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Preliminary findings of a recent study conducted in the United States suggested that administering widely used antidepressants shortly after a brain injury could potentially prevent the onset of severe depression.

Building upon these insights, a large-scale trial is underway across England, to validate and extend these findings to a broader patient population.

Shannon, a 24-year-old victim of a traumatic brain injury, shared her harrowing experience after being struck by a digger while working on a construction site in east London.

Despite undergoing extensive reconstructive surgeries and physical rehabilitation, Shannon found herself grappling with profound mental health challenges, including severe depression.

"It has had a real impact on my mental health, and I have felt very low," Shannon told BBC News. "I wasn't going out, I wasn't taking care of myself, and I put on weight.

"It has been a fight just to get out of bed and wash my face. It has been very difficult, almost unbearable at points."

Her story sheds light on the often-overlooked toll that brain injuries can have on people's mental well-being.

The impact of brain injuries typically extends far beyond the physical aspect, with research indicating a heightened risk of major depression among those hospitalized post-injury -- a rate ten times higher than the general population.

Recognizing the urgent need for preventive interventions, the groundbreaking 18-month trial is now underway in the U.K.

Led by Professor Khalida Ismail of King's College London, the trial aims to assess the efficacy of early antidepressant intervention in mitigating the risk of depression following brain trauma.

This innovative trial, spanning nine major trauma centers in England, seeks to address the profound and often debilitating consequences of post-injury depression.

By examining the early use of common antidepressants among 500 patients, researchers want to shed light on novel approaches to preventing the onset of depression in the aftermath of brain injury.

The study's outcomes, expected to arrive in 2027, hold the potential to revolutionize treatment approaches and improve long-term outcomes for people affected by traumatic brain injuries.

Experts said post-injury depression could be a serious problem since it can affect the patient's relationships, employment, education and overall rehabilitation.

Researchers involved in the long-term trial are hopeful that early interventions could not only alleviate individual suffering but also yield substantial societal benefits for those with traumatic head injuries.

Ultimately, the study's findings may pave the way for more effective strategies to safeguard the mental well-being of patients navigating the complex aftermath of brain trauma.