of people who support and advise the HEADS: UP project. They may be people affected by stroke, their friends or family, or people who have an interest or experience in mindfulness. If you are interested in joining this group, we’d love to hear from you.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all individuals and organisations who have contributed to our project and especially our lay representative.

Contact us

If you have any questions or would like to participate, please get in touch and one of the team will get back to you.

Email address: headsup@gcu.ac.uk 

Phone number: 0141 331 3421