By: Jim Wenzel, WTC Stratcom
Public service announcements, or PSAs, are informative and easily remembered clips of audio or video intended to raise general awareness of a current or pressing issue. The collective public awareness of key issues through well-executed PSAs has guided, and continues to guide, our generation. For example, with the timeless counsel of both Smokey the Bear and McGruff the Crime Dog I will forever know in my mind that “only I can prevent forest fires” and “take a bite outta crime”.
The danger of a nearby explosion or blow to the head causing an undetected mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a very real concern of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE). The Defense and Veteran’s Brain Injury Center (DVBIC), as part of DCoE, has launched a series of mTBI PSAs to heighten awareness of common brain injury symptoms, such as:
- Sleeping problems
- Irritability
- Memory problems
- Blurred vision
- Headaches
TBI is an invisible injury and may be difficult to detect unless Soldiers are aware of the symptoms and come forward to be treated. Recognizing these symptoms and breaking down the stigma of asking for help are two of the major efforts to combat mTBIs.
Be sure to visit www.dvbic.org for more TBI related information and resources.
