Mental Health

The NHS has a range of tools and online courses which can help if you are struggling with your mental health – each one is designed to deal with a different age group or a different mental health issue and for many of them you do not even need to see your GP – you can access them online.

There is also a  brand new ‘Resources’ page – a page where anyone can access and download resources to support mental health and wellbeing.

Adults

• SilverCloud is a website with courses you can do to improve your mental wellbeing. The courses can be completed online in your own time and at your own pace and will help you to pinpoint and change unhelpful ways of thinking that can affect how you feel while teaching you more effective ways of solving problems SilverCloud is free and all you need is an email address.  Go to wellbeing.silvercloudhealth.com/signup/  for more information and to sign up.

• Daylight is an app-based programme which teaches you practical CBT techniques to help with anxiety. It can be used on both iOS and Android devices but is free to use in the NHS Highland area. Go to trydaylight.com to sign up and download the app.
• Sleepio is a six week online programme used to improve poor sleep. It is available online on their website, or on an app. It is completely free to use for patients in the NHS Highland area. Go to sleepio.com/welcome to find out more and to sign up.
• Active Health is a free and confidential one-to-one advice service for people (aged 16+) living in the NHS Highland area who would like to become more active to help their physical and/or mental health. You can refer yourself directly by going to velocitylove.co.uk/projects/activehealth and click on the self-refer button.
• Counselling Care Skye and Lochalsh is a charity which aims to make counselling more accessible and affordable for our community. They offer an opportunity for people to talk in confidence with someone outside their situation – gaining perspective and insight. All counsellors are professionally trained. There is no charge for the service, but donations are appreciated if you can afford it.   You can refer yourself to this service by emailing the Referral Co-Ordinator, Karen Haddow on karen@counsellingcaresl.org, or by calling Karen on 07979 081 367.

Children and Young People

• Kooth is a digital mental health platform which gives children and young people aged 10 to 18 years immediate access to an online community of peers and a team of experienced, accredited counsellors. It is completely free and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with counselling session available from noon till 10pm on weekdays and from 6pm to 10pm at the weekend.  There are no referrals needed and there is no waiting list. Go to kooth.com to find out more and sign up.
• Counselling Care Skye and Lochalsh is a charity which aims to make counselling more accessible and affordable for our community. They offer an opportunity for people to talk in confidence with someone outside their situation – gaining perspective and insight. All counsellors are professionally trained. There is no charge for the service, but donations are appreciated if you can afford it. To find out more about this service or to discuss or make a referral, please contact Ella Bouwmeester, Lead Counsellor for Children and Young People (Mobile: 0788 1981519 or Email ella.bouwmeester@counsellingcaresl.org). You can also write to her c/o Lochalsh Health Centre, Station Road, Kyle of Lochalsh, IV40 8AE.