June: Brain Injury Awareness Month

The annual recognition of Brain Injury Awareness is in the month of June. Each year we strive to promote the importance of brain injury awareness and advocacy.

When it comes to matters of the brain and injury, awareness and advocacy can make a world of difference for those living with the "invisible injury".

Considering, 1 in 26 Canadians are currently living with a brain injury and last year, 18,000 individuals were diagnosed in Ontario alone; it is essential that we educate Canadians on the symptoms, signs and prevention tactics. Unfortunately, many Canadians are unaware of the impact a brain injury can have, especially on children. This is why Brain Injury Awareness Month is so important. Each and every one of us is susceptible to acquiring a brain injury.

I am the face of brain injury

We would like to recognize the Ontario Brain Injury Association (OBIA) and support their campaign, "I AM THE FACE OF BRAIN INJURY." This eye-opening campaign educates on this invisible disability, as anyone could have a brain injury -- a family member, a friend, a co-worker, a neighbour.

If you are interested in participating in this campaign, please tweet #IamtheFaceofaBrain Injury and support Brain Injury Awareness month.

Watch OBIA's short compelling video: https://obia.ca/i-am-the-face-of-brain-injury-stephanie-nancy-shawn/

Interesting Brain Injury Facts

• Traumatic Brain Injury occurs 500 out of 100,000 individuals yearly in Canada.
• Every day there are 35 persons admitted to hospital.
• Every year in Canada, over 11,000 people die as a result of a Traumatic Brain Injury
• Each year over 6,000 become permanently disabled after a traumatic brain injury
• Acquired brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability for Canadians under the age 35
• An estimated 1.3 million Canadians are living with and an acquired brain injury
• 1 in 10 people will know someone who will suffer a brain injury this year
• 465 people suffer a brain injury daily in Canada, this amounts to one person injured every 3 minutes
• The highest incidence of traumatic brain injury are men aged 16-24, men experience brain injury twice as often than female
• The greatest killer under the age of 45, the greatest disabler under the age 44 and kills more children under the age 20 than any other causes combined
• 85% of all cyclists deaths in Canada involve a brain injury 1 in 5 sport related injuries are head injuries (concussions)

-Stats sourced from of The Brain Injury Association of Waterloo

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LINKS:

National Brain Injury Awareness Month

An Inspirational Story about Brain Injury Awareness