Staff Perspective: Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month

Staff Perspective: Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) has been called the signature injury of the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Despite the prevalence of this injury, it is still widely misunderstood by many people. To help spread information about this issue, March has been declared as Brain Injury Awareness month.

90% of those who suffer a concussion fully recover within one week. However, successfully identifying and treating concussions/MTBI is crucial. To help providers ensure they are able to recognize concussions and learn more about them, here are a few places to increase your knowledge.

The CDP offers a self-paced course designed to provide an introduction to mTBI, including signs, symptoms, along with recommendations for assessing and treating TBI. The overlap between mTBI and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are also covered in this course. It is available to take for free (or for CE credits for a fee) through our website here.

The CDP will also be hosting an applicable webinar as part of our monthly CDP Presents series. Guest speakers Dr. Johanna Wolf and Dr. Jenelle Anthony will lead “Psychological Consequences of Brain Injury and Implications for Treatment in Service Members and Veterans.” This webinar will present a military-focused look at traumatic brain injuries and how they impact care for Service members and Veterans. This event will be held from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. EST on 15 March. Participants who register and complete a post-training evaluation and survey will also be eligible for one free CE. You can sign up for this event here.

If you are interested in learning more about mTBIs, the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) has a wealth of links and resources to providers educate themselves on the topic. You can find clinical tools, FAQ sheets, and more at their website here DVBIC also provides info to help Service members, Veterans, and their families to prevent, recognize, and recover from MTBIs. Click here  to see the available resources.

The increasing awareness of the serious nature of concussions and other mTBIs is a step in the right direction, but even more effort is needed from us all to ensure continued progression on this vital topic. 

Chris A. Adams is the Online Services Project Manager for the Center for Deployment Psychology.