Grant: CIHR Fellowship

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are being increasingly diagnosed in youth (i.e. 14-25 year-olds), and have been repeatedly linked to problems with mental health (MH) in this age group. Although most TBIs are considered mild (often called concussions), they can cause emotional, physical, cognitive, and sleep disruption symptoms, which are more likely to cause ongoing problems for individuals with a history of MH problems than those without.   Youth receiving MH care who have a history of TBI may therefore experience an increased burden of these symptoms, potentially leading to complex needs when accessing MH treatment. However, symptoms of MH problems and TBI overlap significantly, and the impact of TBI history among MH service users has been understudied overall and almost exclusively in adult samples. Therefore, very little is known about the clinical characteristics or needs of youth receiving MH treatment who have a history of TBI. This lack of knowledge is concerning as youth are at high risk for TBI, MH challenges, and fragmented care, particularly as they transition between youth- and adult-oriented care systems.   I will address this critical evidence gap through two studies. Study 1 is an analysis of data from an ongoing cohort study which follows 237 youth across their MH care trajectories. Participants complete annual surveys on health service use and MH symptoms, and a TBI screening questionnaire. I will examine whether TBI history predicts increased severity of different self-reported cognitive, physical, emotional, and sleep related symptoms. Study 2 is a qualitative study in which I will interview approximately 15-20 participants from Study 1 who have a TBI history to better understand their experiences of receiving MH services and their perceived MH care needs. This project will provide novel evidence regarding the role that TBI plays for youth accessing MH care, crucial for a group at high risk of receiving poorly coordinated health services.