May Cognitive Kit: Military Appreciation Month
Welcome to our May Cognitive Kit! May honors Military Appreciation Month and we would like to thank current military service members and veterans for their service. This month, we are sharing a book recommendation, coloring page, journal page, word search puzzle, and some additional resources and further reading.
Click on the files below to download and print any of the exercises and if you’d like to, please tag us on social media when you’re finished. We’d love to see your completed activities!
Book Recommendation:
Combat-Related Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD: A Resource and Recovery Guide by Cheryl Lawhorne-Scott & Don Philpott (2011)
“As more veterans return from deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, more are needing care for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and combat-related traumatic brain injuries (TBI). While there are several treatment and recovery options, outlets for support, and other resources, understanding and gaining access to them is often difficult or confusing. In Combat-Related Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD: A Resource and Recovery Guide, authors Cheryl Lawhorne and Don Philpott offer guidance for returning veterans, from treatment options, to diagnostic criteria and techniques, to resources for rehabilitation and support.
The authors begin discussions of TBI and PTSD by offering definitions of each, outlining the risk factors, and exploring the relationship between the two. They then move on to provide explanations of diagnostic criteria, treatment options, prevention techniques, and barriers to seeking care. Sections on the important role that insurance and health care plays, and on the support of family and friends, round out this useful and accessible volume. This is an essential guide for returning veterans, their families, and all who work with veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI.”
You can find Combat-Related Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD: A Resource and Recovery Guide at your local library, or on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and more.
Coloring Page:
You can download this month’s coloring page here: May 2025 Cognitive Kit Coloring Page
Journal Page:
May is also Mental Health Awareness Month. Take a look at the journal page below to reflect on the importance of self-care and mental health.
You can download this month’s journal page here: May 2025 Cognitive Kit Journal Page
Word Search Puzzle:
You can download this month’s word search puzzle here: May 2025 Cognitive Kit Word Search Puzzle
Featured Research Studies:
First Author: Lee Goldstein, MD, PhD
Senior Author: Ann McKee, MD
Interface astrogliosis in contact sport head impacts and military blast exposure
First Author: Katharine Babcock, PhD
Senior Author: Bertrand Huber, MD, PhD
May is also ALS Awareness Month. To learn more about the connection between ALS and military veterans, please see the study below:
Neuropathological profile of long‐duration amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in military veterans
First Author: Keith Spencer
Senior Author: Thor Stein, MD, PhD
Resources:
Concussion Legacy Foundation HelpLine
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
VA New England Healthcare System
New England Center and Home for Veterans (NECHV)
Massachusetts Women Veterans Network
Thank you for completing May’s Cognitive Kit activities! If you’d like to see kits from other months, please click here.