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Samaritans works to make sure there's always someone there for anyone who needs someone. Read more.

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Raising awareness of depression and self-harm in young people

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Raising awareness of depression and self-harm in young people

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Heads Above The Waves is a not-for-profit organisation that raises awareness of depression and self-harm in young people. We promote positive, creative ways of dealing with the bad days.
Self-harm affects around 1 in 12 young people, yet it remains an issue people struggle to handle, talk about, and understand. Sometimes, helping can be as simple as having a conversation, but a study by YoungMinds found that 71% of young people, 70% of parents, and 60% of teachers say they don't feel able to actually talk about self-harm.

In the last 10 years, hospital admissions as a result of self-harm in the UK have risen by 68%, and this figure is predicted to keep rising. By getting people to talk more openly about self-harm (in the same way that we do drug use or unprotected sex) and making people aware of the help that exists, Heads Above The Waves hopes to reduce hospital admissions as a result of self-harm.

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Heads Above The Waves is a not-for-profit organisation that raises awareness of depression and self-harm in young people. We promote positive, creative ways of dealing with the bad days. Self-harm affects around 1 in 12 young people, yet it remains an issue people struggle to handle, talk about, and understand.

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This site uses cookies to improve your user experience. By using this site you agree to these cookies being set. See our cookies policy for more information or to change your cookie preferences at any time.

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We give hope and help to thousands of children and families each year and work in communities throughout England and Wales to help keep children safe. Our vision is for all children to grow up in supportive communities safe from bullying and harm.​ Our mission is to provide practical support, training, and advice to challenge bullying and protect young lives.

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NHS Lothian recognises the invaluable role that unpaid carers make to helping keep someone well or looking after them when they are unwell.

A carer is someone who, without payment, provides help and support to a wife, husband, partner, son, daughter, parent, relative, friend or neighbour, who could not manage without their help. The person may need extra help because of their age, or because they have a physical or mental illness, addiction or disability. They may not even live with the person they care for.

Carers can be:

a young person under 18 looking after a parent/brother/sister;

looking after a relative with a mental illness or physical disability;

the parent of a child with special needs;

a friend or relative looking after an older person

Carers do not have to:

live with the person they care for

be the only carer

be related to the person they care for

Unpaid carers often do not see themselves as carers for a number of reasons for example because they may be a relative, partner or friend of the person they care for; or perhaps because they care for someone with a deteriorating condition and the care needs have increased gradually.

NHS Lothian staff can play a crucial role in helping carers to recognise themselves as a carer, and then signpost them to the list of organisations on our Supporting Organisations page where they can get support including information and advice, carer training, advocacy and counselling.

Carers provide a wide range of health and social care interventions to the person they care for, i.e. personal care, managing medication and dietary requirements.

NHS Lothian recognises the role of carers and the invaluable support they provide to the person they care for.

Our staff aim to work with carers as equal partners in delivering the required care to the cared for person, and to support carers by ensuring they understand the treatment, medication, equipment, personal care needs of their care, how these will be met and what role they will play.

Based on this knowledge carers can then inform discussions about care packages by communicating decisions about their own ability to provide care, and the information they have regarding the care for person and their condition.

Carer's Support

The needs of the carer should be considered separately from those of the cared for person, as these may differ.

Carers who provide support on a regular basis to a family member, friend or neighbour who has any illness, disability or is frail due to being older are eligible to have an assessment (carer support plan) or a consideration of their support needs as a carer.

The carer support plan gives the carer an opportunity to talk about the support and care they provide; how this affects their own physical and emotional health and family life; any concerns, worries or difficulties they have; and the support they need to continue caring. Staff (a nurse, a doctor, an occupational therapist, a physiotherapist) can signpost carers to their local carers centre or social work department who can start this conversation around their needs as a carer.

Supporting carers through hospital discharge

Going into and coming out of hospital can be an uncertain and sometimes emotional experience for families. For some, it is a life changing event requiring major adjustments afterward.

Many carers feel insufficiently involved & unsupported in the discharge process. However, we know that if hospital discharge is well-planned and the right services put in place then there is a much greater likelihood of the cared for person remaining at home with carer support.

This means identifying the carer at an early stage and ensuring that the carer is involved in discussions regarding the care plan and have a clear understanding of the person they care for diagnosis, what they can expect and an understanding of their role as carer and the support they might have to provide.

The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 states that health boards have a duty to involve carers, including young carers in discharge from hospital when:

* The person being discharged is likely to require care following discharge

* The carer can be identified without delay

The Act also means that carers have the right to an adult carer support plan or young carer statement.

An adult carer support plan or young carer statement starts with a conversation where you discuss your caring role and what is important to you in your life. It helps plan what could help you work towards your goals.

Further information is available in the What to expect when a person you care for is discharged from hospital leaflet.

There is a team of carer discharge support workers who can help you during the discharge process if that would be helpful:

East Lothian - Carer Support worker 0131 536 8461

Edinburgh - Edinburgh Carer Support Team. Tel 0131 536 3371

Midlothian - Carer Support worker. Tel 0131 663 6869

West Lothian - Carer Development worker. Tel 01506 771751

Patient confidentiality means healthcare staff have a duty to keep information about the patient and their care private. If staff shared information about a patient without their agreement, they would have ignored that duty and could even possibly lose their job. The most important thing for healthcare staff is that the patient has agreed that information about them can be shared with you (their carer).

Many carers and patients do not know that the patient must agree before any information can be shared so it is really important that this is discussed openly between everyone involved.

Healthcare staff have a duty to keep patient information confidential. However, staff also know that sharing information can be important to the health and wellbeing of both the patient and you. Staff are aware that it makes things easier for you and the patient if you are included in discussions and decisions about the patient's care. These can be about practical, financial or personal things. So you can see that this can be a difficult situation for both staff and carers and why it helps to talk about it with the healthcare staff.

Fuller information is given in the leaflet 'Confidentiality, sharing information and consent: A practical guide for carers'.

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NHS Lothian recognises the invaluable role that unpaid carers make to helping keep someone well or looking after them when they are unwell. A carer is someone who, without payment, provides help and support to a wife, husband, partner, son, daughter, parent, relative, friend or neighbour, who could not manage without their help.

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Our experienced team includes: counsellors and psychological therapists; psychologists (HCPC registered); lifestyle and performance coaches; and administration/support staff.

All of our practitioners are handpicked and approved by us so that you can feel confident that they have the necessary qualifications, experience and insurance and are registered and complying with the requirements of appropriate professional bodies and government safeguarding schemes. Click here for full details of our 'Approved by' scheme.

Counselling & psychotherapy practitioners

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Our counsellors, psychologists, therapists & coaches

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Our experienced team includes: counsellors and psychological therapists; psychologists (HCPC registered); lifestyle and performance coaches; and administration/support staff. All of our practitioners are handpicked and approved by us so that you can feel confident that they have the necessary qualifications, experience and insurance and are registered and complying with the requirements of appropriate professional bodies and government safeguarding schemes.

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Crew neither condemns nor condones drug use: we exist to reduce harm, challenge perceptions and help people make positive choices about their use of cannabis, stimulant and other social drugs and sexual health by providing non-judgemental, credible and up to date information and support.

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What is available in our SNUG?

Support across all year groups for positive Mental Health & Wellbeing in the following areas:

Break Support with S5 Mental Health Companions

Music Therapy from Nordoff Robbins

SNUG nurture based group sessions from trained staff in blocks of 5 - 8 weeks

Mindfulness sessions

Arts & Crafts Therapy (for Duke Of Edinburgh Students)

SHE Scotland - S3 Female mentoring/leadership pilot

HE Scotland - S3 Male mentoring/ leadership pilot exploring gender based violence and stereotypes

L.I.A.M Groupwork - Let’s Introduce Anxiety Management) and also Individual Sessions through our school nurse

Seasons for Growth - Bereavement/ Loss & Change Support Programmes run by trained staff

Health Zone drop ins - Mental/ Physical/ Sexual health drop- ins for young people

Counselling service across all year groups

Penumbra - Edinburgh Self Harm Service

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Saheliya is a specialist mental health and well-being support organisation for black, minority ethnic, asylum seeker, refugee and migrant women and girls (12+) in the Edinburgh and Glasgow area.

Our staff are from a variety of different cultures and ethnic backgrounds and we all have an understanding of how race, gender and culture affects the mental well-being of black and minority ethnic women and girls.

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Saheliya is a specialist mental health and well-being support organisation for black, minority ethnic, asylum seeker, refugee and migrant women and girls (12+) in the Edinburgh and Glasgow area. Our staff are from a variety of different cultures and ethnic backgrounds and we all have an understanding of how race, gender and culture affects the mental well-being of black and minority ethnic women and girls.

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The Scottish Government are funding free access to online courses for parents and carers. Understanding your Teenager's Brain. The benefit of this individual course is that is available anytime and in different languages. To register the website is inourplace.heiapply.com/online-learning/ and they need to enter the code TARTAN.

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You can make a difference... Get a full rundown of our digital services for young people during the pandemic Find out more There's loads of ways you can help us make Scotland the best place to grow up for LGBTI young people Find out more

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That's what we offer.

That's what you deserve.

Black Minds Matter UK is a fully registered charity connecting Black individuals and families with free therapy by qualified and accredited Black therapists.

We've teamed up with a collective of Black therapists, who work tirelessly alongside us to remove stigma and redefine mental health experiences for Black individuals.

We take pride in offering a safety net of culturally relevant mental health support and have grown a community of people who value equality in mental health care. Together, we are demanding better resources and treatment for Black people and acknowledging that the status quo is simply not good enough. Empowering Black individuals with support and safe spaces, every step of the way.

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Black Minds Matter UK is a fully registered charity connecting Black individuals and families with free therapy by qualified and accredited Black therapists. We've teamed up with a collective of Black therapists, who work tirelessly alongside us to remove stigma and redefine mental health experiences for Black individuals.

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 For people who do or are at risk of self-harm

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 For people who do or are at risk of self-harm

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By Lisa Williamson (Suicide Bereavement Service Lead) On Wednesday evening (1st November), I was invited to attend The Voluntary Sector Awards 2023 as I had

By Laura Hughes (Suicide Crisis Service Lead - Maternity Cover) The Tomorrow Project is currently inviting applications for an unpaid academic internship, which involves contributing

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Self Harm Doesn't DiscriminateNeither Do WeGet In TouchSelf Harm Doesn't DiscriminateNeither Do WeGet in TouchSelf Harm Doesn't DiscriminateNeither Do WeGet In TouchSelf Harm Doesn't DiscriminateNeither Do WeGet in Touch Previous Next Welcome to Harmless Harmless is a passionate organisation who works to address and overcome issues related to self-harm and suicide.

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Learn more about Beat, the UK's leading charity, supporting anyone affected by an eating disorder.

