- June 27, 2014
- Social Issues
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- fashion, Wordpress
Not One More Suicide. Creating Help and Hope for CTE and Brain-Injured
Another former football player took his own life over the weekend, and there are questions about the role of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in his behavior and ultimate suicide.
I don’t want to hear about one more former football player suffering from problems that we can help mitigate. The media is only presenting the violent, sad endings. CTE is not a death sentence. CTE is a physical condition that results from a high number of concussive and/or sub-concussive hits to the head, as is very common in football. We can – and must – interrupt its progression.
CTE is not a death sentence. We can, and must, interrupt its progression.
We’re fooling ourselves if we think that donating more brains to Boston University will change anything for the millions of former players that are living with the aftermath of brain injuries. Studying a dead brain may only confirm what happened. We need to intervene while things are happening. There are things we can do along the spectrum of symptoms that will provide relief, help, direction, support and assistance to those suffering from brain injuries. There are important and essential tools that give family members a way to provide support to their loved ones.
If we as a society are truly compassionate and caring, we need to provide help to anyone suffering from a brain injury and actively create some hope in their lives. I am asking media outlets and writers across the United States to broaden your understanding and widen your views regarding CTE and begin discussing the help that is available, not just focus upon the sensational and scary aspects of those who didn’t get help.
Until there is a cure, there must be compassion and hope.
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