S2. Ep. 5: TBI & Mental Health

This season is made possible with the generous support of the Kimel-Schatzky Traumatic Brain Injury Innovation Fund.

1 in 5 Canadians experience mental illness, with young individuals the ages of 15-24 more likely than any other age group (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2023). The pandemic has amplified the experience of equity-seeking communities and highlighted the disparity in access to quality health care. Research and evidence indicates a connection between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and mental health. Specifically, TBI survivors are at increased risk of developing a psychiatric condition or exacerbating a pre-existing condition.
 
In this episode, host Shaelyn Fitzpatrick is joined by guest speakers Dr. Matthew Burke and Dr. Vincy Chan to discuss the important and complex intersection between TBI and mental health.

Guest Speakers:
Dr. Matthew Burke
Cognitive Neurologist, Sunnybrook HSC
Assistant Professor, University of Toronto

Dr. Matthew Burke is a Cognitive Neurologist at Sunnybrook and an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto with cross appointments between Psychiatry and Neurology. He holds positions as Medical Director of Sunnybrook’s Traumatic Brain Injury Program, Neuropsychiatry Lead for University of Toronto Neurology Program and the Clinical Research Co-lead for the Concussion Ontario Network. Prior to his current appointments, Dr. Burke completed medical school and neurology training at the University of Toronto as well as a fellowship in Cognitive Neurology and Neuropsychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Burke’s research focuses on complex disorders such as TBI that lie at the interface between neurology and psychiatry.

Dr. Vincy Chan
Assistant Scientist, KITE – Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, UHN
Assistant Professor (Status), Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto 

Dr. Vincy Chan is an Assistant Scientist at KITE-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network and an Assistant Professor (Status) at the Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation and Rehabilitation Sciences Institute at the University of Toronto. Her research aims to understand the health, health service use, and health outcomes of individuals with TBI across the lifespan and continuum of healthcare. Dr. Chan is also the Co-Director of the Traumatic Brain Injury in Underserved Populations Research Program, which aims to amplify knowledge of traumatic brain injury and rehabilitation to address care gaps and improve health outcomes for diverse underserved populations with traumatic brain injury.

Resources:

• Brain Injury Canada
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
• Mental Health Helplines & Crisis Support

Host & Producer:
Shaelyn Fitzpatrick, RN, BScN
Injury Prevention Educator

Producer:
Rheegan Goodale
Student Journalist & Multimedia Reporter, Humber College

Podcast Produced By:
Centre for Injury Prevention, Sunnybrook HSC

Music: Klimenko Music at Premium Beats
Alexander Blu Music at Orangefreesounds.com