Category Archives: Awareness – Days/Weeks/Months

Protecting the Male Brain in June

This week – June 15–21, 2026 – is International Men’s Health Week, the days leading up to and including Father’s Day. In America, the entire month of June marks Men’s Health Month. Begun in 1994 as an observance of National Men’s Health Week, it was created by a Senate Joint Resolution from Senator Bob Dole and Congressman Bill Richardson and signed by President Clinton on May 31, 1994; it later grew into a month-long observation. International Men’s Health Week was launched in 2002 by the Men’s Health Network at the 2nd World Congress on Men’s Health in Vienna, Austria. Both aim to raise awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment among men and boys. The 2026 U.S. theme is “Partners in Care: For Better Lifespans Across the Lifespan.”

The CDC reports that males are nearly twice as likely as females to be hospitalized for a traumatic brain injury and nearly three times as likely to die from one. A 2025 PubMed-available study found that men died from TBI at more than three times the rate of women (30.5 vs. 9.4 per 100,000 in 2021). Falls are the leading cause, but men disproportionately suffer TBIs from motor-vehicle crashes, assaults, and self-harm; a 2025 Swiss study, also available on PubMed, found 73.3% of ICU TBI patients were male. This month, the CDC urges men, and all people, to buckle up every ride, wear helmets, avoid alcohol-impaired driving, and take steps to prevent falls.

Honoring Victims, Healing Brains: 2026 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) runs April 19 – 25, 2026, marking its 45th year. First proclaimed in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan, the week brings communities together to recognize the impact of crime, honor survivors, and renew commitment to victims’ rights.

Three years following its founding, in 1984, Congress passed the Victims of Crime Act to help victims navigate the tangible costs of surviving a crime, establishing the Crime Victims Fund. The law declared its purpose to assist victims “as soon as possible in order to reduce the severity of the psychological and emotional consequences of the victimization.”

That connection to brain injury is disturbing. Over 75% of domestic violence survivors suffer single or repeated traumatic brain injuries. Sometimes termed DV-TBI, most of these traumas go unreported. (Medical professionals are less likely to ask about concussions and other invisible injuries caused by domestic violence.) Assault. though, has been reported as the third most common cause of TBIs, reportedly accounting for about 10% of all cases.

The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime has declared the theme of 2026 NCVRW to be Listen. Act. Advocate. Protect victims, serve communities. As stated by the office of Chattanooga, TN Mayor Tim Kelly: “The theme emphasizes the critical need to remove barriers, meet survivors and their families where they are, and foster hope in order to build a safer, healthier community.”

Man’s Best Friend Aids Brain Injury Recovery

Dogs are proving to be powerful partners in brain injury rehabilitation, offering benefits across physical, emotional, and speech therapy alike.

A March 2026 story from the University of Colorado Health (UCHealth) system documented Alan Tay, a 71-year-old stroke survivor who credits his border collie Olay with driving his recovery. Working with a neurological physical therapist, Alan used dog agility training to rebuild endurance, coordination, and memory – ultimately winning a national canine competition just three months after his stroke. Emotionally, dogs combat the depression and isolation that frequently accompany brain injury. The above-mentioned UCHealth story also notes that Olay gave Alan the will to push through. An NIH-funded clinical trial confirmed that service dogs may meaningfully reduce PTSD symptoms in military members and veterans.

Dogs can assist with speech recovery, as well. Research shows that aphasia patients produce more verbal and nonverbal communication around therapy dogs, which respond to tone and gesture rather than specific words. Speech therapy in such a uniquely low-pressure and therapeutic environment is highly beneficial for language practice.

The bipartisan SAVES Act, which reached the Senate calendar in February 2026, would fund service dogs for veterans with TBI and PTSD. Introduced by Rep. Morgan Luttrell (TX) on April 2, 2025, H.R.2605 explicitly lists “Traumatic brain injury” as a covered condition, recognizing that a trained service dog can be “optimal for the veteran to manage the disability, condition, or diagnosis and live independently.” In March 2026, America’s VetDogs launched a national campaign during this Brain Injury Awareness Month that highlights service dogs’ life-changing impact for TBI survivors, particularly as it relates to counter-balance support and deep pressure therapy.

