Awareness of the consequences of head injuries for athletes has grown considerably in recent years. We know now that their mental health and behavior can be dramatically affected by head injuries.

A study by Ohio State University’s Chronic Brain Injury program, which was published Monday in the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, says one group has been overlooked in the move toward better concussion surveillance.

In surveying Ohio law enforcement officers, researchers discovered 74% reported a lifetime history of one or more head injuries — 30% of which reported to have happened on the job. But the study showed “many more of these injuries went unreported than were treated by a health care professional,” according to OSU, and “Further analysis showed post-traumatic stress disorder and depressive symptoms were higher in those who had experienced one or more head injuries.”

How do we better, not only for the officers, but for the public they are meant to serve and protect?

Well, researchers who conducted the study suggest implementation of a concussion return-to-duty protocol for law enforcement officers. Again, this is something with which sports fans will be familiar.

“The goal is really to improve officer safety and health in the long term,” said Jaclyn Caccese, PhD, assistant professor in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and an investigator in Ohio State’s Chronic Brain Injury Program. “And I think there’s a lot of potential there, especially when it comes to improving career longevity — that although treating these injuries is difficult in the moment, it leads to a longer career, better health outcomes and better quality of life, not only in their service, but also in retirement. I think with that awareness, they will be more likely to report injuries as they sustain them.”

Policymakers and law enforcement administrators would do well to take a look at OSU’s study, and not only raise awareness among officers, but implement concussion protocol for new injuries. Given the risk for depression, anxiety, PTSD and problems with cognitive function and memory, officers, their families and communities should welcome the change in approach.