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Click here or press Escape to leave this site now

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A meditation app that acts as a personal guide to health and happiness

An online cognitive behaviour therapy program for depression and anxiety

​

A free app designed to help teens and young adults cope with anxiety.

Helps build resilience - the ability to stay strong, motivated and optimistic even in the face of difficult obstacles

Turns the latest innovations in the science of happiness into activities and games that help you lead a more fulfilling life.

A meditation program developed by psychologists and educators to help bring mindfulness into your life

Chill Panda helps children better understand their stress and shows them ways to feel better using breathing techniques, yoga, exercise and calming games.

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A meditation app that acts as a personal guide to health and happiness An online cognitive behaviour therapy program for depression and anxiety ​ A free app designed to help teens and young adults cope with anxiety.

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How we can help

Sometimes our thoughts and feelings can overwhelm us. It helps to get some Breathing Space. Pick up the phone - we're here to listen.

Information & support

The whole spectrum of life is reflected in the calls we receive to Breathing Space. The sooner you talk to us the better you might feel. (Please note that Breathing Space is a service for people in Scotland)

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Breathing Space is a free confidential service for people in Scotland. Open up when you're feeling down - phone 0800 83 85 87

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Breathing Space is a free, confidential phone and web based service for people in Scotland experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety.

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respect me, Scotland's anti-bullying service, was launched in March 2007. The service is fully funded by the Scottish Government and is managed by SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) in partnership with LGBT Youth Scotland.

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) - For information on our continued delivery of service during the Covid-19 pandemic, please visit the news section of our website.

Our vision is of a respecting, just, equal and inclusive Scotland in which all children and young people can live free from bullying and harassment and are encouraged to reach their full potential. Our work is driven by a focus on children's rights.

We work with all adults involved in the lives of children and young people to give them the practical skills and confidence to deal with children who are bullied and those who bully others.

We aim to build the capacity of these adults to effect change and challenge bullying and stigma at an individual, school, family, community and societal level. We also campaign at a national level to raise awareness of the service and the impact that bullying can have.

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Respect Me | About Us | Our work towards an equal and inclusive Scotland

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respect me, Scotland's anti-bullying service, was launched in March 2007. The service is fully funded by the Scottish Government and is managed by SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) in partnership with LGBT Youth Scotland. COVID-19 (Coronavirus) - For information on our continued delivery of service during the Covid-19 pandemic, please visit the news section of our website.

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"I've never found such a supportive and dedicated forum. Someone will post in the crisis room and that same desperate person replies and supports another crisis post despite their own feelings"

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Find out everything you need to know about drugs, their effects and the law. Talk to Frank for facts, support and advice on drugs and alcohol today. | FRANK

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What is Available in our Wellbeing HUB? (WBH)

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What is Available in our Wellbeing HUB? (WBH)

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Supports in our WBH are predominantly for S1/2/3 students who are struggling to function in the everyday school setting.  This can be as a result of extreme anxiety, experiences of trauma, trouble regulating emotions and behaviour, or at risk of not continuing at school.

We offer the following supports:

Wellbeing Hub 1-1 Literacy & Numeracy Support

Wellbeing Hub Zones of Regulation

Wellbeing Hub T.Y.L.A - Turn Your Life Around

Wellbeing Hub Nurture Sessions

Wellbeing Hub School of Basketball

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24/7

You can text us any time, day or night.

Confidential

Your messages with us are confidential and anonymous.

Free

It is free to text Shout from all major mobile networks in the UK.

Get involved

Donations doubled in the Big Give Christmas Challenge

Simply support Shout's Big Give campaign by midday on 5 December, and your donation will be doubled!

Can you help us hit our match funding target of £50,000 and support a further 5,000 people this winter?

Find out more

Get help

Ways to cope with upsetting events in the news

If you're feeling overwhelmed, anxious or sad about what's going on in the news, know that you're definitely not alone. Here are some actions we can take to help us cope better through times like this.

Find out more

I think Shout saved my life tonight... no one has ever made me feel so safe, listened to and understood

Shout texter

GET HELP

Online resources and support

However you're feeling right now, you don't have to face it alone. We're here to support you with your mental health.

Take a look at our resources, information and support, find further help or reach out to one of our volunteers.

Resources for you

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Shout - UK's 24/7 Crisis Text Service for Mental Health Support

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Shout 85258 is the UK's first 24/7 text service for anyone in crisis. Get free, confidential mental health support anytime, anywhere. Text 'SHOUT' to 85258.

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FREE ONLINE SELF-HARM SUPPORT FOR 14-19'S

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FREE ONLINE SELF-HARM SUPPORT FOR 14-19'S

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"Since starting alumina it's become the highlight of my week. It's such a safe, non judgemental place which has really helped me in my recovery."

Max

"If you're thinking about joining I'd say go for it, the team are lovely and everyone who does it is so welcoming and supportive"

Abi

Alumina is a free, online 7 week course for young people struggling with self-harm. Each course has up to 14 young people, all accessing the sessions from their own phones, tablets or laptops across the UK. The courses take place on different evenings of the week and are run by friendly, trained counsellors and volunteer youth workers. You don't need an adult to refer you or sign you up, and no-one will see or hear you during the sessions - you'll just join in via the chatbox. We want to help you to find your next steps towards recovery, wherever you are on your journey.

IS ALUMINA RIGHT FOR ME?

Are you...

10-17 years old?

Living in the UK?

Someone who self-harms or worries they might?

Looking for support but not wanting to do it face to face?

Wanting to move towards a life free from self-harm?

If so...

Alumina could be a helpful step forward. If you sign up we'll begin a conversation over email to work out if it might be a good fit - and you can ask us any questions you have. The only rule we have in Alumina is that we don't talk about suicide in the groups. If that's something you are struggling with thinking about we recommend getting in touch with our friends at Papyrus who are better equipped to support you.

"I thought it would be all serious and uncomfortable because of the self-harm talk but actually, the staff have made me laugh, we've been given a space that feels relevant to our ages and most importantly we can turn up in any mood and they'll be there for us." Runa

What's a session like?

"Clicking on the link for the first time was nerve wracking and intense with lots of thoughts going through my head. But within only a few minutes of the session I had a smile on my face and felt comfortable with the staff and the group."

Sasha

"Alumina was quite different to what I expected, I thought it would just be an intense 6 weeks and it would be over like other services. But it was nothing like that - instead I felt and still feel very supported by the staff. The group and staff are like a big family who's always there for me."

Samara

"Clicking that link for the very first time was terrifying. But I knew it could be life-changing. The first session I felt welcome, I no longer felt like an outsider. It's fun, believe me!! Most days I find myself looking forward to the next session because Alumina gives me a sign of hope."

Dan

Questions

We aren't a crisis service so if you're in need of immediate support please contact one of the following:

The Mix: Offering essential support for anyone aged 12-25. For their crisis messenger support service text THEMIX to 85258.
Childline: Support for anyone up to age 18. Call, chat online or email their crisis service.
Samaritans: Call 116123 anytime if you need to talk to someone.

We've changed the shape of our support for young people. This website introduces Alumina, our online support groups for young people struggling with self-harm. We've also recently launched beheadstrong.uk offering young people all kinds of information, stories and videos about looking after your mental and emotional wellbeing. You can find links to some of selfharm.co.uk's most popular articles below.

Yes we have! We have worked with 14-19 year olds for many years but we have always heard from people who are younger (or those who care about them) asking if we do anything for younger people. Then from September 2022 we reduced our age range to 11, and found how important it was to support this age range and that our Early Intervention project was great for this age range. Therefore, from October 2023 we will be aiming our work at young people in secondary school or college (or equivalent) and those transitioning to secondary school and our age range has reduced to 10-17 years old. If you're under 13 we will need to get permission from someone with parental responsibility for you, and we will email them to explain how Alumina works and make sure they are happy with you joining a group.

We aim to group similar aged young people into groups together, so 10-13-year-olds will be offered groups together and 13-17 year olds will be in other groups together. We are happy to work with anyone until the end of their full-time education, therefore we will work with 17- and 18-year-olds so long as they are three months or more away from finishing their education at the end of August.

Meet the team

Live Webinars

We have recently started to do live webinars on YouTube on issues related to self-harm and emotional wellbeing

Supporting Young People Who Self-harm

If you're a parent, professional or friend supporting a young person who's self-harming, we recommend taking an hour to watch this webinar with our Alumina Managers. They explore why people self-harm, why young people especially self-harm, why it becomes addictive, how to break the addiction cycle, and what young people wish the adults around them understood about self-harm.

"Alumina is a well thought through support service for young people; it is professional, caring and accessible to all. Signposting a young person to Alumina will help them begin their recovery journey."

DR. KATE MIDDLETON

Our Alumina advisory panel

More information about self-harm

We've moved some of our most popular articles about self-harm over to beheadstrong.uk, and you can use these links to find them:

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Free online Self-harm support for 10-17 year olds

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"Since starting alumina it's become the highlight of my week. It's such a safe, non judgemental place which has really helped me in my recovery." Max "If you're thinking about joining I'd say go for it, the team are lovely and everyone who does it is so welcoming and supportive" Abi Alumina is a free, online 7 week course for young people struggling with self-harm.

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"Since starting alumina it's become the highlight of my week. It's such a safe, non judgemental place which has really helped me in my recovery."

Max

"If you're thinking about joining I'd say go for it, the team are lovely and everyone who does it is so welcoming and supportive"

Abi

Alumina is a free, online 7 week course for young people struggling with self-harm. Each course has up to 14 young people, all accessing the sessions from their own phones, tablets or laptops across the UK. The courses take place on different evenings of the week and are run by friendly, trained counsellors and volunteer youth workers. You don't need an adult to refer you or sign you up, and no-one will see or hear you during the sessions - you'll just join in via the chatbox. We want to help you to find your next steps towards recovery, wherever you are on your journey.

IS ALUMINA RIGHT FOR ME?

Are you...

10-17 years old?

Living in the UK?

Someone who self-harms or worries they might?

Looking for support but not wanting to do it face to face?

Wanting to move towards a life free from self-harm?

If so...

Alumina could be a helpful step forward. If you sign up we'll begin a conversation over email to work out if it might be a good fit - and you can ask us any questions you have. The only rule we have in Alumina is that we don't talk about suicide in the groups. If that's something you are struggling with thinking about we recommend getting in touch with our friends at Papyrus who are better equipped to support you.

"I thought it would be all serious and uncomfortable because of the self-harm talk but actually, the staff have made me laugh, we've been given a space that feels relevant to our ages and most importantly we can turn up in any mood and they'll be there for us." Runa

What's a session like?

"Clicking on the link for the first time was nerve wracking and intense with lots of thoughts going through my head. But within only a few minutes of the session I had a smile on my face and felt comfortable with the staff and the group."

