Major causes of traumatic brain injury include falls, road accidents, construction, violence, and sports.

Sadly, in Malaysia, motorcycle fatalities are disproportionately represented. Statistics indicated that in 2003 of 6,282 fatalities, almost 60% of them were motorcyclists. Most of these motorcycle fatalities were the result of traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury, which can be mild, moderate, or severe, results in significant behavioural, cognitive, and psychosocial deficits, particularly attention difficulties, memory impairment, personality changes, and impaired interpersonal pragmatics. The risk for adverse outcome is correlated with the degree of severity of the injury. That is, the likelihood of permanent deficits increases with injury severity.

Despite the high incidence and profound impact of traumatic brain injury, it is only within the last three to four decades that patients with head injury have received comprehensive treatment for the various deficits that result from their injury.

This is partly because in the past it was thought that a clear distinction existed between normal functioning and organic brain damage, and that organic brain damage was untreatable.

Currently, long-term treatment for the individual with head injury is limited but improving.

In Ontario (Canada), the McGuinty government has taken several proactive steps towards prevention of traumatic brain injuries and saving lives.

They include implementing initiatives such as helmet safety education and awareness materials to work toward Ontario’s youth playing safe, raising public awareness and understanding of traumatic brain injuries and how to prevent them (especially in identified communities which are at greatest risk of injury), supporting safe environments that reduce the frequency and severity of injuries, and engaging communities and stakeholders through partnerships to develop and implement effective injury prevention strategies and programmes.

To date, there have been national efforts in Malaysia to increase the wearing of properly secured helmets.

For example, in 2002, a motorcycle safety campaign was launched to encourage parents to have their children wear helmets while they were pillion riders. The campaign also focused on getting all riders to properly strap their helmets.

These efforts have been successful to some extent in increasing helmet use and increasing the proportion of helmets that are properly secured. However, the effectiveness of the campaign – in terms of increased helmet use among children and proper helmet use among adults – has not been measured.

In addition, Malaysia appears to be one of the first countries to adopt a law passed in 1973 requiring motorcyclists and pillion riders to wear helmets. But this does little to reduce the number of head injuries because the law is not widely publicised or enforced.

More needs to be done. We need to collectively strive to build public awareness of traumatic brain injuries by producing and distributing important education and prevention tools.

By raising public awareness, there will be a change in attitude toward individuals with brain injury.

Moreover, raising public awareness of traumatic brain injuries can result in the decrease of alarming number of injuries sustained every year and an increase in the number of individuals practising preventive measures.

It can also help lawmakers see the importance of maintaining programmes to better serve individuals with brain injuries, design reentry programmes, and increase their functioning.

Dr Suguna Loganathan is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences at H.E.L.P. University College. The information provided is for educational purposes only and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of H.E.L.P. University College. Comment: letters@thesundaily.com