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.
- Community Link Worker Team Can provide support and signposting for a wide range of topics, such as looking after your own mental health or caring for someone with mental health problems. We’ll help connect you with the most appropriate local support, including our own Change Mental Health services. The service is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm (closed for lunch between 12.30pm to 1.30pm). Contact 0808 8010 515, email advice@changemh.org or fill in the form on the service webpage.
- Suicide Bereavement Support Service offers free and confidential one-to-one support for anyone who has lost a loved one to suicide in the Highlands. It’s open to people who live in the area, and also to people whose loved one died in the area. Support can be delivered over the phone, face to face, or by video call, and is available for as long as it is needed. Contact on 0800 471 4768 and leave a message or you can email us direct at suicidebereavementsupport@nhs.scot. Referral form is also available on the Change Mental Health website.
- There are a number of resources available to those who are feeling suicidal, at a crisis point and are in need of immediate help and support. suicideprevention.scot and mikeysline.co.uk are two such websites but many more are available and can be found on the ‘Resources’ page of the Highland Mental Wellbeing website.
- 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.
- Carer Support Service is a telephone support service for unpaid carers. People can self refer through the website or professionals can refer through the ‘change mental health referral form’ and selecting the carer support box. We provide emotional support, access to local peer support groups, and a range of useful information and advice.
- Living Life at NHS 24 offers telephone support using talking therapies based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). It’s a free phone service for anyone over 16 in Scotland who is experiencing: low mood; mild to moderate depression; anxiety or a combination of these symptoms. You can refer yourself for an assessment by phoning Monday to Friday, 9am – 9pm. It can take up to 6 weeks for an initial assessment for the Living Life service, then 12 weeks for treatment to begin. This may take longer during periods of high demand. They also offer a FREE course dealing with SAD Living Life to the Full with SAD Free Course (LLTTF-SAD) (for people who feel worse in the winter months) | Living Life to the Full | Self Help Books | Online CBT Living Life | NHS 24
- Breathing space – Sometimes our thoughts and feelings can overwhelm us. It helps to get some Breathing Space. Pick up the phone – we’re here to listen. Breathing Space is a free confidential service for people in Scotland. Open up when you’re feeling down – phone 0800 83 85 87
Drug & Alcohol Recovery Service (DARS)
- DARS is a service that you can self-refer to by contacting 07818 692550 or 01854 633712. If you prefer you can make an appointment with the GP or other Health Professional i.e. Practice or Community Nurse to be referred.
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 Dolina Munro, Lead Counsellor for Children and Young People (Mobile: 07476356131 or Email dolina.munro@counsellingcaresl.org). You can also write to her c/o Lochalsh Health Centre, Station Road, Kyle of Lochalsh, IV40 8AE.