Sasha

"Alumina was quite different to what I expected, I thought it would just be an intense 6 weeks and it would be over like other services. But it was nothing like that - instead I felt and still feel very supported by the staff. The group and staff are like a big family who's always there for me."

Samara

"Clicking that link for the very first time was terrifying. But I knew it could be life-changing. The first session I felt welcome, I no longer felt like an outsider. It's fun, believe me!! Most days I find myself looking forward to the next session because Alumina gives me a sign of hope."

Dan

Questions

We aren't a crisis service so if you're in need of immediate support please contact one of the following:

The Mix: Offering essential support for anyone aged 12-25. For their crisis messenger support service text THEMIX to 85258.
Childline: Support for anyone up to age 18. Call, chat online or email their crisis service.
Samaritans: Call 116123 anytime if you need to talk to someone.

We've changed the shape of our support for young people. This website introduces Alumina, our online support groups for young people struggling with self-harm. We've also recently launched beheadstrong.uk offering young people all kinds of information, stories and videos about looking after your mental and emotional wellbeing. You can find links to some of selfharm.co.uk's most popular articles below.

Yes we have! We have worked with 14-19 year olds for many years but we have always heard from people who are younger (or those who care about them) asking if we do anything for younger people. Then from September 2022 we reduced our age range to 11, and found how important it was to support this age range and that our Early Intervention project was great for this age range. Therefore, from October 2023 we will be aiming our work at young people in secondary school or college (or equivalent) and those transitioning to secondary school and our age range has reduced to 10-17 years old. If you're under 13 we will need to get permission from someone with parental responsibility for you, and we will email them to explain how Alumina works and make sure they are happy with you joining a group.

We aim to group similar aged young people into groups together, so 10-13-year-olds will be offered groups together and 13-17 year olds will be in other groups together. We are happy to work with anyone until the end of their full-time education, therefore we will work with 17- and 18-year-olds so long as they are three months or more away from finishing their education at the end of August.

Meet the team

Live Webinars

We have recently started to do live webinars on YouTube on issues related to self-harm and emotional wellbeing

Supporting Young People Who Self-harm

If you're a parent, professional or friend supporting a young person who's self-harming, we recommend taking an hour to watch this webinar with our Alumina Managers. They explore why people self-harm, why young people especially self-harm, why it becomes addictive, how to break the addiction cycle, and what young people wish the adults around them understood about self-harm.

"Alumina is a well thought through support service for young people; it is professional, caring and accessible to all. Signposting a young person to Alumina will help them begin their recovery journey."

DR. KATE MIDDLETON

Our Alumina advisory panel

More information about self-harm

We've moved some of our most popular articles about self-harm over to beheadstrong.uk, and you can use these links to find them:

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Free online Self-harm support for 10-17 year olds

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
"Since starting alumina it's become the highlight of my week. It's such a safe, non judgemental place which has really helped me in my recovery." Max "If you're thinking about joining I'd say go for it, the team are lovely and everyone who does it is so welcoming and supportive" Abi Alumina is a free, online 7 week course for young people struggling with self-harm.

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Skip to content

Watch the full video

Thinking of suicide?

Are you, or is a young person you know, not coping with life? For confidential suicide prevention advice contact HOPELINE247.

My whole way of thinking has changed. I feel positive about my future and the people around me. I'm now looking forward to the future and helping others just like me!

Thank you so much for the incredible support PAPYRUS and HOPELINE247 has given me. You helped me in that moment and it kept me alive.

I intend to continue to fundraise for and promote PAPYRUS. I am so proud and humbled to be involved with a wonderful charity, and to have received the support that I have.

Having been personally bereaved by suicide I understand the importance and need for our charity. I am surrounded by others who are as passionate as I am about saving lives.

* All feedback is provided by people who contact PAPYRUS. All feedback has full consent of the user and the user remains fully anonymous. Some feedback may have been adapted to keep the users anonymity.

Our latest news

Stay up to date with PAPYRUS; our news section is regularly updated with helpful advice and guidance, as well as information about our upcoming events and campaigns. If you have any questions or queries please get in touch.

Our upcoming events

Please see below some of our upcoming and exciting events including fundraisers and charity events we will be attending. For more information please get in touch.

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Papyrus UK Suicide Prevention | Prevention of Young Suicide

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PAPYRUS UK is a charity for the prevention of young suicide (under 35) in the UK | Call PAPYRUS HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 4141 Now

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stem4 - supporting teenage mental health

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stem4 is a charity that supports positive mental health in teenagers. Mental health information, apps and education. Founders of Youth Mental Health Day.

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Wellspring is a charity based in Edinburgh which provides affordable and high-quality psychotherapy and counselling. We offer a range of approaches to psychotherapy to adults, children, young people, families, couples and groups, as well as supervision to counsellors. Our main objective is to make counselling and psychotherapy as accessible to as many people as possible by offering a sliding scale according to their income. We have some limited funding for children and young people. Wellspring provides a caring and safe environment where people can feel supported to explore their lives and develop a sense of wellbeing. Wellspring has been in service to the people of Edinburgh and beyond for over 40 years and maintains a lovely building for this purpose.

Wellspring understands the importance of diversity and equality. We aim to offer an accessible and inclusive service to all people, and seek to create a welcoming environment, appreciating differences including race, ethnicity, culture, class, age, abilities, neurodiversity, sexual orientation, gender identities, religion and beliefs.

Wellspring is committed to making therapy accessible to everyone who seeks our services, including online and telephone counselling. Currently the Wellspring building is not accessible to wheelchair users and people with mobility issues. We are however able to access another venue that enables full accessibility. In addition, we offer an online service for those who cannot physically access our building, and for those who live in remote areas where travel to our venue makes it prohibitive.

"Take hold and give again. That is the law of love"
Winifred Rushforth

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Wellspring is a charity based in Edinburgh which provides affordable and high-quality psychotherapy and counselling. We offer a range of approaches to psychotherapy to adults, children, young people, families, couples and groups, as well as supervision to counsellors.

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BRAVE Online | Online help for worried kids

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Looking for advice on how to sleep better? Tweak your routine and understand the science behind your sleep patterns.

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Resources for Overcoming Anxiety and Worry v2.0

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Supporting your child with anxieties and worries

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Supporting your child with anxieties and worries

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Supporting Your Child with Fears And Worries - SelfHelp Guide CAMHS NHS Lothian

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Partner counsellors

Please see our current list of counsellors. You can contact them directly or ask the Joshua Nolan Foundation to contact them on your behalf. Some counsellors are also offering online sessions due to Covid restrictions.

SUSAN SCARTH

Based in: Edinburgh
Availability: Monday to Friday 8.30am-7pm
Average response time: within 48 hours

Email Susan: susan@movementpsychotherapy.org
Mobile: 07962814630

About Susan
My background is in social work, community development, psychiatric nursing and community mental health projects, including MIND (England). Realising that creativity and awareness of the body is at the heart of healing, I completed a post-graduate training in Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) in 1992, with my masters' thesis on effective group DMT practice with women surviving domestic violence.

I am a practical person, and so my aim is to ensure therapy addresses client's issues with care and sensitivity, restoring a balance in a person's sense of being, and ultimately enabling them to realise their full potential as human beings. The range of methods of treatment I draw on in my practice include non-verbal communication, movement analysis, creative expression, psychotherapy and trauma therapy, and body-mind centering skills. The more recent trainings have brought a deeper understanding of the neuropsychology of trauma and safe and effective practices that sustain health and wellbeing.

I believe my maturity, with many years of self-development and personal therapy, brings a wisdom and groundedness to my practice that allows clients to feel at ease, and truly seen and heard.
Specialisms:
Qualifications: BSc Hons Social Studies, MCAT (Masters in Creative Arts Therapies); CMA (Certified Movement Analyst); Diploma in Reflective Practice and Creative Supervision, SPI (1) (Sensorimotor Psychotherapy - Level 1); Body Mind Centering (BMC) modules in Infant Developmental Movement Education (IDME)and others.

DAVID SANMARTINO

Based in: Edinburgh
Availability: Monday to Friday
David currently has a 4-6 week waiting list
Average Response Time: Within 24 hours

Website: www.davidsanmartino.com
Email David: sanmartinotherapy@gmail.com
Mobile: 07939908653

About David
Ever since I was young, I knew I wanted to get into a career path that would make a difference in people's lives and then, be able to be who I meant to be. This strong feeling led me to study a BSc in Psychology and a MSc in Forensic Psychology among other accreditations. As a therapist in the greater Edinburgh area, I am committed to the well-being of all my clients and go above and beyond to cater to their needs.

In my therapy sessions, we'll work to solve current problems and improve positive thinking and behaviour. I will walk beside you the path that you want to explore, giving you support and providing you with valuable tools to cope with life's obstacles. I'm confident you'll find my personalized Individual Therapy beneficial and inspirational.

I focused my studies upon learning to use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Psychotherapy Pluralistic approach to interview, design and administer treatments to work with trauma, personality disorders, anxiety, depression, addictions, OCD and personal growth.
Specialisms:

CBT, DBT, Counselling & Mindfulness

Working with people suffering from "trauma, personality disorders, anxiety and depression"

Existential issues, identity and gender issues, LGBTI community.

Please note I do not work with clients under 16.

Qualifications: BA Theatre and Drama, BSc In Psychology with mention in Health Psychology and Interventions in Mental and Behavioural disorders, MSc Forensic Psychology, Currently MSc in Counselling.

ANA PULJIC

Email Ana: counselling@anapuljic.com

About Ana
I'm Ana, a qualified psychodynamic counsellor with a background in psychology and philosophy, offering both individual sessions and family therapy.

My counselling journey started with my MA (Hons) in Philosophy and Psychology, after which I finished the COSCA Certificate in Counselling Skills followed by the Diploma in Human Relations and Counselling. Since then, I have also completed the Foundation in Family Systemic Therapy and am currently undertaking the Intermediate Level in Family Systemic Therapy as well as completing a Masters in Human Relations and Counselling.

If you feel stuck in a loop or unable to find joy in life, I can offer my curiosity, empathy, and insights to help you find meaning in your experience. To do this, I will often draw on my background in psychology and philosophy, as well as psychodynamic therapy which looks at the unconscious processes between us and find links between what you're experiencing in the present and your early childhood and family experiences. On top of this, I use a systemic lens when working with families.

