March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, and the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) has long been a leader in raising awareness of this often misunderstood diagnosis. BIAA’s theme for 2021 is #MoreThanMyBrainInjury. The goal of this campaign is to improve understanding of what it is like to live with brain injury. The phrase, “living with brain injury” speaks volumes to me; brain injury is not something that “happens” to a person and then ends, like a blip on a radar, but rather it is a chronic condition. Some facts about brain injury published by the BIAA highlight just how common this condition really is:
- Over 3.6 million people sustain an acquired brain injury (which includes traumatic and non-traumatic) every year.
- Every 9 seconds, someone in the US sustains a brain injury.
- At least 5.3 million Americans live with a TBI-related disability. That’s one in every 60 people.
The numbers above are staggering, and to add to that, the number of people who sustain a brain injury and do not seek care is unknown.
There is a well-established continuum of care often followed by those who sustain a brain injury: acute hospital → rehab facility → homecare → outpatient therapy. But what happens after discharge from outpatient therapy? After reaching this milestone, many people continue to struggle with the changes brought on by their injury with little support or direction. The consequences can be devastating and wide-ranging: changes to physical health, cognition, communication, mental health, changes in relationships, decreased ability to work or go to school, financial burdens; the list goes on.
So, what can we do to help?
One place to start is to join the #MoreThanMyBrainInjury campaign during the month of March. Speaking up about brain injury helps to:
- Increase awareness of the incidence and prevalence of brain injury.
- Reduce stigma associated with this disease.
- Highlight the diversity of the brain injury community.
- Improve support for the millions of Americans living with brain injury.
Katherine and I are committed to supporting those living with brain injury for the long term by providing continued support for cognitive-communication needs, from the perspective of wellness. Our approach combines principles of speech therapy with the practices of yoga and mindfulness to highlight your strengths, and help you see you are more than your brain injury.