Jun 16, 2016 in News Brain Injury

Brain Injury: June is National Brain Injury Awareness Month in Canada

June is National Brain Injury Awareness Month in Canada, and organizations across the country are doing their part to contribute to the cause. In a release, the Ontario Brain Injury Association (OBIA) explained just how common - and devastating - acquired brain injuries (ABI) are in our society: "Brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability for people under the age of 44, and kills more people under the age 20 than any other causes combined." Indeed, Brain Injury Canada has described ABI as a "silent epidemic," one which can result in "a diminished or altered state of consciousness, and result in impaired cognitive, physical, emotional and/or behavioural functioning." As mentioned in the OBIA release, brain injuries are discouragingly common in young people. In an effort to protect the province's young people, Ontario is expected to pass Rowan's Law, a youth-oriented concussion safety bill intended to raise awareness of brain injury and protect young athletes from the dangers of concussion, later this week. The bill was introduced at Queen's Park by Progressive Conservative MPP Lisa MacLeod in September 2015, and was co-sponsored by Liberal MPP John Fraser and NDP MPP Catherine Fife. According to the Ottawa Sun, the legislation "would set the stage for coordinating youth concussion protocols among four provincial ministries and other groups." The law is named for Rowan Stringer, a 17-year-old from Ottawa who passed away in 2013 after sustaining two concussions in quick succession while playing for her high school rugby team. "It's great news for us," said Rowan's father, Gordon, in reference to the bill's expected passing. "Her death was preventable. A lot of prevention initiatives involve education and awareness. It's part of a cultural change that needs to happen, like anti-bullying and anti-smoking education." Along with ensuring that young athletes are removed from play after sustaining head injuries, education and awareness are central to Rowan's Law's policies. But awareness alone is unlikely to improve the standard of living for Canadians already living with brain injuries. "Brain injuries can range from mild to catastrophic, but all brain injuries can have lasting effects," said OBIA Executive Director Ruth Wilcock. "Sadly, a traumatic brain injury is a lifelong condition with varying degrees of disability ranging from minor to 24/7 care. Individuals who have sustained a traumatic brain injury often require immediate care at a trauma centre, acute care in the hospital, intensive rehabilitation and long term extensive care by family members." The OBIA and the Brain Injury Society of Toronto (BIST) mark each Brain Injury Awareness Month with the annual BIST/OBIA Mix and Mingle, which brings together hundreds of professionals who work with brain injury survivors in Ontario. Over the past several years, the Mix and Mingle event has raised more than $600,000. "Mix and Mingle does one of two things," explained Ruth Wilcock. "It raises awareness of brain injuries in Ontario and it enables each organization to continue to support individuals who are living with brain injuries." Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers is proud to play a central role in the annual Mix and Mingle event, which took place June 8 at the Steamwhistle Brewery in downtown Toronto. If you or a member of your family has suffered from an acquired brain injury, contact Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers today. Our team of injury lawyers understand the impact a serious brain injury can have on your life and the lives of your loved ones. Contact us now for a free, no-obligation consultation.