While I'm especially interested in working with existential and identity issues, I'm also experienced in working with sexual abuse and young people with attachment difficulties. Though I often work with complex trauma, many other issues are often present: from depression and anxiety to alcohol abuse and relationship problems. I feel lucky as I've had the pleasure of witnessing my clients experience positive change as these problems lessened their hold over them and they became more of their true selves. If you feel like you could work with me, I offer online or in-person sessions through First Psychology offices in Edinburgh - to request yours, please email me.
Specialisms:
Qualifications: MA Psychology and Philosophy, University of Edinburgh; Diploma in Human Relations and Counselling; Foundation and Intermediate Level in Family Systemic Therapy (current)

TOM LAWRENCE

Based in: Edinburgh
Availability: Monday to Friday
Tom currently has a one month waiting list
Average Response Time: Within 24 hours

Website: www.graceful-change.co.uk Email Tom: tom@graceful-change.co.uk
Mobile: 07887 682291
About Tom:
For the past twenty years I have dedicated my life to helping people heal, grow and make positive changes in their life. I am consistently in awe of the people I work with and the changes they make as they climb out of the deepest and darkest places, to feel lighter and more confident as they go forward in their life. I can help you make that journey.

We all need a helping hand at some stage and it is a privilege to work with folk to support them through difficult times and help them find the resources within, to feel lighter, more confident, and in control.

My purpose is to help you feel better after every session and to quickly help you with the affects of trauma and any resulting issues. And I will explain the mechanisms that cause mental health problems to give you tools to help you feel more in control, as you go through difficult, stormy waters to calm seas beyond.

I work with all people and all ages.
Specialisms:

Gently and safely releasing the affects of trauma

Depression and loss

Anxiety and anger problems

Couples and relationship issues

Addictions

Qualifications: HG.Dip.P. - Human Givens Diploma in Psychotherapy, MHGI - Member Human Givens Institute.

Jacqueline Green

Based in: East Lothian and Edinburgh
Availability: All day Monday/ Wednesday and Friday mornings

Website:
jacquelinegreencounselling.co.uk
Email Jacqueline: jacquelinegreencounselling@gmail.com
Mobile: 07504425596

About Jacques
Life can be really tough at times, and you may end up feeling overwhelmed, anxious, lonely, depressed, angry or maybe you don't know how you feel, you just know that something isn't right - well it's at these times that talking to an experienced counsellor can really help you through these tricky times and find your way forward.

As an adult and young person's counsellor, I can help you navigate your way through this. Working together, at your own pace, we can pay attention to all of your story - even the most difficult parts - so that we can start to understand yourself on a deeper level, learning to accept yourself along the way.

Being a person-centred counsellor, and working with people of all ages, I draw on various tools and techniques to help you get the most out of therapy, meeting your individual needs and supporting you through whatever comes up.

My career in mental health stems over a decade, and since qualifying as a counsellor, I have worked in schools, various charities (bereavement, lone parent, young person's), GP surgeries and in private practice.

My qualifications and further training are BACP and COSCA approved. I work with young people age 12+ and all adults. I am currently offering online or phone counselling with the hope to include face-to-face after the summer.
Specialisms:

Adolescents

Childhood trauma

Relationship difficulties and attachment

Bereavement & grief

Self harm/ suicide ideation

Lone parents and Blended families

Pre and Postnatal difficulties

Qualifications: BSc Social Science Degree, Cardiff University; Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling Skills levels 1-4, Edinburgh College, COSCA accredited; Postgraduate Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling and Psychotherapy, Strathclyde University, BACP accredited; Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling Children and Young People, Strathclyde University, COSCA accredited.

Mia Zielinska

Based in: Edinburgh
Availability: Not currently available

Website: www.arunacounselling.com
Email Mia: mia@arunacounselling.com
Mobile: 07722734854
About Mia:
I offer a quiet, safe, confidential space where you can take time to talk about what you're experiencing. I work with adults on a variety of issues and am particularly interested in grief, depression, bereavement by suicide, and suicidal thoughts. I work by exploring with you your experiences, feelings, and unconscious processes. I help you understand how these might affect your relationships with others and with yourself.

Sharing painful or confusing thoughts and feelings can make us feel vulnerable and trust takes time. I provide a professional and therapeutic space where we explore these issues together. In therapy it's important you feel heard, understood, and accepted. In essence, the idea is that through talking and exploring deeper feelings and meanings, you begin to feel more at peace within yourself. If you want to know about my availability or to arrange for a phone consult, I welcome your inquiry.

Specialisms: Depression, Bereavement, Suicidal thoughts, Bereavement by suicide, Panic attacks, Self-harm, Anxiety, Low self-esteem, Trauma, Stress, Relationship issues, Academic/work issues

Qualifications: Post-grad diploma in counselling, University of Edinburgh; Post-grad foundation, group analysis, IGA; certiticate buddhist psychology and other centred therapy, Tariki Trust.

Victoria Pollard

Based in: Ayrshire. All appointments online or by phone.
Availability: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings
Website: www.victoriapollard.co.uk
Email: vjpollard@icloud.com
About Victoria:
Whatever is troubling you, I am here to listen. My aim is to support you in talking through your concerns and emotions so that you can make better sense of your own thoughts and feelings. By doing so I hope to help you find a positive way forward.

With a background in HR I made a decision a number of years ago to step away from the corporate world, instead working creatively with textiles and ceramics before gaining a Post Graduate Diploma in Person Centred Counselling and Psychotherapy through the University of Aberdeen, via Persona Training and Development. I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP).

Having experienced both seats in the counselling room, I understand first hand the importance of feeling trust and safety within the relationship. Having the opportunity to talk through my own issues not only helped me to better understand myself but also led me here, offering the same service to others.

Alongside my private practice I also volunteer as a counsellor for Waterside Counselling in Paisley, and have several years experience as a volunteer listener with Samaritans.

I have experience of working with long and short term clients, dealing with issues ranging from stress at work and bullying to relationship/family concerns and loss. With my background I understand the wide variety of stresses that may arise within the working world. A further particular area of interest and experience for me is infertility and pregnancy loss.

I currently offer online and phone-based counselling to adults across the UK.

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Our Counsellors - The Joshua Nolan Foundation

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Please see our current list of counsellors. You can contact them directly or ask the Joshua Nolan Foundation to contact them on your behalf. Some counsellors are also offering online sessions due to Covid restrictions.

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Help for young people aged 16& and families coping with self-harm and suicidal ideation

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We are Penumbra Mental Health. A pioneering charity supporting people on their journey to better mental health.

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Information plays an important role in helping people understand and come to terms with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

We're here to educate, offer hope and support people through the difficult times, right through to recovery and everything in between, we are OCD-UK.

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OCD-UK | A national OCD charity, run by, and for people with lived experience of OCD

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Information plays an important role in helping people understand and come to terms with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). We're here to educate, offer hope and support people through the difficult times, right through to recovery and everything in between, we are OCD-UK.

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Amina - The Muslim Women's Resource Centre

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Amina - The Muslim Women's Resource Centre (Amina MWRC) is an intersectional organisation, based in Scotland, that empowers and supports Muslim and BME women by serving as a vital link between them and the barriers they face everyday.

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CELEBRATING LGBTQI PEOPLE OF COLOUR

WHAT IS RAINBOW NOIR?

RAINBOW NOIR w a s established in Manchester in February 2013 , founded by 4 black queer women who were inspired to create a space in the city led by and for our community.

We are a volunt eer-led social group, we celebrate, elevate and advocate for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans , Queer and Intersex People of C olour (LGBTQI PoC).

We use "Queer, Trans, Intersex People of Colour" (QTIPoC) interchangeably with LGBTQI PoC as collective terms to describe our community.

We are committed to creating a space of our own, places to feel safe, where LGBTQI people of colour can meet, hang out, form friendships and find community. We facilitate a bi- monthly social space in person and a lively WhatsApp group chat.

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Our mission is simple:

1. To create spaces where LGBTQI people of colour can connect with community and affirm identities.

2. To raise the visibility of LGBTQI people of colour and our experiences in Manchester, Greater Manchester and beyond.

3. To platform our community's excellence.

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Save the dates for our 2023 QTIPOC meet ups:

Thursdays 7pm -9:30pm atMosaic Space, 2 Dale St,* 12th October
new address, NOT Milk & Honey)

Northern Quarter, MCR, M1 1JW
on the following dates:

* 14th December

who are rainbow noir?

KEEPING IN THE KNOW

View and add to our live Community Notice board on Padlet here

Join our Mailchimp mailing list and view previous mail outs here

Quick links for all things Rainbow Noir on our Linktree here

FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS @RAINBOWNOIRMCR

DONATE

All the work undertaken by RAINBOW NOIR is done by volunteers in their spare time. If you would like to donate to the work that we do, you can donate via the PayPal link below.

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CELEBRATING LGBTQI PEOPLE OF COLOUR WHAT IS RAINBOW NOIR? RAINBOW NOIR w a s established in Manchester in February 2013 , founded by 4 black queer women who were inspired to create a space in the city led by and for our community.

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Health, safety and well-being of Minority Ethnic children and families

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Health, safety and well-being of Minority Ethnic children and families

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roshni is a national charity tackling a range of minority ethnic (ME) issues across Scotland. They are primarily concerned with the health, safety and wellbeing of ME children and families.

"Our projects include the Tackling Forced Marriage Initiative, which provides culturally sensitive support including a helpline, counseling and befriending as well as an online resource centre. We have also developed the Ethnic Survivor's Forum, which offers support to adult survivors of childhood abuse."

roshni also provides a number of consultancy and training services. roshni Research & Consultancy is available to carry out research and develop strategies, including training, to ensure that organisations are informed on issues that affect minority ethnic communities and are able to provide appropriate and effective services.

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roshni is a national charity tackling a range of minority ethnic (ME) issues across Scotland. They are primarily concerned with the health, safety and wellbeing of ME children and families. "Our projects include the Tackling Forced Marriage Initiative, which provides culturally sensitive support including a helpline, counseling and befriending as well as an online resource [...]

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East and Southeast Asian (ESA) people identify with cultures and ethnicities coming from Brunei, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea (North and South), Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam.

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East and Southeast Asian (ESA) people identify with cultures and ethnicities coming from Brunei, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea (North and South), Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam.

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Supporting the Central Eastern European Community in Edinburgh

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Supporting the Central Eastern European Community in Edinburgh

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Feniks - Counselling, Personal Development and Support Services Ltd

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Feniks was set up in 2007 as a charity supporting integration and aiming at improving the wellbeing of the Central Eastern European Community in Edinburgh. We seek to help individuals and families who have moved away from their homeland in facing the challenges which can result from immigration. Difficulties may arise in one's personal life or work which necessitate contact with a therapist. In addition, deeper psychological issues may surface which require such contact on a longer-term basis.

The breadth of knowledge and experience of our professional team (gained both in Poland and the UK) allows for the provision of comprehensive psychological help for adults. It is hoped that the quality of life and personal wellbeing of those with whom we work may then rise to a level sufficient to allow them to function effectively and happily within society.

Feniks engages in research projects that bring to light inequalities affecting the Polish and other EU nationals. For instance, research with the NHS

Social isolation is believed to be one of the major factors affecting mental well-being of the the immigrants. Thus, the aim of our group activities is targeting this particular issue and creating opportunity for the participants to develop meaningful relationships. We organise groups for the particularly isolated people, such as young Polish young parents and Polish people of 50 and over years old. Our Leith Conversation Cafés, however, are open to anyone new to Edinburgh, interested in getting to know new people and conversing about the topics related to migration and adaptation to the new culture.

