Find organisations and helplines in your country:
What do you need help with?
Pick what you’re looking for about inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and we’ll point you to the right section or organisation. This site gives general information, not medical advice: for questions about your own health, talk to your doctor or IBD team.
Feeling very unwell? See when to get urgent help: the signs that mean you should contact a doctor the same day, or call emergency services. If you’re struggling to cope, free crisis lines are open day and night.
Getting a diagnosis
I think I might have IBD
When to see a GP (family doctor), which symptoms need an urgent appointment and the tests you can expect.
I’ve just been diagnosed
Practical first steps after a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
Understanding and treating IBD
My symptoms are getting worse
If your symptoms are getting worse or your treatment isn’t helping, contact your GP or IBD team. If you’re getting worse quickly, feel very unwell or are worried, check the urgent-help signs now.
Getting care and paying for medicines
How to find care where you live, and how medicines are paid for: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Treatments and surgery
The main types of treatment, and what surgery involves for Crohn’s disease and for ulcerative colitis.
Everyday life
Work and money
Your rights at work, time off and help with costs: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Stoma and pouch support
Charities for people living with a stoma or a J-pouch: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Children and young people
Youth programmes and school support in Australia; resources for children and teens, including school, in Canada and the United States; Camp Purple, a camp for young people with IBD in New Zealand; and CICRA in the UK.
Support and organisations
Talk to someone
IBD helplines: Australia 1800 138 029 (press 1), Canada 1-800-387-1479 (or its online form), New Zealand 0800 ASK IBD (0800 275 423), United Kingdom 0300 222 5700, United States 888-694-8872 (option 8). Most are open on weekdays only. At other times, call a free health advice line: healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (Australia), 811 (most of Canada; in Manitoba, Health Links on 1-888-315-9257), Healthline on 0800 611 116 (New Zealand) or 111 (England, Scotland and Wales; in Northern Ireland, your GP out of hours service); in the United States, call your doctor’s after-hours number. If you’re struggling to cope, free crisis lines are open day and night.
Emotional and peer support
Feeling anxious or low is common with IBD: see looking after your mental health. If you feel you can’t cope, free crisis lines are open day and night. Online communities where people living with IBD support each other are listed for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. The IBD helplines can also talk things through.
Supporting someone with IBD
For family, friends and carers: Crohn’s & Colitis UK’s guide to supporting someone and Crohn’s & Colitis Australia’s supporting someone with IBD. Crohn’s & Colitis UK’s helpline also talks to family and friends.
Peer support for carers:
- Australia: Crohn’s & Colitis Australia’s Connect with a peer service is open to carers too.
- Canada: Crohn’s and Colitis Canada runs an online peer support group for carers.
- United States: the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation lists support organisations for carers.
Looking after someone can be tiring. National carers’ organisations support carers themselves: Carers Australia, Carers NZ and Carers UK.
Organisations in my country
National charities, support groups and other organisations for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. Somewhere else? See Global resources.