From Supporter to Survivor: Legacy of America’s 40th President

On what would have been his 115th birthday, TBIontheHill honors Ronald Reagan, America’s 40th President of the United States:

President Ronald Reagan left an enduring mark on the brain injury community when he signed Proclamation 5262 in October 1984, designating National Head Injury Awareness Month. This landmark action acknowledged the 700,000 Americans hospitalized annually for head injuries and called for greater research and support.

Reagan himself experienced traumatic brain injury firsthand. On July 4, 1989 – just months after leaving office – the 78-year-old was thrown from a bucking horse at a friend’s ranch in Mexico. The fall caused a subdural hematoma, a dangerous blood clot between the brain and skull. After initial treatment, doctors discovered a second clot requiring brain surgery at the Mayo Clinic in September 1989.

Because the accident occurred after his presidency, it did not affect his time in office. However, Nancy Reagan later wrote that she believed the severe head injury “hastened the onset” of her husband’s Alzheimer’s disease, diagnosed in 1994. Research supports this connection, as moderate brain injuries increase Alzheimer’s risk 2.3 times, while severe injuries raise it 4.5 times.

Reagan’s presidency transformed America – ending the Cold War, spurring economic growth, and restoring national optimism. His personal experience with brain injury adds poignant context to his earlier advocacy, creating a legacy for millions affected by neurological conditions.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy for Brain Injury Survivors

Martin Luther King Jr. never spoke directly about disability or brain injury, yet his civil rights movement built a legal foundation that protects millions of brain injury survivors today.

The connection lives in the law itself. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (1964) declares that no person shall “be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination” based on race. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 both borrow this exact language, extending protections to people with disabilities, including brain injury survivors.

Tragically, the King family later experienced brain injury firsthand. On August 16, 2005, Coretta Scott King (1927-2006) suffered a stroke, leaving her paralyzed and unable to speak. Though she could never publicly address her condition, her eldest daughter Yolanda King (1955-2007) transformed the family’s pain into purpose, becoming National Ambassador for the American Stroke Association’s “Power to End Stroke” campaign. In her final speech in May 2007, Yolanda declared: “Everyone has the responsibility and power to take control of their health.”

King’s principle that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” applies to and protects brain injury survivors. Though he never marched for disability rights, his dream has expanded to embrace them.

Stalking Awareness Month Spotlights Hidden Brain Connections

The Federal Office for Victims of Crime, part of the Department of Justice, states, “Stalking is a crime of power and control.” January marks the 22nd annual National Stalking Awareness Month; the 2026 theme “Know It, Name It, Stop It” urges Americans to recognize and respond to this dangerous crime that affects over 40 million people nationwide.

This Sunday, January 18 commemorates National Stalking Awareness Day of Action. In New York, landmarks across the state will be illuminated in yellow, symbolizing caution like a yield sign, to honor victims and survivors. North Dakota and other states have also issued official proclamations and specific actions to recognize the day and the month.

Stalking’s link to traumatic brain injury is a troubling bidirectional relationship. Research shows 60% of stalking offenders have experienced a TBI, which impairs impulse control and increases aggression. Conversely, 75% of women in abusive relationships sustain at least one brain injury from violence like strangulation.

CDC data reveals 22.5% of women and 9.7% of men experience stalking during their lifetimes. In 2025, President Biden proclaimed, “My father used to say that one of the greatest sins a person could commit is the abuse of power – and that is fundamentally what stalking is.” President Trump has declared, “Stalking any individual, especially our young people will not be tolerated. My Administration remains committed to ending the crime of stalking.”

For resources and state-specific legislation, visit StalkingAwareness.org.