Since the Brexit referendum, Feniks has been representing the needs of the vulnerable EU nationals in Scotland and thus introduced the EU Settlement Support Service to secure their rights to remain in UK.

The key Feniks's objective is developing social capital, which we achieve through creating volunteering opportunities and supporting career development of the young CEE professionals. FENIKS involves volunteers and we accept applications from CEE students for Erasmus internships, who are involved in running the organisation and delivery of the projects.

Feniks has been recognised as the counselling organisation by the Edinburgh University and we offer placement opportunity for counselling students, who can speak one of the Central Eastern European languages.
We initiated Polish Psychologists Networking Group to create a supportive environment for Polish psychologists, therapists, coaches and mentors for further career development and cooperation to the benefit of the community. Befriend Depression is an annual campaign of free workshops and counselling sessions for Polish people in Edinburgh and beyond.

We also work with NHS Lothian and Public Health Scotland to improve access to information and healthcare through campaigns such as improved health messaging for the Polish community, research on vaccination hesitancy and health screening uptake, while we will also promote COVID-19 vaccination uptake.

An important emerging part of Feniks's work is the participation and representation of the CEE community in public life by attending the Cross-Party Group on Poland and partnering in the Vote! You are at Home campaign promoting attendance in local and national elections amongst the Polish community in Scotland. We further contribute to the Ethnic Minority National Resilience Network (EMNRN) by BEMIS, setup in response to the pandemic lockdown to identify the short and long-term needs of BAME communities in Scotland and to represent their collective voice at appropriate committee meetings of the Scottish government.

Feniks actively supports and facilitates research within CEE communities to identify and raise awareness of their needs and barriers to equality. For example, 2016 and 2019 research between Feniks and the Robert Gordon University identifed that Brexit is signifcantly impacting the mental health of EU nationals, while 2018 and 2020 research between the Scottish Public Health Network (ScotPHN), See Me Scotland and Feniks identified that Polish men in Scotland were 1.6 times more likely to complete suicide than Scottish menand experienced systemic barriers in receiving help.

Feniks works in close partnership with Health All Round, Respekt-Safer Families, Edinburgh Women's Aid, Shakti Women's Aid, ELREC, Polish Consulate and Police Scotland. We are involved in the research projects delivered by NHS Lothian Health Board and Glasgow University.

As the organisation we represent interests of the Polish community at the Cross-Party Group on Poland in Scottish Parliament as the leading organisation of the Wellbeing Subgroup. We are also members of Lothian Health Initiatives Forum; Equalities and Rights Network, New Europeans and Polish Professionals Network.

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Feniks - Counselling, Personal Development and Support - Edinburgh

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Feniks was set up in 2007 as a charity supporting integration and aiming at improving the wellbeing of the Central Eastern European Community in Edinburgh. We seek to help individuals and families who have moved away from their homeland in facing the challenges which can result from immigration.

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The Young Saheliya Service provides support for young BME women and girls from the age of 12-25 years. Here at Saheliya we understand that it may be difficult for you to meet friends, have barriers to make the choices that you want, have a free, safe, private and confidential space to chat to some-one about things that may be bothering you...

Drop-in

We have created a safe and relaxing space for girls and young women from various backgrounds. Take the opportunity to hang out and meet new people, exchange views and discover other cultures.

Get involved in creative projects and feel free to bring your own unique input into things that are interesting to you. we are open to discuss about anything that is important to you. We can also help you with educational and career advice. Our drop-in days are usually Wednesdays (Glasgow) and Fridays (Edinburgh).

1-1 Support

You may feel that you need extra support finding a job, developing your confidence or motivation, want to find out more about Edinburgh/Glasgow, Scotland and UK if you are maybe new to the country. These are just a few examples. Your support worker will initially ask you to come to Saheliya, discuss, explore and develop a plan of what You would like support with, styling it to Your needs. You and your support worker will then work together to achieve these intended goals.

Counselling

This service is currently only offered in Edinburgh. The Young Saheliya counsellor offers therapeutic support to You. She provides a confidential space to talk about any problems you are facing or concerns you want to share about your life. You do not need to fear being judged our experienced counsellor is qualified to listen to You! She can help You explore your struggles and find coping strategies about anything that you share and explore ways of coping with any difficulties.

All of our Young Saheliya Services are Confidential, Friendly and Free!

We will only share information with others if you ask us to or if we are particularly concerned that you or someone you talk about are at risk of immediate harm. We endeavour to discuss our concerns about your / or another persons safety with you first!

For more information please:

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The Young Saheliya Service provides support for young BME women and girls from the age of 12-25 years. Here at Saheliya we understand that it may be difficult for you to meet friends, have barriers to make the choices that you want, have a free, safe, private and confidential space to chat to some-one about things that may be bothering you...

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MindEd is suitable for all adults working with, or caring for, infants, children or teenagers, adults and older people, including people with a learning disability and autistic people; all the information provided is quality assured by experts, useful, and easy to understand. We aim to give adults who care for, or work with people:

the knowledge to support their wellbeing

the understanding to identify a child, young person or adult at risk of a mental health condition

the confidence to act on their concern and, if needed, signpost to services that can help

MindEd is multi-professional, and can be used by teachers, health and mental health professionals, police and judiciary staff, social workers, youth service volunteers, school counsellors among others to support their professional development.

All registered learners can access a learning path tailored to their needs.

Throughout the MindEd site we make use of images and videos. In all cases, except where specifically noted, these images and videos use actors and are not intended to represent any specific person.

Disclaimer

Please note that the advice provided on MindEd is written and quality assured by experts in mental health and is accurate and comprehensive as possible. It is however only general advice and should not be used as a substitute for any individual advice you might receive from consulting your own doctor/mental health professional. Please use your own judgement when deciding how best to apply our information to any specific situation or proposed treatment. This applies to any clinical professionals, who should use their own clinical judgement when interpreting the information on MindEd and deciding how to best apply it in the treatment of patients.

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MindEd is suitable for all adults working with, or caring for, infants, children or teenagers, adults and older people, including people with a learning disability and autistic people; all the information provided is quality assured by experts, useful, and easy to understand.

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We are a national charity which aims to promote strong family life and to help those who face family difficulties.

Since 1988, Care for the Family has sought to promote strong family life and help those who face family difficulties. Our work has been focused on the UK, but increasingly through digital technology, we are reaching a wider audience.

We focus primarily on the following areas of family life: marriage, parenting and bereavement. Our aim is to be accessible to every family whatever their circumstances and to create resources and support that are preventative, evidence-based and easy to apply.

Every family and marriage is unique. Parents may have one child or many, be fostering or adopting, be parenting a child with additional needs, parenting alone or apart from their children. Couples may have been together for many years or just beginning their marriage adventure. Whatever the context and circumstances we want to do all we can to support both marriages and families to help them thrive.

However, we also know that on every journey they will experience difficult times as well as the good. Our telephone befriending services are there to support them when the going is tough. In particular, we are aware that all will experience grief and loss during their lifetime. We want to help those who are living with loss to discover hope for the future, and the strength to rebuild their own lives and the lives of those that they love.

Motivated by our Christian faith, ethos and compassion we are committed to supporting families of all faiths or none, with outstanding services and resources. For marriage preparation, relationship tips, and help in the testing times. From birth to the teenage years and beyond. For bereaved parents, those widowed young and anyone supporting bereaved people.

Couple support

Prepare for marriage, married life, supporting couples, The Marriage Challenge, Marriage by Design

Find out more

Parent support

New parents, everyday parenting, additional needs, single parenting, step-families, adoption and fostering

Find out more

Bereavement support

For bereaved parents, those widowed young and anyone supporting bereaved people.

Find out more

Connect with us through our various social media

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We are a national charity which aims to promote strong family life and to help those who face family difficulties.

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Parenting and Family Support - Family Lives (Parentline Plus) | Family Lives

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Parenting and family support from Family Lives (formerly Parentline Plus) through our website, helpline 0808 800 2222, email service at askus@familylives.org.uk, live chat and local services.

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How to not need a holiday after the holidays

The holidays can be a stressful time for single parents, Natalie is a volunteer in our Wellbeing Digital Group and recently held an online workshop where she shared her 'go to' tools for managing the...

Read more

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We are Gingerbread, the charity for single parent families. We provide expert advice and practical support for single mums and dads in England and Wales.

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Support for Parents from Action For Children

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Our parenting coaches write our advice articles and are available to support you via live chat. They'll listen, take time to understand your situation, and offer ideas to help. Between them, they've seen and heard every kind of parenting question or worry. They're qualified support workers, childminders, play practitioners and teachers. They're parents and carers, just like you. Find out more about them on this page. Or read what parents and carers say about our support.

Sharon

I have worked with children and families for 13 years. I'm experienced in early years, supporting families with child development, speech and language, play, behaviour. I'm also a qualified IAIM baby massage instructor.

"Yesterday I was at breaking point. Today I feel hopeful and positive that I can deal with things and make a positive change. Thank you so much!"

"The parenting coach was absolutely brilliant. They helped me so much with great advice, links for more support and giving me the confidence that I am on the right tracks with my son. It's like a weight has been lifted, knowing that I can access free support at such a high level. I cannot recommend and thank them enough."

"Amazing help - a quick resolution to a massively devastating incident which now doesn't look so bad."

"Absolutely fabulous. They've left me feeling more positive with the support and the links she's left for us ... The most understanding, patient, helpful person I've spoken with in a long time. Wonderful. I could really go in for ages how great they've been but I best leave it there. Thank you again.

Go to our live chat page now or view our online advice.

At Action for Children, we believe that every child should grow up safe and happy. That's why we provide support to help them thrive and offer help when times get tough. We believe in building solid foundations and spotting problems early. We work on the ground with families, through more than 476 local services. We're also in schools, online, and talking to the government. We support more than 387,000 children, young people and their families in the UK every year. Find out more about our work on our main website.

Spring Nurseries

Action for Children also runs Spring Nurseries, offering award-winning, affordable early years education and childcare. All nurseries are rated 100% Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, or equivalent standards in Scotland and Wales. Spring has 44 nurseries across the UK, providing high-quality care from birth to five years. We help children with key milestones like speech, language and physical coordination. We support them to learn, have fun and make friends. And we'll work with parents to ensure you are involved in your children's learning.

Find out more about what's on offer at the Spring Nurseries website.

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About - Support for Parents from Action For Children

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Our parenting coaches write our advice articles and are available to support you via live chat. They'll listen, take time to understand your situation, and offer ideas to help. Between them, they've seen and heard every kind of parenting question or worry. They're qualified support workers, childminders, play practitioners and teachers.

