New Study Documents Link Between Traumatic Brain Injuries & Suicide

While traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) have historically not received enough attention from both the medical and personal injury fields, this last decade has marked a dramatic shift in not only highlighting the significance of these injuries – especially when it comes to veterans’ experience with them – but also in supporting research into fully understanding the repercussions of TBIs and how they impact and interact with other medical conditions. This is especially important as it applies to their current medical conditions years later such that there is full accountability for those who have suffered from TBIs due to someone else’s negligence.

One such recent study highlighted the connection between TBIs and suicide, as well as the incidence rate with TBIs, other medical conditions (such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or “PTSD,” a and substance abuse) and suicide rates amongst veterans. Between 2000 and 2022 more than 450,000 service members were diagnosed with a TBI, and many of them also suffer from linked conditions, including those that increase their propensity towards committing suicide.

What Are Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)?

TBIs are the result of repeated and/or serious hits to the head to the point of causing brain damage. Although very much physical injuries, they also involve emotional and mental consequences as well, especially for veterans, where having a TBI has been linked to other behavior, such as self-harm and substance abuse.

Why This Study Is Important

While previous research identified a dangerous relationship between TBIs and PTSD amongst veterans, including suicidal ideation and associated behaviors appearing with notable frequency in those that suffer from both, this recently published study spells out additional risks for veterans with brain injuries by taking into account all lifelong mental health diagnoses as well – mapping out a broad scale cause and effect relationship between brain injuries and their indirect roles in suicide – especially as they interact with subsequent mental health issues. Specifically, the study found that soldiers with a history of TBI who took their own lives did so more than 20 percent sooner than those without brain injuries, and, after being diagnosed with a substance-use disorders, soldiers with TBIs were more than 60 percent more likely to commit suicide compared to those without the combination.

Contact Our Macon, Georgia Brain Injury Attorneys Today if You Have Questions

This research – although specific to veterans – has relevance to everyone who has experienced a TBI, especially those who also suffer from additional medical conditions, and are therefore potentially, and ultimately, more prone to suicide years later. When one party fails to exercise reasonable care, TBIs – and, ultimately, more damaging consequences – can result.

If you or a loved one has experienced this unfortunate tragedy, it is critical that you work with a brain injury attorney who understands and is up-to-speed on the latest science and experts so that there is full accountability for the harm that has been done to the victim. At Buzzell, Welsh & Hill, that is what we do: Contact our Macon brain injury attorneys today to schedule a free consultation and find out more.

Source:

time.com/6300439/traumatic-brain-injury-and-suicide/