Author: Dr. Frank P. Gonzales is a clinical psychologist at the National Center for Telehealth & Technology.

We know that supportive relationships from unit friendships to family bonds to romantic partnerships are important to everyone.  These relationships help people feel satisfied with their lives, make them feel like they have a place they belong, and increase self esteem.  As we continue to focus our attention on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) it’s also important to talk about how a TBI of any severity can affect families and close relationships.

Immediate family involvement and education about the course of illness is crucial, and ongoing attention should be paid to family needs as time passes. Supporting families can improve outcomes by ensuring that their loved one’s recovery is not hampered by a deteriorating family situation.  Although families may not be included in all phases of treatment, they are able talk to health care providers who will be able to provide them with injury specific resources, and in some circumstances, local support groups.

The resources on afterdeployment.org are specifically designed to provide you with in-depth information on TBI, particularly the TBI eLibrary.

Additional web based resources and information can be found on The Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health & Traumatic Brain Injury.

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