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From national services, like our confidential Infoline and online wellbeing support Time for You, to our 70 services based in communities across Scotland, we work every day to support better mental health and wellbeing. We listen to what matters locally and we campaign nationally - for the changes, big and small, that can make all the difference in life.

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Young people and Parents/carers mental health support

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Young people and Parents/carers mental health support

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HappyMaps - Find the best support, advice and information on young people's mental health, all in one place. For Parents, Professionals and Young People.

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Read reviews

"I think this is a fabulous resource-very clearly laid out with the full range of supports available, from parenting tips through to professional help" (Parent)

"This is great to recommend to parents when they are worried about their children. It's the best website for mental health issues that I've found" (Teacher)

"Excellent. I work for CAMHS Bristol and regularly recommend this website" (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services)

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Home - HappyMaps: Help and Resources for Children's Mental Health

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An award-winning website on children's mental health collating sensible and professional advice on common problems. With new self-help pages for young people.

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Human Development Scotland (HDS) does not offer an urgent or emergency counselling/psychotherapy service. If you need urgent help or support for yourself or someone close to you, the organisations listed below may be able to help.

If you are ill and feel it can't wait until your GP surgery re-opens, you can call NHS 24 on 111. For an emergency ambulance, you should dial 999.

Organisations that can help you

Breathing Space
www.breathingspace.scot
0800 83 85 87

Childline
www.childline.org.uk
0800 1111

Clear Your Head

www.clearyourhead.scot

Scottish Government support website

COSCA Searchable Directory
www.cosca.org.uk
A searchable register for counsellors and psychotherapists.

NHS 24
www.nhs24.scot
Dial 111

NSPCC
www.nspcc.org.uk
0808 800 5000 (or 0800 1111 if under 18 years old)

Samaritans
www.samaritans.org
116 123

SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health)
www.samh.org.uk
SANEline
www.sane.org.uk
0300 304 7000

Young Scot

www.young.scot

Latest

Most read

Friends of HDS is our way of recognising groups of supporters who make a regular commitment to the work of HDS. Find out more about becoming a Friend of HDS. Read more

At a glance look at the professional training on offer from HDS. Information and links to course information, including: entry requirements, fees, timings, applications and enquiries. Read more

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Human Development Scotland (HDS) does not offer an urgent or emergency counselling/psychotherapy service. If you need urgent help or support for yourself or someone close to you, the organisations listed below may be able to help. If you are ill and feel it can't wait until your GP surgery re-opens, you can call NHS 24 on 111.

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People with OCD experience anxiety or distress from persistent thoughts and ideas which pop up in their heads automatically and seem impossible for them to ignore. Thoughts like these are called 'obsessions', and sufferers may feel their anxieties can only be relieved by carrying out a particular ritual (a compulsion), often many times. Although everyone experiences distressing thoughts from time to time, when daily life becomes punctuated by obsessions and compulsions, OCD is diagnosed.

People with OCD often feel guilty, shameful or embarrassed about their thoughts and actions and therefore may be secretive about them and not seek the help they need. This can be particularly true of men who often feel the need to 'be strong' and therefore ignore their OCD symptoms for as long as possible.

Symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

OCD can be categorised into different types depending on the nature of the thoughts and behaviours that the person is experiencing. Some of the most common categories are:

Contamination and illness: The fear of touching things which are perceived to be dirty or contaminated which results in ritualistic and obsessive hand-washing, showering or cleaning. People with this type of OCD constantly fear that they or those around them will become ill from touching contaminated surfaces, and the only way to relieve this fear is to wash themselves or clean their surroundings. However, the relief this provides is short-lived and the behaviour is carried out repeatedly.

Checking and safety: This type of OCD can best be described by "What if...?". People worry about not checking they have locked doors and windows before going out or turned off appliances such as the oven. The anxiety comes from feeling that you are responsible for any disastrous events that occur because you failed to check things properly. Some people will keep checking over and over again until it feels right while others will have a set number of times that something must be checked. Again, the actions provide temporary relief as one check is not enough. People may also worry that friends and family may be harmed by their actions and may keep checking that they are ok.

Order and symmetry: People with obsessions about having things in a particular order feel that their actions will stop something terrible happening to them or their loved ones. They may spend excessive amounts of time rearranging objects and may feel great distress if things are moved.

Hoarding and collecting: OCD can also come in the form of hoarding and collecting useless things that most people would throw away, e.g. old post, leaflets, packaging. The thought of getting rid of these things may be distressing to individuals with this type of OCD as they believe items are particularly important or may be needed in the future. People often feel attached to objects and hoard them to avoid the distress of separation.

Religion and moral issues: Obsessions may come in the form of anti-religious thoughts, which can be particularly upsetting to people who consider themselves to be religious. They may feel guilt and anxiety about these thoughts and repeat prayers or phrases until they feel they have done enough to restore their faith. Again the relief is temporary and the rituals have to be repeated. People may seek advice and reassurance from others to reduce their anxiety about their thoughts.

Violence and sex: This type of OCD is probably the most disturbing to the person experiencing it. The obsessions are usually completely out of character and involve physically harming loved ones, e.g. a child, or disturbing sexual acts, e.g. with a close family member. As with other types of OCD, thoughts are persistant and automatic, despite the amount of disgust, guilt or shame they cause. People with this type of OCD may worry they will be labelled a psychopath or a paedophile or fear they may act out their impulses. However this type of OCD, known as 'pure-O' ends with obsessions - compulsive acts are never carried out.

Although the types of OCD described here may seem very different, there are common themes between them all. The rituals or behaviours performed only provide temporary relief from the anxiety and distress - they are not carried out for pleasure or satisfaction. Secondly, the individual feels a great deal of responsibility to get the ritual right to prevent something terrible happening, even though on a conscious level they know the ritual is either excessive or unrelated to the thoughts.

Causes of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

OCD is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, i.e. certain combinations of genes can predispose you to developing OCD if you are also exposed to particular situations in life. Some of the factors that have been associated with the onset of OCD are: bereavement; illness; becoming a parent; a change in a relationship (e.g. new partner, separation, marriage); job loss, promotion or change in position; retirement; moving house; financial stress; family problems; and childhood abuse or neglect. However, OCD usually develops slowly and may take months to become a noticeable problem so you might not associate it with the trigger. Therapy sessions can be helpful in uncovering the main event which triggered the onset of OCD.

Dealing with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) at home

To get rid of OCD, the cycle of obsessions and compulsions needs to be broken. Obsessive thoughts are involuntary and automatic so it is very hard to stop these, however it is possible to regulate the compulsions. This can be done through techniques taught in ERP therapy (exposure and response prevention therapy). This technique teaches you to expose yourself to the thoughts that make you anxious and then physically stop yourself from performing the action or mental ritual that you normally do to relieve the anxiety. At first, this can increase anxiety, however over time you will realise that terrible things don't happen because you didn't perform the ritual. Although on a conscious level you may already know this, it will take hundreds of repetitions of the ERP techniques for this to become ingrained in your mind. The key is to persevere.

Further information about OCD
Useful websites First Psychology's booklets

Self-help guides: There are many good self-help guides that describe in much more detail the techniques of ERP therapy and provide structured programmes to follow.

Feel free to contact us to ask about psychological therapies available at First Psychology Edinburgh that may help with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

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People with OCD experience anxiety or distress from persistent thoughts and ideas which pop up in their heads automatically and seem impossible for them to ignore. Thoughts like these are called 'obsessions', and sufferers may feel their anxieties can only be relieved by carrying out a particular ritual (a compulsion), often many times.

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2 x Seasons for Growth course for S1/2 and S3/4

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The Proud Trust is an LGBT+ organisation that supports LGBT+ young people through youth groups, peer support, mentoring programs and the Proud Connections chat service.

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We'd love to show you how your support is helping LGBTQ+ people everywhere to thrive. We need your consent to keep you up to date with our campaigns and events, and what you can do to help make life better for LGBTQ+ people.

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At Stonewall, we stand for lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning and ace (LGBTQ+) people everywhere. We imagine a world where all LGBTQ+ people are free to be ourselves and can live our lives to the full.

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LGBT club meets every Tuesday lunchtime at JGHS - It is open to all and mostly student led. The club is for socialising, but we have been involved in campaigning and ensuring representation and visibility in the school as well. A number of our students, staff and parents marched at Edinburgh Pride in 2022.
There is also a Teams page for the club, and an Instagram which shares LGBT history and announcements to any student or parents with an interest - (link included above)
https://www.instagram.com/jghs_lgbtplus/

The LGBT award is run by LGBT Youth Scotland and their website is a great starting resource - (link included above)
https://www.lgbtyouth.org.uk/

As part of our progress with the award, we have done a full audit of LGBT inclusive practice throughout the school - and there is lots of it - as well as giving students and staff the opportunity to express their experiences around the school. We collaborated with our librarians to ensure that a list of LGBT inclusive books were stocked in the library and there are some great new intersectional titles in our library as a result. We are also in the early days of collaborating with our feeder primaries so that some of our students can 'buddy' primary students who would appreciate this opportunity.

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Edinburgh Young Carers
Youth matters
Edinburgh Young Carers is a voluntary organisation that provides respite and support to young people living in North and South-East Edinburgh, between the ages of 5 and 25, who care for somebody at home. We aim to improve the lives and wellbeing of young carers by raising awareness, offering emotional and practical support and by giving each young person the opportunity to take a break from their caring role and have fun in a friendly, supportive environment where they can be themselves and leave worries behind.

Do you look after someone who suffers from:

Mental health problems?
Disability?
Chronic ill-health?
Drug and alcohol use?

Young Carers' rights
It's important to remember that each young carer is a unique individual, a child who is entitled to a childhood, a person who is entitled to discover their potential, and a human being whose rights should be respected.

£20

will pay for a young carer to get an evening's break in an activity group with other young carers

Help make a difference

Why do we work in schools?

Enable greater identification of and support to Young Carers in Edinburgh, through working directly with primary and secondary schools.

EYC on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2d8zGDFQKW/

EYC on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/109279925828470/posts/2552821611474277

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Youth matters Edinburgh Young Carers is a voluntary organisation that provides respite and support to young people living in North and South-East Edinburgh, between the ages of 5 and 25, who care for somebody at home.

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Information on Young Carers at James Gillespie’s High School

A young carer is a young person aged 5-25 who cares for or is affected by another person at home. The cared for person at home may be an adult or child and suffer from mental health issues, a disability, chronic ill-health, or drug/alcohol misuse.

Caring responsibilities may be practical and/or emotional. It is easy to think of a young carer as someone solely responsible for preparing meals, cleaning, and caring for an adult who is unable to do these things for the family. While this is true in many circumstances, it by no means defines fully what it is to be a young carer. A young carer can be adversely affected by another person at home, without having to carry out the daily responsibilities of the household.

