May's Spotlight Insight: Holistic Concussion Care

Holistic Concussion care: Why it matters more than you think

Sport, physical health, daily life, academics, part-time work, mental health, social wellbeing, feeling left out—even your living situation.

What do all of these have in common? They’re all affected by concussion.

Concussion doesn’t just stop you from playing sport—it can derail your entire life. So why are we still treating it like a sports-only issue?

We know that sport supports physical health, boosts mental wellbeing, and often helps people stay focused academically. But concussion can put all of that at risk—unless recovery is approached in a holistic way.

Students know this. When asked what support they needed most after a concussion, academic support ranked highest.  Is that really surprising, when your education shapes your future opportunities and earning potential?

And yet, in cases where students returned to learning too soon, 42% experienced a relapse in symptoms. Holistic concussion care isn’t a ‘nice to have’—it’s a necessity.

“I had to attend my labs after my concussion, but I can’t remember anything I learnt in those 2 weeks”

 – UoB Student Athlete (2024)

But this isn’t just about sport or study.

Mental health struggles, feelings of isolation, overstimulation in part-time jobs, stress about recovery—these are real and often overlooked. Without comprehensive support, unhelpful beliefs persist:

“I had to learn the hard way.”

“There’s just an assumption that everyone knows what to do and to come back when they feel good.”

“The advice was just ‘return after two weeks’ rest.’”

You’re dealing with a brain injury—and yet the default advice still assumes a linear, symptom-free recovery after 14 days? How would that make you feel?

This is nothing new to our ambassador, Ella Lovibond, who’s experienced multiple concussions and now leads the Injury Support Group at the University of Bristol. The group offers a safe space where injured students can connect with others who truly understand what they’re going through.

And this peer connection matters. According to expert sports psychologists, social support is one of the most powerful tools for recovery.

Holistic concussion care doesn’t just lead to better health and wellbeing outcomes—it also has significant economic implications for individuals and institutions. But that’s a story for another day…

Question to readers:

If you sustained a concussion tomorrow, what part of your life would it impact the most?

Drop your thoughts in the comments below or write to hello@concussiontoolkit.co.uk