Acquired Brain Injury and Mental Illness
Friday, 01 June 2007 00:00
Brain Injury Australia (BIA) developed the following summary paper for the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. The paper aims:
- to raise awareness within government of the significant disadvantage experienced by individuals with a dual disability of ABI and mental illness;
- to identify barriers to optimum support, and
- to make recommendations to improve responsiveness and achieve optimum outcomes for this group in our community.
The paper was released in June 2007 and was prepared on behalf of BIA by Lyndall Grimshaw, Executive Officer BIA.
From the publication summary:
Acquired brain injury (ABI) is often termed ‘the invisible disability’ because the nature and impact of brain injury are not well understood or acknowledged by policy makers and the community at large. This lack of understanding has resulted in a fragmented approach to program funding, policy and service development, and a high level of unmet need for individuals with an ABI and their families.
The disadvantage experienced by individuals with an ABI is compounded with the onset or pre-existence of mental health problems including a mental illness or a mental disorder. Undiagnosed and untreated mental health problems can exacerbate difficulties and jeopardise the rehabilitation of the individual potentially exposing him/her to further risk of family breakdown, social isolation, unemployment, homelessness, aggression and violence, exploitation and, in more serious situations, may lead to involvement in the criminal justice system.
Download the publication: Complexities of Co-morbidity (Acquired Brain Injury and Mental Illness) and the Intersection Between the Health and Community Services Systems [Adobe Acrobat PDF - 279.34 KB]



