Swapna and Sandhya Mylabathula
Concussions are a significant public health issue, with over 46 000 youth sustaining concussions yearly [11]. It is the most common brain injury, and is an invisible injury that can be sustained at any age, by any person. While there has been important progress in addressing concussions in Canada, including one provincial public policy called Rowan’s Law targeting concussions in Ontario youth, and important reports by multiple governmental subcommittees and commissions, more work remains to be done to bridge significant gaps. The proposed policy is composed of 3 parts: 1) prevention strategies, 2) trauma-informed management, and 3) concussion tracking. Prevention is an important step to emphasize, reducing the burden of concussions on the individual, their community, and the healthcare system. The mental health impact of concussions remains a serious and under-addressed problem. The policy component on trauma-informed management specifically addresses this invisible yet significant implication of concussions. Finally, the sustainability of the recommended strategies is supported by the third policy recommendation in the proposal, which is to track concussions in Canada. This will facilitate a greater understanding of the state of the injury in Canada, as well as how it changes over time and responds to policy and programming.


