Concussed youth are at significantly higher risk for mental health issues; further commentary and tips for parents
By Sravya Valiveti. This article was initially published in our Concussion Update newsletter; please consider subscribing.
A UCLA Health article highlights the relationship between concussion symptoms and mental health challenges in children. The article discusses the work of Talin Babikian, PhD, who wrote an Invited Commentary for JAMA Network Open | Neurology. Dr. Babikian’s “piece was in response to a large study, published in the same edition, in which Canadian researchers found that youth who experienced a concussion were more likely to develop mental health issues, self-harm, or psychiatric hospitalization than peers who had an orthopedic injury.”
In the UCLA Health article, Dr. Babikian discusses the impact on quality of life beyond the initial onset of symptoms and the importance of addressing mental health needs. Post-concussion symptoms in youth are often interconnected and have psychological as well as physiological components. Dr. Babikain highlights this by describing how migraines can affect the quality of sleep, which would impair attention/mood in school and participation in activities. The disruptive nature of concussion symptoms increases the likelihood that youths feel alone and isolated while navigating complex life changes, putting them at higher risk of developing mental health issues over time. This higher risk highlights the need for early intervention and connecting youth to a solid social support system and resources that help address feelings of social isolation. The article provides suggestions for parents and families to monitor their child’s symptoms (including behavioral changes and mental health concerns) and proactive steps to support the young person.
Concussion symptoms and mental health challenges can look very different from one child to another, depending on their background and risk factors. Most importantly, factors such as home environment, early childhood experiences, or level of support available may make some more vulnerable to mental health challenges than others and, thus, significantly impact the process of recovery. Researchers reiterate that parents have to facilitate a secure environment to ensure kids feel socially connected and create a safe space to talk about what they are going through.
In addition, they recommend that parents reach out to concussion management counselors to provide expertise and advocate for their child’s mental health needs. They note that kids would highly benefit from this additional intervention that can equip them with tools as well as a sense of control to manage their symptoms long-term successfully.
We recommend our blog post: Social support during youth concussion recovery.
To read more about the study Dr. Babikain is commenting on, see our blog post, Children and adolescents with concussion at 40% higher risk for mental health issues than peers with orthopedic injury.
