Acquired Brain Injury

Acquired brain injury occurs frequently. In the UK, one person every 30 seconds sustains a brain injury and acquired brain injury is 40 times more common than spinal injury.  In Scotland each year approximately 16,500 adults sustain a brain injury and approximately 5,500 of these people will have some form of disability one year post injury.  However, almost all people who survive a brain injury will have a normal life expectancy -  indeed it is the largest single cause of disability in men under 65 years of age.  Acquired brain injury affects the families and carers as well as the brain-injured person.

The Scottish Head Injury Forum

SHIF is a national umbrella organisation within Scotland that represents the interests of survivors of brain injuries, their families and those who work with them.

Our Aims

SHIF has the following aims:

• to support people with an acquired brain injury, their families and carers through the provision of education and information
• to increase knowledge of the effects of acquired brain injury amongst professionals, policy makers, providers and purchasers
  
• to promote and influence the development of services for treatment, rehabilitation, health and welfare through the development of national and local policies