Charities, helplines & communities
Find support
Real organisations run by people who understand brain injury.
Most are free, and most will talk to family and carers as well as to survivors.
You don't need to be in crisis to call a helpline. They're the right people to ring when you're confused about a diagnosis, stuck with a form, or simply want to talk to someone who gets it.
BrainLine
A large free library of articles, videos and personal stories about living with brain injury and PTSD, for survivors, families and professionals. A service of WETA public television, and useful wherever you live.
LoveYourBrain
Free online programmes combining gentle yoga, meditation and peer support, designed specifically for people with brain injury and for caregivers. Includes a large library of short guided practices.
Concussion Alliance
Independent, research-led information about concussion and persistent symptoms, including treatment options and where to find peer support online.
Headway online communities
Headway UK runs moderated online communities where survivors, families and carers talk to each other. Open to people outside the UK too.
BIAA virtual support groups
A regularly updated list of support groups meeting by video, including groups for younger survivors, women, parents, and people living with concussion.
Peer forums on Reddit
Busy peer communities such as r/TBI and r/BrainInjury, good for company at three in the morning. These are other patients rather than clinicians, and no two brain injuries are the same.
Headway: the brain injury association
The main UK brain injury charity. Free nurse-led helpline, an excellent library of plain-English factsheets, a Brain Injury Identity Card, an emergency fund, and well over a hundred local groups and branches.
0808 800 2244
Free helpline, Mon–Fri 9am–5pm
Brainkind
One of the UK's largest brain injury charities, providing specialist rehabilitation, assessment and long-term support services, plus research and practical resources.
The Children's Trust
The UK's leading charity for children with brain injury and neurodisability, running the country's largest children's brain injury rehabilitation centre alongside education and community services.
Brain Injury Hub
Information and a discussion forum for parents of children with acquired brain injury, plus teachers and health professionals. Run by The Children's Trust.
Child Brain Injury Trust
Non-medical support for families affected by childhood acquired brain injury across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland: emotional support, education advice, and help with benefits and legal questions.
Acquired Brain Injury Ireland
Community-based rehabilitation and case management throughout Ireland, focused on regaining independence and living in your own community.
Headway Ireland
Community services for people affected by brain injury including stroke (counselling, psychology, rehabilitative training and peer groups) plus a national information and support service. Operating since 1985.
Brain Injury Association of America
The national US organisation, with chartered affiliates in most states and hundreds of local chapters and support groups. Its information centre connects you to a specialist who can point you to local services.
1-800-444-6443
National Brain Injury Information Center
CDC: Traumatic Brain Injury
Clear official public health information on recognising, treating and recovering from TBI and concussion, including where to get help.
BrainLine
Research-based articles, expert Q&A and personal stories covering brain injury and PTSD, for survivors, caregivers and professionals.
Brain Injury Canada
The national Canadian charity for acquired brain injury. Its resource site is built to be easy to navigate and covers survivors, family caregivers and health professionals, with free self-guided e-courses for caregivers.
Ontario Brain Injury Association
Provincial charity offering education, awareness and peer support across Ontario, including support group listings and an introductory brain injury course for carers and frontline workers.
Synapse: Australia's Brain Injury Organisation
Australia's leading brain injury organisation. Information, specialist support, peer groups and a curated directory of providers, with clear routes depending on whether you have an injury, think you might, or support someone who does.
Brain Injury Association of Tasmania
State-level information, advocacy and support for Tasmanians affected by brain injury, and a good example of the state associations operating around the country.
Brain Injury New Zealand
The national body representing regional Brain Injury Associations across New Zealand. Each regional office provides a liaison officer, support groups, and help navigating ACC and other agencies.
Brain Injury Otago & Canterbury
Regional association offering personalised liaison support, factsheets on brain injury and concussion, and connection to local community and peer groups.
BrainLine international directory
A directory of brain injury organisations outside the United States, covering a good spread of countries. The best single place to start if your country isn't listed above.
International Brain Injury Association
A worldwide body founded in 1993 that connects clinicians, researchers and advocates across countries, and has encouraged the creation of national brain injury associations. Aimed mainly at professionals, but its network is a route to finding organisations in countries with little local provision.
Headway Gauteng (South Africa)
A registered non-profit supporting adult survivors of acquired brain injury in South Africa, along with their families and caregivers. Offers counselling, group therapy and practical support.
What to expect when you get in touch
Helplines
Usually staffed by nurses or trained advisors. They can explain a diagnosis plainly and help you work out what to ask for.
Local groups
Meeting others with brain injuries is the thing survivors most often say changed everything, you stop having to explain yourself first.
Carer groups
Separate, and specifically for you. Worth going to even if it feels self-indulgent. It isn't.
Advocacy & casework
Help with benefits, employers, schools and services. Often the difference between being entitled to something and receiving it.
Peer forums
Good company at three in the morning. Bear in mind they're other patients, not clinicians.
Not seeing your country?
Try the Everywhere else tab first, it lists international bodies and a directory that covers many more countries.
Failing that, search for "brain injury association" or "acquired brain injury" with your country or region.
Or ask the hospital team who discharged you, they usually know the local organisation, and a referral often moves faster than an application.
If you need help urgently: see the urgent help page. Charity helplines run limited hours; emergency services don't.
Do you know an organisation we have missed?
This site is built from what actually helps people. If you know something that should be here, please say so. It takes a moment and every suggestion gets read.