Mental Health Support at NHS 24 and Breathing Space 

Mental Health Resources

NHS Inform

The NHS online mental health resources include free apps for sleep, anxiety, and stress. They also have guides on:

  •  dealing with low mood, anxiety, phobias, and stress
  • improving your wellbeing
  • where to get help
  • what to do if you or someone else is in distress

Breathing Space

If you’re struggling with your mental health or need emotional support, you can call Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87. Breathing Space is open:

  • every weekday (from 6pm to 2am)
  • every weekend (from 6pm Friday to 6am Monday)

Breathing Space is a free, confidential, phone and webchat service for anyone in Scotland over the age of 16 experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety. Callers can choose to remain anonymous during their call.

Here in times of difficulty to provide a safe and supportive space by listening, offering advice and providing information. Breathing Space is free to phone from a landline and any mobile phone network. The phone number won’t show up in telephone bills.

There is a web chat service available, further information and resources online at www.breathingspace.scot

111 Service

For urgent mental health support, call NHS 24 on 111 at any time and follow the telephone prompts. There’s no age restriction for this service. Anyone may call.

Most people that call the Mental Health Hub on 111 will be supported to safe self-care by a psychological wellbeing practitioner. The Hub is also staffed by Mental Health Nurse Practitioners and Mental Health Senior Charge Nurses. If needed, they will supervise a call to a safe outcome.

Callers may be offered other services. These could be the national Distress Brief Intervention service where partners can offer individual support for up to 14 days. Some people will be directed to a Primary Care Out of Hours Service. A very few people may be referred to a local Emergency department, or emergency services. The most common reasons for calling include thinking about suicide, anxieties, low mood, psychosis, and self-harm.

Health and Social Care workforce

A national mental wellbeing support line is available for everyone working in health and social care services. It is a compassionate listening service – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by calling 0800 111 4191. The National Wellbeing Helpline is operated by NHS 24.

Living Life – The Living Life service offers support to people in Scotland through guided self-help and cognitive behavioural therapy.  Access to the service is by referral. For an assessment call 0800 328 9655 (Monday to Friday: 1pm – 9pm). This service is managed by the mental health team at NHS 24.

Think Positive Hub

Your college or university may have mental health support services. You can check the Think Positive Hub to find out what is available.