Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
(Closed-head concussions)
~By Vanessa McNeill, Suicide Prevention Specialist & Multiple “Mild” Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Survivor
2 CEs in Suicide Prevention
This class is an Introduction to Brain Injuries & the associated risks of Suicide.
This training is targeted towards mental health providers who are uniquely positioned to identify and treat patients with “mild” brain injuries. These injuries may not cause an individual to lose consciousness; however, if the head is shaken hard enough, cellular tissue damage occurs deep inside the brain that affects the emotion centers, resulting in Post-Concussive Syndrome. This damage is not picked up by current imaging used in doctor’s offices and emergency rooms.
Behaviors, cognitive and emotional states may occur as a result of brain injury that can be misdiagnosed or a “missed diagnosis.”
Currently, there is a lack of knowledge among many behavioral health practitioners regarding the sequelae of brain injury. This class will provide licensed clinicians with treatment and screening tools to identify brain injuries.
The odds of someone dying by suicide after a brain injury increases by 400%. Emergency rooms are filled with patients with suicidal ideation. Recent research indicates that early screening and intervention by mental health professionals can reduce the number of patients with PTSD from 58% to 17%.
The following topics will be covered in this class:
- Introduction to Brain Injuries
- A little Neuroscience
- The Limbic System
- How the emotional brain works
- What is a Brain Injury
- Concussion Myths
- Facts about TBIs
- Post-Concussion Syndrome
- Recovery Time
- Why helmets are not enough
- TBI-Associated Depression
- Concussions cause depression
- Reasons for TBI-associated depression are complex
- Dual Diagnoses (TBI & Mental Health)
- Overlapping symptoms
- TBI & Mental Health
- Multiple Diagnoses
- Re-thinking Substance Use Disorders as a symptom of Brain Injuries
- Brain Injury Treatment & Screening Tools
- Early Identification and Intervention
- Dual Diagnoses Therapies/Treatments
- Holistic approach for chronic brain inflammation
- Neuroplasticity (Resilience/new growth)
- Identifying (latent) TBIs during clinical intake
- TBI, Suicide Risk & Screening
- Research of prevalence
- Veteran’s Suicide Risk
- Suicide Screening Tool
- Suicide Crisis Syndrome (for screening)
- Suicide Screening Tools
Click on the Lesson below to get started!
