NHS Mental Health Care

The NHS provides a wide range of mental services for those experiencing mild, moderate, or complex mental health problems. Oftentimes, this involves a referral from your GP for specialist care, such as therapy. Mental Health care and treatment from the NHS is always free. 

You should contact your GP in the first instance and discuss any mental health issues you are experiencing. They can signpost you to resources or arrange a referral to specialist services if required. 

 You should be aware that in many instances, there are long waiting lists for specialists mental health services. It is worth discussing the potential waiting lists with your GP to see whether there are any other options for accessing mental health support. In the following chapter, you will find information on mental health charities and local wellbeing support. 

Mental Health Charities & Local Wellbeing Support

You can also opt to receive mental health and wellbeing support from mental health charities. This can sometimes be quicker than accessing NHS mental health care, as NHS mental health services often experience long waiting times. 

This is something you can also discuss with your GP, who will usually be able to signpost you to relevant services in your area. 

Below you will find a list of national support services offering mental health support and advice across Scotland.

• Samaritans Scotland is a lifeline for people in crisis and distress. They provide emotional support via a free helpline which is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can also email them and they will respond within 24 hours. Find out more about contacting a Samaritan here or call 116 123. They also operate 19 branches around Scotland, although branch visits are currently suspended due to COVID-19. Samaritans do not provide advice; they provide a listening service. 
• SAMH is the Scottish Association for Mental Health. They provide mental health services in primary care, schools, further education, and the wider community. You can access the SAMH information service here via phone or email – this page also includes a range of different mental health related resources and partner organisations. 
• Breathing Space Scotland is a free, confidential phone and webchat service for anyone over 16 that may be experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety. It is funded by the Scottish Government’s Mental Health Unit. For Cantonese speakers or non-native English speakers, you can still phone Breathing Space, as they use the Language Line interpretation Service to support callers who cannot, or would prefer not to, speak English. You can Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87. If you need an interpreter, tell the advisor the name of your preferred language, and you will have a three-way conversation with both Breathing Space and Language Line interpreter. Note that the Language Line interpretation service is available from 18:00 to 24:00 from Monday to Friday and 8:00 to 24:00 on Saturday and Sunday. 
• Living Life provides mental health support through guided self-help and cognitive behavioural therapy. It is intended for those experiencing low mood, mild to moderate depression, and/or anxiety. Phone 0800 328 9655 (Monday to Friday: 13:00 – 21:00) to refer yourself for an assessment, after which you’ll have regular telephone contact with a trained professional at a time which is convenient for you and access to support materials. Find out more about the Living Life Service here. 
• You can call the NHS 24 Mental Health Hub by dialling 111. This service is open 24/7. Cantonese speakers will be able to use the Language Line interpretation service for non-native English speakers if they do not feel comfortable speaking in English.  
• Health in Mind is a mental health charity operating in Edinburgh, Midlothian, East Lothian, West Lothian, and the Scottish Borders. They also have a national counselling helpline which you can access if you live somewhere else in Scotland. Find out which services are available and where. They offer a wide variety of mental health workshops and support groups, focusing on everything from supporting people from minority ethnic groups living in Edinburgh to peer support and trauma counselling. 
• Cruse Bereavement Care focuses specifically on providing bereavement support via their helpline or web chat service. If you’ve recently lost a loved one, call 0808 808 1677 to speak to one of their grief counsellors today. 
• Text the word ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 to start a conversation with a Trained Shout Volunteer. Find out more about the service here. 
• PAPYRUS is an organisation that focuses on the prevention of suicide in young people, typically the under 35 age-group. They have a free call, text, and email service for children and young people who are experiencing suicidal thoughts and for anyone worried that a young person could be thinking about suicide. Find out more about their support services here. 
• Scotland’s Citizens Advice helpline is a free, one-to-one, impartial advice service. Although it does not focus specifically on mental health, it does offer general advice on employment, housing, debt, homelessness and more. Call 0800 028 1456 to speak to an advisor for free (opening times Monday to Thursday 9:00 to 15:00, and Friday 9:00 to 12:00). 
• Rape Crisis Scotland provides support for anyone affected by sexual violence at any point in their lives. You can phone their Rape Crisis Scotland National Helpline on 08088 01 03 02 on any day between 18:00 and 24:00. They also provide useful resources on their website. 
• Scottish Women’s Aid focuses on preventing domestic abuse. They provide advice and information for victims of domestic abuse via their domestic abuse and forced marriage helpline (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). You c an find your local women’s aid group here. 
• Parentline is a free phone line and web chat service that offers emotional and practical support to families across Scotland. Hosted by Children 1^st, you can call them on 0800 28 22 33 from 9:00 to 21:00 on Monday to Friday, and from 9:00 to 12:00 on Saturday and Sunday. Find out more information about Parentline and similar services here.