Brain Injury Care Network
of New Mexico
Brain injury affects people of any age or walk of life. Brain injury is far more common than many people think. The burden of brain injury on an individual, family, community, and society is enormous. Brain injury is not just a one-time event with temporary, evanescing symptoms. For people with long-lasting mild TBI symptoms and for people with moderate to severe TBI and their families, injury can be the start of lives changed forever. We invite you to learn and become part of the solution. Rehabilitation from brain injury is possible and necessary, and it starts with education.
Training for Healthcare Providers, First Responders, and Front Line Staff is Crucial
Our goal is to train first responders, health care providers, behavioral health clinicians, special education teachers, and front-line staff to identify and manage brain injury in patients and clients. Objectives are to:
1. Describe the causes and effects of brain injury, including choking, and possible co-occurring issues
2. Describe and practice how to screen for brain injury, including strangulation, and co-occurring issues
3. Describe and practice how to create an appropriate referral and care plan for a person who might’ve suffered a brain injury or repeated brain injuries.
Brain injuries have been called an epidemic in survivors of domestic violence (Valera, 2018) and require specific attention and care to improve outcome (Haag et al., 2019).
The videos presented on this page were made possible by support from the Brain Injury Advisory Council to the NM Governor’s Commission on Disability. Click on any image to the right or its caption.
Do You Know How Many People Live with Brain Injury?
Everyone is at risk for brain injury. A fall, a MVA, an assault – these are all common causes of traumatic brain injury. Many groups are at higher risk or have a higher incidence than the general population:
More than one of two homeless or marginally housed persons.
From 1/4 to all incarcerated individuals, depending on the level of incarceration.
Two of three young adults with a history of being in foster care.
15% of high school students reported a concussion within the past year.
There is a high bi-directional correlation between TBI and substance abuse.
Risk and rates are high in these groups:
Every non-White racial group
The elderly
Abused children
Veterans
Athletes, and student-athletes
Children with ADHD
Four in ten adult New Mexicans are estimated to have experienced brain injury with loss of consciousness. About 59,000 are estimated to need care.
(References available upon request)
Traumatic brain injury is only one kind of brain injury. It is caused by a blow to the head. There are many other causes of brain injury including stroke, heart attack, infection, toxic exposure, and more.
The Domestic Violence Connection: Domestic Violence Survivors and Perpetrators
The lifetime incidence of domestic violence for women in NM is 37.6%; we are 23rd in the nation. The lifetime incidence of domestic violence for men in NM is 33.3%; we are 16th in the nation.
70% of female DV survivors report TBI, many saying they have had more TBIs than they can count. Non-fatal strangulation causes anoxic brain injuries; a single incident of non-fatal strangulation increases a woman’s risk of death within one year by the perpetrator by any means by 750%.
60% of DV perpetrators are reported to have had TBI.