Alabama Department of Mental Health Commissioner Kimberly Boswell leads opens the Veterans Mental Health Steering Committee meeting on Oct. 23, 2024 in Montgomery where state officials discussed addressing traumatic brain injuries in veterans, linking them to mental health issues and higher suicide risk. (Alander Rocha/Alabama Reflector)
Alabama officials are looking to address traumatic brain injuries (TBI) among veterans.
At a meeting Wednesday, members of the Veterans Mental Health Steering Committee discussed the link between TBI, mental health issues and substance abuse, which could put veterans at higher risk for suicide.
April Turner, state head injury coordinator for the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, said that TBI is a “silent epidemic,” with an estimated 102,000 Alabamians living with a brain injury, including non-veterans. The number of veterans in Alabama with TBI is not available, but nationwide, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reports over 185,000 veterans currently have at least one documented TBI.