Responsibilities at home for a young carer can interfere with their ability to socialise and join in after-school activities and clubs. Young carers often feel stressed, frustrated, tired, lonely, and also have a sense of shame. The feeling of stigmatisation in young carers still persists, which may prevent them coming forward to ask for help. This can mean young carers often remain hidden.

It is important, as a school, we become aware of any signs which will enable us to identify and support those who may be reluctant to come forward or do not realise they have a caring role.

The following signs have been compiled by Edinburgh Young Carers for identifying young carers in school:

Tiredness
Mature for age

Academic performance below potential Physical illness, poor eating habits, poor hygiene

Absence from school
Transport difficulties

Socially isolated
Lack of parental contact with school

Behavioural difficulties
Illness or disablility in the household

Young carers can remain hidden for a number of reasons:

· They don’t know where to go for help

· They may not know they are a young carer

· They may be worried about sharing personal information

· They may fear being taken into care

Edinburgh Young Carers is a voluntary organisation that provides respite and support to young people between the ages of 5 and 25 who care for somebody at home. They also work closely with schools to raise awareness and offer guidance on how to support young carers in schools. More information can be found on their website (link below)

Lockdown also had a huge impact on young carers, with increased caring hours and less outside support. It is vital that young carers get the support they need at school. Young carers need emotional support and a space to go where they can feel safe. This is where everyone at JGHS can help.

Young Carer Coordinators: Fiona Oatman and Richard Sievwright. Please contact either for further information.

Useful Links

Edinburgh Young Carers https://www.youngcarers.org.uk/

Lothian young carers information for staff https://services.nhslothian.scot/supportingcarers/Pages/YoungCarers.aspx

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The death of someone close to you can be a difficult and worrying time. You may need practical advice to help you cope, or someone to talk to about how you feel.

If you think you might need extra support, your first step could be to see your GP - or another health professional you feel comfortable with - and tell them how you're feeling.

NHS inform has information on:

Support organisations

Speak to a support organisation for emotional help and practical advice.

Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland
Phone: 0808 802 6161
Monday to Thursday, 9am to 8pm
Friday, 9am to 4pm
Email: support@crusescotland.org.uk
Cruse offer one-to-one counselling across Scotland. They give support through their helpline for anyone who has been bereaved.

Samaritans
Phone: 116 123 (24 hours a day, every day)
Email: jo@samaritans.org
Gives confidential emotional support for people experiencing distress, despair or suicidal thoughts.

Breathing Space
Phone: 0800 83 85 87
Monday to Thursday, 6pm to 2am
Friday to Monday, 6pm to 6am
Free and confidential service for people experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety.

Petal - people experiencing trauma and loss
Phone: 01698 324 502
Petal support families and friends of murder and suicide victims through telephone counselling. They provide a drop-in centre in Hamilton and outreach programmes in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Further help and advice after a death

You can also find information and support for:

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The death of someone close to you can be a difficult and worrying time. You may need practical advice to help you cope, or someone to talk to about how you feel. If you think you might need extra support, your first step could be to see your GP - or another health professional you feel comfortable with - and tell them how you're feeling.

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Everyone experiences loss or bereavement at some point in their life. However, the way you react will be unique to you, as there's no 'right' way to grieve. Having said that, there are some common experiences that other people will have shared and knowing this can be helpful. For example, many people talk about feeling numb, in shock or overwhelmed, making every-day tasks feel like a challenge. Some people cope by immersing themselves in work, while others find it difficult to function at all. It's also common to feel emotions such as anger, disbelief, guilt, or profound sadness. And the pain of grief can affect you physically, making it difficult to sleep, eat or even think straight. You need to know that it's alright to have any of these feelings, whatever other people may say. It's also important to understand that there's no time limit on recovery. You won't feel better all at once, but it will start to get easier as time goes on.

Loss and bereavement is associated with other difficulties such as:

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Loss and bereavement - Wellbeing Lothian

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Everyone experiences loss or bereavement at some point in their life. However, the way you react will be unique to you, as there's no 'right' way to grieve. Having said that, there are some common experiences that other people will have shared and knowing this can be helpful.

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Welcome to the Edinburgh SoBS Group

Here you will warmly be greeted by Jacqui and Jackson.

Jacqui has been running the group since August 2010 and has recently

been joined by Jackson who became a volunteer in December 2020.

Our group attendees are from far and wide and we have embraced the challenge of virtual meetings since June 2020, there is no rushing off to catch the train and its lovely to share each other's homes, where family pets sometimes put in a guest appearance!

Meet Jacqui here

Meet Jackson here

Should you ever visit Edinburgh, don't forget to add to your "to do list" a visit to our SoBS bench in the beautiful grounds of The Royal Botanic Gardens.

We hope the bench, which is inscribed "I loved you at your darkest and I love you still", will raise awareness of suicide and provide a place for people affected to come for reflection and support.

Meetings: Last Thursday of the month.
Contacts: Jacqui 07787580998 or Jackson 07597523644
Email: edinburgh@uksobs.org

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Here you will warmly be greeted by Jacqui and Jackson. Jacqui has been running the group since August 2010 and has recently been joined by Jackson who became a volunteer in December 2020.

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1. Find support

2. Bereavement Services

To find the support you need, use any combination of filters to identify the services that best suits you. The more filters you use, the narrower the list of options. Remove a filter to see more.

You might also like to note that:-

To find services local to you, enter the city or county where you live - try neighbouring areas as well as they may not be far away.

National Organisations often have local branches in your area.

If you are looking for culturally sensitive services such as particular ethnic/religious support, LGBTQ or services offered in different languages, please use the 'Culturally Sensitive' option under 'Type of Support'.

Where we know about them, free services are listed and specified as such. Don't be afraid to make your own enquiries about cost with the contact details provided.

On occasion searchers have reported a zero return when searching for support. If this happens please clear the cache on your computer and try again.

AtaLoss provides the following service which may be of interest to you:-

The Bereavement Journey - a 6 week, online and in person course using films and small groups to help you work through your grief. To find out more click HERE.

Disclaimer

Apart from The Bereavement Journey we do not deliver bereavement support ourselves.

Our job is to research and signpost you to the many excellent services available across the UK. We ensure their details are up to date and accurate to the best of our knowledge. Please check with services directly for any time or operational changes. We hope and expect you will always get quality support but AtaLoss.org is not responsible for the quality of service delivered.

Filter

Who has died?

Circumstances of death

Age of person needing support

Type of Support

Location
Clear Filters

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charity providing signposting to bereavement support uk wide

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To find the support you need, use any combination of filters to identify the services that best suits you. The more filters you use, the narrower the list of options. Remove a filter to see more.

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Everyone experiences bereavement at some stage in their life, whether it’s the death of a parent, a loved one, a friend or child. The experience often means that our lives will never be the same again. Sometimes the feelings - the despair, loneliness or even guilt - may overwhelm us, so much so that we need help. In time, and with support, we can work through such feelings and learn to live with our loss.

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Support for your health and wellbeing

GTC Scotland is the professional registration body for teachers and lecturers in Scotland. The GTC Scotland Health and Wellbeing Hub provides a variety of resources to support colleagues' wellbeing.

Previous Webinars which are available on the GTCS Health and Wellbeing page are:

Taking stock and staying centred in uncertain times - supported by Claire Lavelle Hive of Wellbeing - This included sharing self-coaching strategies to support educators in taking stock of where their own wellbeing needs are being met and where they might consider a more self-compassionate and resourceful approach towards themselves in more challenging areas. Claire also shared ideas to cultivate habits of 'breaking the state,' returning to and staying centred when feeling overwhelmed.

Impact of Racial discrimination on health and wellbeing - Khadija Mohammed, Yasmeen Hussain, Marcia Edwards and Sharon Smith discussed racial discrimination issues, how they impact on teachers' wellbeing and learning about what we can do to combat the effects of discrimination and abuse.

Ask the Health and Wellbeing Specialist - Dr Emma Hepburn, Sarah Philp and Claire Lavelle discussed a range of health and wellbeing subjects including: asking for help and recognising and owning how we feel; anxiety and mindfulness techniques; difficult conversations and supporting my colleagues; inner critic and imposter syndrome; feelings of isolation and supporting teams online; working from home aches and pains; hyper vigilance and exhaustion.

Webinars are recorded and available on our Health and Wellbeing Hub and within MyPL with accompanying resources and support videos.

Probationer supporters

A series of webinars are available for probationer supporters. The webinars have all been recorded to ensure that they are accessible over the course of the school session. The topics included are:

Pastoral Support for Probationers (with Claire Lavelle)

Challenging Conversations (with Agnes Hendry)

Completing a case overview as part of the profile process (with Elaine Napier)

Early career teachers

GTC Scotland continues to work in partnership with Education Scotland to offer a programme of professional learning under the banner of 'Stepping Stones'. This is an online community for post-probationers and teachers in their first four years of full registration. You can find out more about the Stepping Stones programme here.

Support for the health and wellbeing of learners

1. Links to support the positive mental health and wellbeing of children and young people

A summary of information, resources and organisations have been curated by Education Scotland and are freely available to support primary and secondary school staff to support mental wellbeing.
Nurture and trauma-informed approaches: A summary of supports and resources Wakelet - Mental health and wellbeing: supports for practitioners, parents, carers and young people
Children and Young People's Mental Health and Wellbeing : A Professional Learning Resource For All School Staff - The resource takes a whole school approach centred around prevention and early intervention to promote positive mental health and wellbeing for everyone in the school community. It aims to provide school staff with knowledge and understanding of mental health and wellbeing in schools and a range of opportunities to learn about experiences and advice from practitioners and young people.

2. Supporting children and young people with trauma, grief and loss

A Professional Learning Activity created as an introduction to 'Compassionate and Connected Community' has been developed by Education Scotland and can be accessed via Professional Learning and Leadership Online Resource. This resource provides an introduction to supporting children and young people affected by trauma.
A Professional Learning Activity 'Supporting children and young people through grief and loss' is provided by Education Scotland and available via the Professional Learning and Leadership Online Resource (login required). This professional learning provides information on the possible grief reactions related to the COVID-19 experience

NHS Education Scotland has a variety of resources available for working with young people and families at this time.

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2020 Barnardo's in partnership with Public Health Scotland launched a film - ' It's All About Relationships: Embedding relational, trauma sensitive approaches in education settings '. The aim of the film is to make explicit links between trauma-sensitive, relational approaches within Education and children and young people's mental health.

We also developed this Wakelet which has a range of support materials linked to this subject.

Beacon House supports for staff supporting children and young people affected by trauma.

3. Support for Children and Young People Experiencing Domestic Abuse

Education Scotland has provided information for educators on domestic abuse which is aimed at all staff in early learning and childcare settings and schools, including senior leadership teams.

