Brain Injury Awareness Month

Every year, thousands of Canadians experience brain injuries – a medical event that can turn lives upside down. Often invisible to the eye, brain injuries are among the most misunderstood and underdiagnosed health issues, despite their profound impact.

June is Brain Injury Awareness Month – a time to highlight these realities, break down stigmas, and ensure that survivors and their families know they are not alone.

What Causes Brain Injuries?

Brain injuries can happen in an instant. One misstep, a fall, a collision, or a medical event like a stroke can result in lasting damage. While causes are varied, falls remain the leading cause of brain injury across Canada. Children under the age of five and seniors over the age of 65 are particularly vulnerable. These groups are more likely to suffer head trauma from everyday incidents like slipping at home or falling from playground equipment.

But brain injuries don’t just occur in obvious accidents. They can happen during sports, car crashes, assaults, or even from a lack of oxygen during a medical emergency. Because these injuries can range widely in cause and severity, they are sometimes misdiagnosed or missed entirely.

The Hidden Nature of Brain Injury

One of the most difficult parts of living with or supporting someone with a brain injury is that its effects often aren’t visible. Unlike a broken leg or visible scar, the impacts of a brain injury can be silent but deeply felt – affecting every aspect of a person’s life.

Brain injuries can impair memory, concentration, communication, and decision-making. Emotional and mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, or personality changes are also common. Survivors may struggle with fatigue, balance, and coordination, even after outward signs of recovery. These symptoms can last for months, years, or even a lifetime, depending on the severity and area of the brain affected.

Because brain injuries are complex and unique to each individual, recovery and treatment can be equally complex. What works for one person may not help another, and many survivors face an ongoing journey of adapting to new limitations while fighting to regain lost abilities.

The Diagnostic Challenge

No two brain injuries are the same – and that’s part of what makes them so hard to diagnose and treat. A concussion from a car accident might leave one person dizzy and foggy for days, while another may have no symptoms until weeks later. Some injuries don’t show up on standard scans, which means they can be missed unless doctors are experienced and thorough in evaluating cognitive or behavioral changes.

Misdiagnosis or late diagnosis can delay access to critical therapies, such as occupational therapy, neuropsychology, or physiotherapy – all of which can make a significant difference in early stages of recovery. It can also make it harder for survivors to access legal and social support systems they may be entitled to.

Brain Injury Is a Legal and Social Issue, Too

At our firm, we regularly work with individuals and families affected by brain injury – and we see the ripple effects these injuries have not just on health, but on legal, financial, and emotional well-being.

After a brain injury, survivors may need lifelong care, specialized treatment, or modifications to their home or work environment. They may not be able to return to their previous job. Loved ones often step into caregiving roles, navigating complex systems and advocating for services.

Legal support can be essential in these situations. Whether a brain injury resulted from a fall in a public space, a motor vehicle collision, or medical negligence, it’s important to understand your rights. Accessing proper compensation and rehabilitation funding can make a real difference in long-term recovery and quality of life.

Raising Awareness, Strengthening Support

Brain Injury Awareness Month reminds us that behind every diagnosis is a person — and often, a family — trying to navigate an uncertain path. Survivors deserve compassion, timely care, and access to the resources that can help them live full, meaningful lives.

This month, we encourage everyone to learn more about brain injuries, speak openly about their challenges, and raise awareness for these ‘unseen’ injuries. For survivors and their families, it’s important to know: support is out there, and you do not have to go through this alone.

If you or someone you love has experienced a brain injury and is unsure of the next steps — medically, legally, or otherwise — we’re here to help you understand your options and your rights.