To the editor:
March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. According to the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year. Of those individuals, 52,000 die, 275,000 are hospitalized, and 1.4 million are treated and released from an emergency department.
Despite the staggering numbers, brain injury is called the “silent epidemic” because public recognition and understanding remains extremely low. Consequently, the individuals who have sustained a brain injury are oftentimes misdiagnosed, misunderstood, and under-funded.
This March, in recognition of Brain Injury Awareness Month, the Brain Injury Alliance of Wisconsin (BIAW) joins a nationwide network of state brain injury organizations with the United States Brain Injury Alliance (USBIA) to spread the word and raise awareness about brain injury prevention, recognition, and response. This campaign is to unite with the millions of citizens living with brain injury and their families who are taking action to ensure their voices are heard.
This year also brings us the 30th anniversary of the Rock County Brain Trauma Support Group. The group meets the second Tuesday of each month, from 6 to 7 p.m. at Catholic Charities/Community Connections, 2200 W. Court St., in Janesville. For more information call 608-752-4993 or email [email protected]
We would welcome your support for this national effort. By sharing this news and resource, you will play a major role in raising our collective voice about an epidemic that’s been silent for too long.
Brenda Brown, brain injury consultant,
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Madison