Publications and Engagement
This page highlights the publications and outputs of the BC Consensus on Brain Injury, including research reports, peer-reviewed articles, policy briefs, and consensus documents.
We’ve also gathers media coverage, public presentations, and community engagement that have amplified the project’s findings, showcasing how this work is shaping awareness, informing policy, and supporting change across BC and beyond.
Peer-Reviewed & Academic Publications
Priorities for Research
Ten priorities for research addressing the intersections of brain injury, mental health and addictions: A stakeholder-driven priority-setting study.
Full Citation and Link
Kennedy, C. J., Woodin, E., Schmidt, J., Biagioni, J. B., & Garcia-Barrera, M. A. (2024). Ten priorities for research addressing the intersections of brain injury, mental health and addictions: A stakeholder-driven priority-setting study. Health Expectations, 27(4), e14136. https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/10.1111/hex.14136
Housing & Healthcare
Barriers and facilitators to housing and healthcare services for people experiencing homelessness with concurrent brain injury, mental health and substance use disorders
Full Citation and Link
Warren, G.C., Kennedy, C.J., Gavas, N., Schmidt, J., Woodin, E., Breese Biagioni, J. and Garcia-Barrera, M.A. (2025). Barriers and facilitators to housing and healthcare services for people experiencing homelessness with concurrent brain injury, mental health and substance use disorders: a qualitative study. Frontiers in Public Health 13:1643689. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1643689
Homelessness
Brain injury, mental health and substance use in homeless populations: Community-generated recommendations for healthcare service delivery and research.
Full Citation and Link
Kennedy, C. J., Grewal, J., Warren, G., Schmidt, J., Biagioni, J. B., & Garcia-Barrera, M. A. (2025). Brain injury, mental health and substance use in homeless populations: Community-generated recommendations for healthcare service delivery and research. BMC Health Services Research, 25(715). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12835-1
Healthcare
Understanding the barriers and facilitators of healthcare services for brain injury and
concurrent mental health and substance use issues: A qualitative study.
Full Citation and Link
Grewal, J., Kennedy, C., Mamman, R., Biagioni, J., Garcia-Barrera, M., & Schmidt, J. (2024). Understanding the barriers and facilitators of healthcare services for brain injury and concurrent mental health and substance use issues: A qualitative study. BMC HealthServices Research, 24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11316-1
Media Coverage
The Conversation Canada
Brain injury after overdose is a hidden epidemic: Recognizing and treating the survivors of the toxic drug crisis.
Toxic Drugs Have Created a Hidden Brain Injury Epidemic
Brain injuries an emerging epidemic amid the opioid crisis
Brain injury after overdose is a hidden epidemic. New legislation offers hope
Toronto Star
Brain injuries are the root of many pressing problems. Why aren’t we doing more to prevent and treat them?
CBC News
Brain injury and addiction claimed her son’s life. Now she’s pushing for improved care
Times Colonist: Comments
The real problem behind substance abuse
Link between brain injury and homelessness is undeniable
Yahoo! News
Brain injury after overdose is a hidden epidemic: Recognizing and treating the survivors of the toxic drug crisis
The Winnipeg Free Press:
Brain injury after overdose is a hidden epidemic: Recognizing and treating the survivors of the toxic drug crisis
Victoria Buzz
‘I fell through the cracks’: Vancouver Island man advocates for victims of brain injuries
Vancouver Sun
How one young B.C. man is fighting back after a brain injury changed his life
Press Interviews
Bonn, M. (2025, June 2). An invisible crisis: Brain injury from non-fatal overdose. Filter.
Keeler, A. (2025, January 21). When pleasure becomes pain: How substance use damages the body and brain. CANADIAN AFFAIRS.
Duffy, A. (2024, October 10). The opioid crisis has a “hidden” brain injury epidemic. Ottawa Citizen.
Podcast:
Garcia-Barrera, M.A. (2024, June 28). Exploring Brain Injury – Part 1. [Radio broadcast]. People First Radio. Podcast version available from Vancouver Island Mental Health Society
Conferences & Presentations
Kennedy, C. J., Gavas, N., Warren, G., Schmidt, J., Woodin, E., Breese Biagioni, J., & Garcia-Barrera, M. A. (2025, June). Recommendations for Research on Intimate Partner Violence-Related Brain Injury: A Community-Engaged Study. [Accepted Poster Presentation]. Canadian Concussion Network-Réseau Canadien des Commotions (CCN-RCC) 4th Annual Meeting, Victoria, B.C., Canada.
Garcia-Barrera, M. A. (2025, June 10). Interseccionalidad entre daño cerebral, salud mental y adicciones desde la neuropsicología comunitaria. [Conference presentation]. Jornada Psychology Forward, Colegio Oficial de Psicologia de Madrid, Spain.
Garcia-Barrera, M. A. (2025, September 11). Lesión cerebral hipóxica tras intoxicación no fatal por opioides: Una epidemia silenciosa. [Invited Keynote]. XIII Congreso Internacional Cerebro y Mente: la integración, Asociación Latinoamericana de Neuropsicología, Guadalajara, Mexico.
Warren, G., Kennedy, C. J., Gavas, N., & Garcia-Barrera, M. A. (2025, April). Barriers and Facilitators to Housing and Healthcare for People Experiencing Homelessness with Concurrent Brain Injury, Mental Health, and Substance Use Challenges. [Accepted Poster Presentation]. Making Waves Undergraduate Psychology Conference 11th Annual Meeting, Victoria, B.C., Canada.
Garcia-Barrera, M. A. (2025, January 23). BC Consensus on brain injury: Insights, learnings, and next steps. [Conference presentation]. Canadian Traumatic Brain Injury Research Consortium, Lake Louise, Alberta.
Garcia-Barrera, M. A. (2025, November 7). The hidden epidemic of hypoxic brain injury in non-fatal unregulated opioid poisoning: Addressing survivors’ needs. [Invited Keynote]. 2025 Provincial ABI Conference Making a Difference Through Innovation & Expertise, Ontario Brain Injury Association, Niagara Falls, Canada.
Gavas, N., Kennedy, C. J., Warren, G., & Garcia-Barrera, M. A. (2025, April). Barriers and Facilitators to Healthcare for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence Facing Comorbid Brain Injury, Mental Health, and Substance Use Challenges: A Community-Based Qualitative Study [Accepted Poster Presentation]. Making Waves Undergraduate Psychology Conference 11th Annual Meeting, Victoria, B.C., Canada.
Garcia-Barrera, M. A. (2025, March 20). Brain injury after non-fatal overdose: A rising concern. [Webinar]. CATIE Canada. https://www.catie.ca/
Warren, G.C., Kennedy, C. J., Gavas, N., & Garcia-Barrera, M. A. (2025, November 5). Housing and healthcare access for people experiencing homelessness with brain injury, mental health and substance use disorders: A community-engaged study of barriers and facilitators [poster presentation]. Excellence in Graduate Research Symposium, Victoria, B.C., Canada
Community & Public Engagement
Social media highlights, public forums, webinars, and outreach activities amplifying the project’s work.