mTBI (Concussions) and Suicide

We have a newsletter that deals with the connection between personal injury and suicide. But I think that connection is even stronger when someone suffers a brain injury than a broken leg.

In a lot of cases there’s neuropsychological testing and testimony from experts on both sides about whether our client is back to baseline or still has residuals. The discussion usually revolves around memory, executive function, cognitive endurance, etc.

But there’s something that doesn’t really get discussed. That’s the risk of suicide.

It’s something that obviously has received a lot of attention in CTE cases involving NFL players. But it hasn’t penetrated mTBI personal injury claims.

A large and well-conducted study in Denmark established that individuals who suffered TBI were twice as likely to take their lives than those who did not have a TBI diagnosis. The risk was highest within the first six months following the injury.

Depression is a common symptom following a brain injury. It can have physiological causes. It can also be a psychological response to knowing that the injury has changed you. There’s obviously a strong connection between depression and suicide.

We’ve seen this first-hand. A friend and long-time client took his own life after tripping, falling and suffering a concussion. He was one of the first people I ever represented. It felt like losing a member of the family.

If you’ve suffered a mTBI take care of yourself. Get treatment (even if you think you can handle the symptoms on your own).

If you know someone who has suffered a mTBI make sure to really check in to see how they’re doing. Err on the side of caution. Let them know that you’re there for them.