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Friday, March 13, 2026A Section To Your HealthFREEDiabetesEDUCATION CLASSESAPRIL 2026Southport Library2630 E. Stop 11 Rd., 46227Thursdays 9, 16, 23, 301:30 - 3:30 p.m.Please plan to attend all four classes.marionhealth.org/diabetes %u2022 317-221-2094By HANNA RAUWORTHhannar@indyrecorder.comEach March, advocates across the country observe Brain Injury Awareness Month, a national effort aimed at educating the public about traumatic and acquired brain injuries and the long-term challenges survivors face.Health organizations say brain injuries are more common than many realize and often go undiagnosed. The campaign seeks to bring visibility to what advocates call an %u201cinvisible injury,%u201d while encouraging people to learn the signs, support survivors and expand access to treatment and rehabilitation services.%u201cEvery March, the Brain Injury Association of America leads the nation in observing Brain Injury Awareness Month,%u201d the Brain Injury Association of America states on its public awareness page.%u201cBrain injury is often called the %u2018invisible injury%u2019 because the effects are not always easy to see,%u201d said Rick Willis, who sustained a traumatic brain injury in a 1979 car crash and later became a national advocate for survivors. %u201cToo often brain injury survivors are defined by an injury. An individual with a brain injury is more than a brain injury.%u201dHealth experts say raising awareness is critical because many people do not realize they have experienced a brain injury or fail to seek treatment.%u201cTraumatic brain injury is a major cause of death and disability in the United States,%u201d said Debra Houry, an emergency physician who previously led injury prevention efforts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.In Indiana, advocates and health providers are using the awareness month to educate residents about resources for survivors and caregivers. The Brain Injury Association of Indiana connects Hoosiers with rehabilitation services, support groups and advocacy programs.%u201cBrain injury is something that affects not only the survivor but their entire family,%u201d said Sue Wilson. Wilson led the Brain Injury Association of Indiana, a nonprofit that advocates for Hoosiers living with brain injuries and works to expand access to rehabilitation services, education and community support programs across the state. %u201cRaising awareness helps people understand that recovery can take time and support.%u201d%u201cPeople often think if someone looks fine, they must be fine, but brain injury doesn%u2019t always show on the outside,%u201d said Wendy Waldman. Waldman works as a neuroresource facilitator with the Indiana NeuroResource Facilitation Program, helping individuals with brain injuries and their families navigate rehabilitation services, community resources and long-term support after injury.Symptoms of brain injury vary depending on severity and the area of the brain affected. Common signs include headaches, dizziness, memory problems, difficulty concentrating and mood changes. Some symptoms appear immediately, while others develop days or weeks later.Advocates also emphasize prevention. Falls remain the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries nationwide, particularly among older adults, while car crashes and sports injuries are also common causes. Wearing helmets, using seat belts and taking steps to prevent falls can significantly reduce the risk of brain injury.For Indiana families affected by brain injury, Brain Injury Awareness Month is about ensuring survivors are seen, heard and supported. By sharing stories, expanding education and connecting people with resources organizations hope to improve understanding of brain injuries and the long-term challenges survivors face.For more information about brain injuries and resources for survivors in Indiana, visit the Brain Injury Association of Indiana at biaindiana.org.This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights.%u00a0https://iaaqli.org/Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.HIDDEN EPIDEMIC: Brain Injury Awareness Month shines spotlight on Indiana survivors(Photo/Getty Images)Teens Dating Violence Education and Awareness Teen dating violence afi ects millions of young people in the United States each year. Dating violence can take place in person, online, or through technology such as texting or social media. Intimate partner violence can difi erent types of behavior. Physical violence is when a person hurts or tries to hurt a partner by hitting, kicking, or using another type of physical force. Sexual violence is forcing or attempting to force a partner to take part in a sex act and or sexual touching when the partner does not consent or is unable to consent or refuse. It also includes non-physical sexual behaviors like posting or sharing sexual pictures of a partner without their consent or sexting someone without their consent. Psychological aggression is the use of verbal and nonverbal communication with the intent to harm a partner mentally or emotionally and exert control over a partner. Stalking is a pattern of repeated, unwanted attention and contact by a current or former partner that causes fear or safety concern for an individual victim or someone close to the victim. Teen dating violence profoundly impacts lifelong health, opportunity, and wellbeing. Unhealthy relationships can start early and last a lifetime. ff e good news is violence is preventable, and we can all help young people grow up violence-free. Teens often think some behaviors, like teasing and namecalling, are a %u201cnormal%u201d part of a relationship. However, these behaviors can become abusive and develop into serious forms of violence. Many teens do not report unhealthy behaviors because they are afraid to tell family and friends. Data from CDC%u2019s Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicate that among U.S. high school students who reported dating during the 12 months before the survey, about 1 in 12 experienced physical dating violence and 1 in 12 experienced sexual dating violence. Female students experienced higher rates of physical and sexual dating violence than male students. Students who identifi ed as LGBTQ, or those who were unsure of their gender identity, experienced higher rates of physical and sexual dating violence compared to students who identify as heterosexual. Unhealthy, abusive, or violent relationships can have short-and long-term negative efi ects, including severe consequences, on a developing teen. Youth who are victims of teen dating violence are more likely to experience depression and anxiety symptoms; engage in unhealthy behaviors, like using tobacco, drugs, and alcohol; exhibit antisocial behaviors, like lying, theft, bullying, or hitting; or think about suicide. Violence in an adolescent relationship sets the stage for future relationship problems, including intimate partner violence and sexual violence perpetration and/or victimization throughout life. Supporting healthy, nonviolent relationships could reduce teen dating violence and prevent its harmful, long-lasting efi ects on individuals, their families, and their communities. During the pre-teen and teen years, it is critical for youth to begin learning skills to create and maintain healthy relationships, including managing feelings and communicating in a healthy way. Resources are available on CDC.gov to help communities focus their prevention efi orts on what works to address risk and protective factors for violence. Dating Matters focuses on 11-14-year-olds with ways to promote healthy relationships and reduce behaviors that increase the risk of dating violence.