During Dr. Mary Hibbard’s presentation on the neurobehavioral aspects of traumatic brain injury, she discussed the subject of suicide following traumatic brain injury. For quite some time, rehabilitation professionals have been aware of the correlation between traumatic brain injury and increased incidence of suicide. Studies by Silver (2001), Teasdale and Engberg (2001), Oquendo (2004) and Mainio (2007) have all documented the increased risk of suicide following traumatic brain injury.
What gave me pause was Dr. Hibbard’s discussion about the increased suicide of our troops who sustained traumatic brain injury while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. While the media has well documented the high incidence of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder, the issue of suicide has unfortunately been pushed below the radar. It is essential that our troops on returning from war are provided with the appropriate treatment.