Earlier this week, the Canadian Medical Association Journal published findings of an increased risk of suicide in individuals who suffer concussions.
The study of more than 200,000 concussion victims in Canada reveals that if a 'weekend warrior' sustains just one concussion in a pickup basketball game, he is three times more likely to commit suicide. This increased suicidality in the general population is scary, at least. It is not unreasonable to suspect that professional athletes who sustain multiple concussions and/or undiagnosed concussions have a risk exponentially higher than the three times greater risk ‘weekend warriors’ experience. That study needs to be done and appropriate interventional strategies adopted to prevent suicide in this vulnerable population.
PartnerWilliam T. Gibbs is a partner at the Chicago personal injury and medical malpractice law firm of Corboy & Demetrio and concentrates his practice on cases arising from railroad negligence, automobile collisions, participation in ...