Researchers at the University of Toronto found that an adult suffering from concussions is in more risk of attempting suicide. Their findings published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal gave evidence of an association between increasing suicides and concussion.

In past, most of the NFL players, such as famous Junior Seau and Dave Duerson, did suicide. They suffered chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease linked to repetitive head trauma. The researchers examined over 235,000 adults who suffered concussions and found that in every 100,000 people, there are 31 cases of suicide.

“The most straightforward implication is that the association between concussions and suicide is not just confined to professional athletes or military veterans, but might also extend to normal individuals in the community,” said Dr. Donald Redelmeier, a professor of medicine at the University of Toronto and an author the study.

The findings claimed that when individuals suffered concussions on weekends, the rate of suicide soared even more. It also stated that a person suffering multiple concussions is at greater risk to suicide. This study will create awareness among many to go for early diagnose and treatment of concussion. People, including athletes and general public, will understand the need of paying hid to treat concussions.

According to Dr. Robert Cantu, a concussion expert and the co-director of Boston University’s Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, currently the real cause of increasing risk of suicide cases is unclear, so more research is needed in this area to know actual impact of factors such as brain injuries, depression and addictive behaviors on suicide attempts.

If further findings also point toward concussions as a major force behind increasing incidence of suicides, then the factor leading to concussion could be prevented. One such major step could introduce more safe management of sports event leading to brain injury.