Posted in: | Sep 11,2018
The risk of suicide increases by more than three times in the first six months after a person suffers a head injury. The consistent headaches, dizziness, and cognitive, logical memory problems that very often accompany a traumatic brain injury can lead to depression, exacerbating suicide risks.
In the study, Danish researchers estimated that the risk of suicide not only increases significantly within the first six months after the injury occurs but also remains at least twice as high as in people with no brain injury, over the next few years. Even as long as seven years after the traumatic brain injury, persons with an injury had a 75% higher risk of committing suicide, compared to persons with no history of brain injury. Out of the more than 34,000 suicides that were studied as part of the research, more than 10% had sought treatment for brain injury.
The injury did not necessarily have to be severe to result in an exacerbated risk of suicide. Even a mild traumatic brain injury which normally results in a concussion or mild loss of consciousness was linked to a spike in suicides. However, the highest risk of suicide was associated with persons who had suffered a severe brain injury.
A traumatic brain injury occurs whenever a person suffers a jolt or blow to the head. These kinds of injuries can occur during auto, motorcycle or bicycle accidents, or slip and fall accidents. Sports and recreational injuries can also result in significant brain damage.
Suffering a brain injury can significantly impact the quality of a person’s life. The frequent headaches, memory loss, concentration difficulties, and cognitive deterioration associated with a brain injury can severely affect a person’s ability to take care of himself, and consequently, his sense of self-worth and self-esteem. Feelings of depression are fairly common after a traumatic brain injury. It is important for caregivers and family members to seek professional medical help when a patient is suffering from the emotional consequences of an injury.
The Indianapolis traumatic brain injury lawyers at Montross Miller represent persons who have suffered brain injuries in the Indianapolis region and across Indiana.
