TBI is a serious public health problem and a leading cause of death and disability across multiple age groups and populations. People who have had a TBI are more vulnerable to mental health problems such as severe depression and anxiety; emotional dysregulation, substance use disorders, suicidal thoughts and/or attempts, homelessness, and incarceration.
- The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates over five million Americans currently have a long-term or lifelong need for daily living supports due to a traumatic brain injury. (3)(4)
- TBI was recently designated a chronic disease, significant to understanding the long-term needs of its survivors and the community. (5)
- An estimated 8.5% of American adults have a history of TBI and about 2 percent are currently suffering impairment or disability because of their injury. This does not include incarcerated individuals. (6)
- Multiple studies show between 46% and 60% of incarcerated adults have had at least one TBI. (7)(8)
- Approximately 53% of people experiencing homelessness have had a TBI. (9)(10)
Community supports, resources, and opportunities to help people focus on their well-being, rebuild their lives, and reintegrate into the community are powerful, effective interventions to these tragic and preventable trajectories.
“There is an urgent need to consider the impact of the lack of services for TBI on the individual and the community. While widespread services are available for other disability conditions in the community, the ongoing cognitive/behavioral problems associated with TBI are excluded from community support services. At a minimum, the findings above have important implications for on-going case management past the acute/post-acute stages of rehabilitation, particularly when individuals return to the community setting.”
Dr. Joanne McGee. Clinical Director of ResCare Premier’s rehabilitation program for brain injury in San Marcos, Texas. (11)
References:
- Tommy Manning Act RCW 74.31: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=74.31&full=true
- Governor Appointed Council Members: https://governor.wa.gov/boards-commissions/board-commission-profiles/Traumatic%20Brain%20Injury%20Council
- 2021 CDC Data for United States: https://www.cdc.gov/traumatic-brain-injury/data-research/index.html
- 2015 Washington State TBI Statistics: https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/Documents/8390/346-072-TBI-Special-Emphasis-Report-WA-final.pdf?uid=627a79bf483e9
- 2023 NCBI Traumatic Brain injury as a Chronic Disease: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37086742/
- 2020 WA DOC Facts on TBI: https://www.doc.wa.gov/docs/publications/fact-sheets/600-FS007.pdf
- 2023 Study on Prevalence of TBI in Criminal Legal System: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37816135/
- 2012 Scientific American: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/traumatic-brain-injury-prison/
- https://komonews.com/news/local/study-finds-half-of-homeless-have-a-traumatic-brain-injury
- TBI & Homelessness: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(19)30188-4/fulltext
- https://www.brainline.org/article/traumatic-brain-injury-prisons-review