Adults in New Mexico who have suffered concussions have a three times higher likelihood of committing suicide compared to the remainder of the population. This is the finding of new research that was recently published. Curiously, the suicide risk was greater for people who suffered a serious injury to the brain on a weekend.
Suicide is a leading cause of death throughout the United States, ranking 10th on the list of top causes. This is true for people of various ages, and in 2013, over 40,000 people took their own lives. A concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury, has been linked to depression as a result of brain activity changes. Researchers recently took a closer look at the link between suicide and concussion.
The researchers looked at more than 235,000 patients as part of the study; these individuals had not suffered from a psychiatric disorder or tried to kill themselves prior to the research study. It was discovered that over a period of an estimated nine years, more than 660 people passed away as a result of suicide. Of these, a total of 519 suffered a concussion on a weekday, while the other 148 suffered it on a weekend. Even though more people were hurt on a weekday, the suicide risk was greatest among weekend sufferers, possibly because people who suffer concussions on a weekend usually do so during recreational activities and thus have a tendency to simply shrug off the injuries. Meanwhile, people who suffer injury during a weekday often do so at work, where treatment protocols are typically in place.
If people in New Mexico suffer serious injury to the brain because of the carelessness of other parties, it is within their rights to file liability claims against those deemed to be at fault. If liability is established to the satisfaction of the court, claims for damages will be decided. A successful outcome may lead to financial restitution, which may help to cover medical expenses and other losses tied to these life-altering incidents.
Source: medicaldaily.com, “Suicide Risk Increases 3-Fold In Adults After Concussion, Traumatic Brain Injury“, Jaleesa Baulkman, Feb. 9, 2016
