HR professionals are being urged to find out more about H.I.E. (Hypoxic-Ischaemic Encephalopathy) so that they can better support and signpost employees whose children may have experienced an H.I.E. incident.
H.I.E. is a lack of oxygen and blood flow to the brain, which typically occurs before, during or after labour, and can cause injury to the brain. It affects approximately 3-4 in 1,000 babies in the UK each year – a higher number than those who have a diagnosis of Down Syndrome, although parity of awareness is lacking.
The charity Peeps, set up to support families touched by H.I.E., will hold its sixth awareness day on Thursday 4th April and hopes people professionals will help to raise knowledge and understanding.
Peeps was set up in 2018 by parents Sarah (herself an HR professional) and Steve Land, after the birth of their daughter, with the aim of ensuring that no family experiencing H.I.E. will feel alone.
Peeps provides access to peer support, counselling and trauma therapy, funding for specialist equipment, and brings the H.I.E. community together through a range of on-line and in-person events ranging from information sessions to infant massage groups. Last year, it arranged and funded over 400 hours of counselling and trauma therapy, sent out over 400 free parent information packs and organised its first ever fully accessible, subsidised holiday for families.
“The world of H.I.E can be scary and challenging. We want to offer a safe space, where people feel held and supported on their journey,” says co-founder Sarah Land.
There are lots of opportunities for people to get involved in the #HeardOfHIE campaign on 4 April. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, @PeepsHIE and help us spread the word. Every share and like for our #HeardOfHIE campaign counts!
“Our vision is that every person in the UK touched by H.I.E. can access appropriate support. We want to raise awareness of H.I.E. and ensure people know what it is and how we can help,” says Sarah Land.
www.peeps-hie.org
