Key Messages & Talking Points
Expand each section below to learn more:
Message for Communicators
- DOD recognizes protecting, treating, and optimizing brain health is a top priority.
- Considered one of the signature wounds of war in the 21st century, TBI presents complex and challenging problems for many of our service members.
- Pursuing better health, better care, and force readiness for service members is matched by the MHS commitment to understand, prevent, diagnose, and treat TBI in all its forms—from mild, also known as concussion, to severe or penetrating injuries.
- TBI is treatable, and recovery is expected with appropriate care. Most people who sustain a mild TBI (also known as a concussion) recover completely.
- DHA is working to standardize TBI diagnosis and treatment across the continuum of care.
- Returning to duty following any TBI, even mild ones (also referred to as concussions), should take a progressive, step-by-step approach under the care of a physician. Symptoms of a TBI may reappear or worsen if military training and sports or recreational activities are resumed too quickly.
- DOD is using advanced diagnostics, promising breakthrough therapies, and long-term monitoring to better identify, care for, and treat service members and veterans who are affected by TBI.
- DOD leads in the treatment and research of brain-related injuries and is committed to identifying breakthroughs to improve the lives of individuals who have sustained brain injuries. DOD’s efforts address a holistic view of brain health and brain injuries—before, during, and after any blast exposure or other injury.
- DOD promotes and protects the health and well-being of our nation's armed forces, dedicating significant resources to close gaps in knowledge about TBI. The Warfighter Brain Health Initiative, launched in 2022, brings together multiple resources across the department to optimize brain health. The plan combats TBI by addressing multiple concerns such as blast exposures, repetitive head impacts, and TBI’s long-term effects.
Graphics and Social Media Content
Suggested Social Media Message: Are you ready to #BeABrainWarrior? Learn how to protect, treat, and optimize brain health during Brain Injury Awareness Month. Visit https://health.mil/BIAMonth. #BIAMonth #TBI #ProtectTreatOptimize
Suggested Social Media Message: Do you or a loved one have a #TBI? You aren’t alone. Service members have reported more than 460,000 TBIs since 2000. Find tools to protect yourself from further injury, talk to your provider about your treatment, and optimize your recovery. Learn more: https://health.mil/BIAMonth. #BIAMonth #ProtectTreatOptimize #BeABrainWarrior
Suggested Social Media Message: #DYK? Most #TBI happen in garrison, not on the battlefield. Find fact sheets to help you becomes a #BeABrainWarrior and protect your head anytime, anywhere. https://health.mil/BIAMonth. #BIAMonth #ProtectTreatOptimize
Suggested Social Media Message: #BeABrainWarrior = protect your head. Learn how to #ProtectTreatOptimize your brain health. https://health.mil/BIAMonth #BIAMonth #TBI
Suggested Social Media Message:#BeABrainWarrior – learn to recognize #TBI symptoms and don’t delay treatment. Find resources to #ProtectTreatOptimize your brain health. https://health.mil/BIAMonth #BIAMonth
Suggested Social Media Message: Providers: #BeABrainWarrior by optimizing your #TBI recovery journey and safely return to duty. Learn how you can #ProtectTreatOptimize your brain health. https://health.mil/BIAMonth #BIAMonth
Suggested Social Media Message: Even a mild traumatic brain injury can impact mission readiness and the ability to deploy. #BeABrainWarrior by understanding the signs and symptoms of TBI and knowing when to seek care. TBI is treatable & recovery is possible. https://health.mil/BIAMonth #BIAMonth
Suggested Social Media Message: Our providers are prepared and ready to treat vision and hearing dysfunctions associated with TBI. Learn more: https://vce.health.mil/Clinicians-and-Researchers/Clinical-Practice-RecommendationsVision Center of Excellence webpage, and https://hearing.health.mil/For-ProvidersHearing Center of Excellence webpage. #BIAMonth
Suggested Social Media Message: Head injuries, especially from a blast, are one of the most common combat-related injuries among deployed service members. Typical symptoms after a head injury are trouble hearing speech in noisy settings, ringing or other sounds in your ears or head, or dizziness when you move your head while walking or bending down. Talk to your provider if you have any of these symptoms. Learn more about #TBI and hearing loss: https://hearing.health.mil/Resources/Education/Conditions-and-Concerns/TBI-and-Hearing-LossHearing Center of Excellence webpage #BIAMonth
Suggested Social Media Message: Vision and hearing are vital senses for effective communication and situational awareness. To defend yourself against injury and maintain mission readiness, wear the proper vision and hearing protection while on and off duty. #BIAMonth #TBI
Learn more:
• Vision: https://vce.health.mil/Eye-Injury-Prevention-and-Response/Eye-Protection Vision Center of Excellence webpage
• Hearing: https://hearing.health.mil/Prevention/Evaluated-Hearing-Protection-Devices Hearing Center of Excellence webpage
Suggested Social Media Message: DYK? If you sustain a head injury, you could also have vision, balance, and hearing damage problems. See your health care provider right away. https://vce.health.mil Vision Center of Excellence webpage https://hearing.health.mil Hearing Center of Excellence webpage #BIAMonth #TBI