ATLANTA, March 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the lead agency on traumatic brain injury for Georgia, the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission is joining the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation to host two town hall meetings as part of their 40+ state national tour to raise awareness about pediatric brain injury and to promote the sharing of ideas to help states develop comprehensive systems of care for children.  

On Tuesday, April 5, 2011 from 7:30-9:30 p.m., brain injury program experts will gather at The Shepherd Center (2020 Peachtree Road NE, 7th floor Auditorium, Atlanta) for a panel discussion entitled: Back to school after a brain injury: re-entry and long term planning issues. Driving directions are available at http://www.shepherd.org/files/file/Directions%20to%20Shepherd%20Center_0.pdf.

On Wednesday, April 6, 2011 from 4:00-6:00 p.m., medical specialists and other brain injury experts will gather at the Emory University School of Medicine (1648 Pierce Drive, Room 110, Atlanta) for a panel discussion entitled: How do we prevent, identify and treat concussions in youth.  An Interactive Emory Campus map is available at http://emap.fmd.emory.edu/website/campus/index.htm.

Both events speak to the stifling number of cases reported each year and stories of concussion-related tragedies that have gripped recent news headlines.  

• 1.7 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury each year.  Approximately 475,000 of these cases are children. (CDC)
• Georgia averages 57,000+ traumatic brain injuries each year with 20,000+ Georgia children either treated in an emergency department or hospitalized. (BSITFC Central Registry 2008)
• The leading causes of traumatic brain injury in Georgia are Falls (49.88%), Motor Vehicle Crashes (24.36%), Being struck by an object or person (14.3%), Violence (11.4%). (Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission)
• People with traumatic brain injury are at a higher risk for psychiatric disorders. (Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission)
  • The prevalence of depression in the general population is around 5%, while the prevalence of depression in head trauma patients can reach an astounding 40 %. (Science Daily)
  • Professional sports programs like the National Football League have been leading efforts to prevent concussions sustained on the field.  These and other prevention initiatives have followed claims that numerous cases of depression and suicide, such as that of Philadelphia Eagles player Andre Waters in November 2006, are linked to a series of concussions. (NYTimes)

The Georgia town hall meetings are free and open to the public.  For a complete schedule of events, log on to gatrustfund.org or call 404-651-5112.  

SOURCE Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission

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RELATED LINKS
http://www.bsitf.state.ga.us