“Celebrating Value & Talent”

October 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This year’s theme “Celebrating Value and Talent” recognizes the contributions of workers with disabilities. Despite progress, significant employment gaps persist. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from February 2025, only 22.7 percent of people with disabilities were employed in 2024, compared to 65.5 percent of those without disabilities.

Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer emphasized the importance of observance this year, stating, “Celebrating America means celebrating the value and talent that all Americans – including people with disabilities – add to our nation’s workplaces and communities.”

As we commemorate this milestone anniversary, all Americans must renew our commitment to creating workplaces that celebrate the value and talent of all workers.

CDC – TBI in the Workplace Facts (8/5/2025)

The Healing Power of Roses

As we reflect on this September 11 day of remembrance and resilience, the rose’s message of renewal feels especially profound. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum honors this daily, by placing a single white rose at each inscribed victim’s name on his or her birthday. For those with a brain injury, this easy-to-find and symbolic flower has a value beyond remembrance. It has been found that the scent of a rose can help rebuild a damaged brain. It may sound like poetry, but science is discovering that the flower holds remarkable therapeutic potential for brain injury survivors.

Both fresh roses and rose essential oils can support brain injury recovery through multiple pathways. Recent research shows that rose aromatherapy increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a protein crucial for neural repair and new connections. Even patients who lose their sense of smell after brain injury—approximately 20%—can still benefit, as rose compounds enter the bloodstream through breathing and cross the blood-brain barrier to provide therapeutic effects beyond direct scent perception.

Sleep is critical for healing, but up to 75% of brain injury survivors report issues with sleep, and roses excel here too. A groundbreaking University of California study found that nightly aromatherapy produced a stunning 226% improvement in memory performance by enhancing brain pathways during sleep. As HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill stated in July 2025, “Millions of Americans are living with the damage caused by strokes and traumatic brain injuries. Current treatments are not enough”—making natural therapies increasingly valuable.

The rose’s symbolism adds psychological benefits to its physiological effects. Across cultures, roses represent transformation, hope, and the strength to bloom despite thorns—qualities essential for recovery journeys. Since rose season continues for a bit longer, until the first frost, survivors can now incorporate fresh blooms into their healing routine, and continue year-round, by using rose oil to harness nature’s gentle power for neural restoration.

2025 NIH Studies Reinforce Benefits of Yoga & Mindfulness for Brain Injury Survivors

Yoga and mindfulness serve as complementary practices that enhance both physical and mental well-being through integrated approaches combining movement, breath awareness, and present-moment attention. TBI of the Hill reported in 2018 that the federal government designated September as Yoga Awareness Month beginning in 2008. Since that time, the NIH research has continued to expand on the understanding of these therapeutic interventions for brain injury survivors.

Recent studies demonstrate sustained scientific commitment to mindfulness-based approaches for neurological recovery. On June 27, 2025, the NIH published a study, “Acceptability of a Brain-Injury-Tailored Yoga and Meditation Program Among Female Patients with Concussion.” In February of this year, another NIH research showed “mindfulness-based stress reduction as perceived by individuals with pathological mental fatigue after an acquired brain injury” provides essential coping mechanisms for survivors managing chronic fatigue and cognitive challenges. Current investigations also examine barriers to “adopting mindful medicine among physicians,” indicating growing clinical acceptance within medical communities.

The ongoing research validates earlier findings about yoga’s effectiveness in managing post-injury emotional regulation difficulties and neurological symptoms. These evidence-based studies offer hope for developing standardized rehabilitation protocols within medical settings.

The practice’s widespread cultural acceptance transcends political boundaries. Current HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s family embraces yoga traditions through his granddaughter’s enthusiasm for the practice, while commercially available yoga mats feature Kennedy, Trump, and former President Obama—himself a known mindfulness practitioner who demonstrated these principles throughout his presidency.

As NIH research continues, these studies provide crucial foundations for integrating yoga and mindfulness interventions within rehabilitation medicine, potentially transforming recovery outcomes for brain injury survivors nationwide.