The Impact of concussion on a Veteran’s health and wellbeing can shatter their quality of life—and that of their family as well. Delays in treatment can extend recovery time and lead to long-term complications. Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada is working to change that, and The Royal Canadian Legion is proud to support their work.
Up to 35% of Canadian Armed Forces members and Veterans are living with the effects of concussion. Their work frequently exposes them to physical impact in training, combat, blasts, repetitive low impact trauma and more. Yet, until recently, concussion as a result of service was routinely underdiagnosed, undertreated, and research was not prioritized in the Veteran community.
The effects of a concussion can be severe and long lasting, ranging from chronic fatigue and headaches, to confusion and memory problems, to nausea, dizziness and difficulties with balance and co-ordination, to ringing in the ears and blurry vision. Brain injuries can also progress into mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and lead to neurodegenerative diseases such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, ALS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
The Impact of concussion on a Veteran’s health and wellbeing can shatter their quality of life—and that of their family as well. Today, many Veterans, caregivers and medical professionals do not always recognize the symptoms a Veteran is exhibiting as potentially linked to a recent or past traumatic brain injury (TBI). Delays in treatment can extend recovery time and lead to long-term complications. Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada (CLFC) is working to change that, and The Royal Canadian Legion is proud to support their work.
“The Legion is committed to supporting Veteran research, physical and mental health and wellbeing”, says Bruce Julian, Legion Dominion President. “Funding for Operation Brain Health will help CLFC educate and support Veterans and their families who are living with the effects of TBI and promote important Veteran research to accelerate development of diagnosis and treatment methods.”
A donation of $75,000 from the Legion National Poppy Fund was presented to Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada in support of Operation Brain Health. This program will help Veterans and their families living with the effects of concussions by provide recovery programs, a peer support network, education, and critical research through the CLFC’s Project Enlist Brain Donation Program.
Learn more about
Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada.
Legion’s Veteran Support Partnership Program
Eligible organizations providing national programs for Veterans can consider applying to the Legion for financial support through its Poppy Trust Fund.
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