A report by the Scottish Government - Coronavirus (COVID-19): domestic abuse and other forms of violence against women and girls - 30/3/20-22/05/20 - provides the qualitative evidence on the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on people experiencing domestic abuse and other forms of violence against women/girls (VAWD) during COVID-19 lockdown for the period 30 March 2020 to 22 May 2020.

4. Mental health and wellbeing: local authority supports

Local authorities across Scotland created bespoke supports for staff, including specific supports from educational psychologists.
Wakelet - Mental health and wellbeing: local authority supports
Further support is available from local authority Educational psychology services across Scotland

Professional learning opportunities and resources to support recovery

1. EIS (Education Institute of Scotland) - Supporting teachers to deliver remote learning

EIS's Lockdown Learning resource is a series of learning activities that could be useful in both blended and remote learning scenarios. The main focus of these is learner engagement and wellbeing. The resources are broadly divided into Primary and Secondary with scope for adaptation by teachers to suit the needs of their learners as they see fit.

An updated version of the EIS Working from Home guidance is also now available. It advises members around a variety of relevant topics such as managing workload while home-working, wellbeing matters and engaging with pupils online.

Support for the Provision of COVID-secure In-school Learning

The EIS has created a suite of sector-specific online curriculum and pedagogy guidance covering Early Years, Primary, Secondary and Special Primary and Special Secondary Education. The guidance aims to support teachers in adapting pedagogy to take account of the current public health imperatives and the priorities identified within the Recovery Curriculum.

Webinars focused on COVID-secure pedagogy for teachers of Early Years, Primary and Secondary have enabled teachers to come together virtually to share thinking around the challenges and successes that they've experienced in adjusting pedagogy to take account of the COVID context. Recordings and associated presentations are available to view on the EIS website.

Supporting Teachers to Address the Equity-impact of the Pandemic

The EIS PACT Project has provided professional learning to teachers focussed on the poverty impact of COVID-19. Webinar recordings and self-access modular learning materials are available for all teachers in Scotland on the PACT zone of the EIS website.

Equality-focused Support for Teachers

The pandemic has shone a harsh light on pre-existing societal inequalities, many of which have been exacerbated by COVID. For teachers wishing to learn more about Equality matters in the context of COVID and more generally, the EIS has created a package of online Equality Taster Training which provides opportunities to increase knowledge of equality legislation and how it relates to education, and enables teachers to enhance their awareness of inequality and how to address it.

Support in Advancing Race Equality

As part of the EIS wider anti-racist strategy a programme of learning activity has been offered to members, including all-member webinars and a comprehensive anti-racist leadership learning programme, with bespoke sessions for trade union representatives, education leaders and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic members. Following these sessions, tailored guidance and learning resources will be launched online.

The EIS has organised a range of online initiatives to facilitate members coming together to support one another and share their experiences in relation to equality issues during the pandemic and lockdown. The EIS established an informal National BAME Network, and held an event for disabled members and members with access or communication difficulties - to map issues affecting them and explore ways of providing support.

Supporting Teachers to Focus on their Wellbeing

The EIS launched a programme of wellbeing-related professional learning for EIS members. More information can be found here: Our-Well-Being-Matters.

In Spring 2020, the EIS created a Working at Home resource which although intended to support teachers during the first period of school closure, it still has relevance to the current context. It contains 4 main sections: Looking After Your Health and Wellbeing; Making Time for You: Daily Inspiration; Lockdown Learning Ideas; and Continuing Your Professional Learning.

Making Time for You: Daily Inspiration - A wide variety of suggestions to help teachers take a little bit of time for themselves every day, away from work and other routine duties, to help them keep well mentally, emotionally and physically. Music, gardening, cooking, cinema, theatre, poetry, exercise and much more feature in the suggestions- plenty of creative ways that teachers can snatch some quality leisure time to help achieve greater work-life balance.

The EIS Health and Wellbeing Resource is a collation of materials, resources and useful contacts intended to support teachers' health and wellbeing, and to help them support the wellbeing of others, including children and young people.

The Continuing Your Professional Learning section of the EIS website aims to support teachers in keeping their own professional learning alive, with advice and resources on a wide range of subjects including using digital methods for remote learning. For more information on any of the EIS resources, please contact Leigh Meechan: lmeechan@eis.org.uk

Support from Education Scotland

Wakelet - Staff wellbeing

NHS wellbeing frameworks:

NHS Education for Scotland:

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GTC Scotland is the professional registration body for teachers and lecturers in Scotland. The GTC Scotland Health and Wellbeing Hub provides a variety of resources to support colleagues' wellbeing.

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HandsOn provides help and practical advice for supporting children and young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing. This website is for parents, carers and people who work with children and young people in Fife. HandsOn was developed by Playfield Institute, a part of Fife CAMHS, along with…

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Mental Health Foundation | Good mental health for all

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Explore information to help you understand mental health and get advice on how you look after your own mental health or support someone you know with theirs.

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How we can help

Sometimes our thoughts and feelings can overwhelm us. It helps to get some Breathing Space. Pick up the phone - we're here to listen.

Information & support

The whole spectrum of life is reflected in the calls we receive to Breathing Space. The sooner you talk to us the better you might feel. (Please note that Breathing Space is a service for people in Scotland)

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Breathing Space is a free confidential service for people in Scotland. Open up when you're feeling down - phone 0800 83 85 87

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Breathing Space is a free, confidential phone and web based service for people in Scotland experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety.

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A fantastic resource which provides quality consultation, a supportive plan and follow up for staff members who are struggling with aspects of their wellbeing.

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Find information and support for your mental health.

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British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy

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BACP is the professional association for members of the counselling professions in the UK. We exist for one simple reason - counselling changes lives

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Get Advice Locations & Drop-in Times Join Us News Citizens Advice Edinburgh News Citizens Advice Scotland News Financial Health Check Employment Q&A Universal Credit EU Settlement Scheme Pensionwise Volunteering Opportunities Employment Opportunities Partnership Projects Locations Dundas Street Gorgie/Dalry Leith Muirhouse Portobello Outreach Services Specialist Services Contact Us Email Contact Us Privacy Statement Translation and Accessibility Tools

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A sudden loss of income can include

lost job/reduced hours

lost money/unexpected expense

disaster for example flood or fire

relationship breakdown

money stopped for example failed a medical

sanctioned.

These difficult situations can leave you struggling to pay your bills or rent each month.

Options available to you

Here are some options that are available to you in your financial situation

Scottish Welfare Fund

People on low incomes may be able to get a crisis grant from the Council. This is a payment to help you cope during an emergency or disaster, or due to unexpected expenses. Crisis grants do not have to be paid back. They're not a loan.
More information on the Scottish Welfare Fund.
Maximise Your Income

Many people are not claiming all the benefits they are entitled to. You can complete a benefit check to make sure that you are receiving all the money you're entitled to, especially if your circumstances have changed recently. Benefits checks can also highlight grants you might be able to receive in certain circumstances.
Check your entitlements to benefits.
Hardship payment

If you have been sanctioned, you may be able to request a hardship payment from the Jobcentre. Hardship payments are not always paid immediately, and they're not available to everyone. Hardship payments of Universal Credit need to be paid back, but hardship payments of Job Seekers Allowance or Employment Support Allowance do not.
Get a hardship payment
Challenge a decision

You can challenge a benefit decision if your benefit has been stopped/ sanctioned/ reduced/ refused or you have been overpaid. Most benefit decisions need to be challenged within one month.
How to challenge a benefit decision.
Getting help with these options
Get help and benefits advice
Our help page gives essential contact information.

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Help if you're worried about money - The City of Edinburgh Council

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A sudden loss of income can include lost job/reduced hours lost money/unexpected expense disaster for example flood or fire relationship breakdown money stopped for example failed a medical sanctioned. These difficult situations can leave you struggling to pay your bills or rent each month.

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It is not unusual to enjoy an alcoholic drink with friends etc, but drinking habits can become unhealthy without us noticing.

Long-term heavy drinking or regular binge drinking can result in alcohol dependency, which means you would struggle to go without alcohol and may find it hard not to think about drinking.

Causes of drinking

People drink for a number of reasons. Some of these reasons are due to the short-term effects of alcohol and others are reasons which could lead to alcohol dependency: enjoy the taste; to feel more confident; to relax and unwind, to fit in with friends, e.g. buying a round, drinking games, etc; to forget problems and stressful situations, e.g. work, family, financial worries; when experiencing symptoms of mental health such as depression, anxiety, hearing voices, etc

Effects of long term drinking

You will have an increased risk of the following conditions: being overweight and the associated problems (e.g. diabetes); memory problems; cancer (e.g. liver, bowel, mouth, oesophageal); liver disease; heart disease; pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas); injury or death of self or others through risky behaviour, e.g. drink driving, aggressive behaviour, etc; psychosis, e.g. hallucinations and delusions, may result from extremely heavy long term drinking; mental health problems.

Dealing with drinking at home

Exercise: Exercise can provide an outlet to release built up tension and some timeout from the daily stresses of life, which can lead us to drink. It can also improve health which can help counteract some of the effects of alcohol on the body.

Remember the benefits: Write down the reasons you want to stop or cut back and use this to motivate you when things get tough.

Talk to family or friends: Tell your family and friends what you are doing. They may be able to provide support or distractions when you are struggling. - just talking to someone about what you are facing e.g. pressure at work, can often really help in such difficult times and make you feel less isolated.

Self-help books: You may find the following books helpful.

Recovery from addiction: A practical guide to treatment, and quitting on your own by William Cloud and Robert Granfield

Overcoming your addictions by Windy Dryden and Walter Matweychuk

Get Your Loved One Sober: Alternatives to Nagging, Pleading, and Threatening by Robert Meyers and Brenda Wolfe

7 tools to beat addiction by Stanton Peele

Beat the booze: a comprehensive guide to combating drink problems in all walks of life by Edmund & Helen Tirbutt

Further information - alcohol dependency

Contact Drinkline's free, confidential phone service on 0800 917 8282 for advice and information to help you reduce your drinking.

See www.alcoholconcern.org.uk for information and advice about alcohol.

Feel free to contact us to ask about psychological therapies available at First Psychology Edinburgh that may help with alcohol related issues.

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It is not unusual to enjoy an alcoholic drink with friends etc, but drinking habits can become unhealthy without us noticing. Long-term heavy drinking or regular binge drinking can result in alcohol dependency, which means you would struggle to go without alcohol and may find it hard not to think about drinking.

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If you are experiencing short-term financial challenges, but don't need a full Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) because your financial difficulty may only be temporary there is a new scheme that might help - the low and grow scheme.

The low and grow scheme offers the same protections from creditors and interest that the full DAS provides.

You should get advice from an experienced money adviser.

DAS and missed payments

From 30 August 2021, the Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB) has started to revoke DAS debt payment programmes if there have been a significant number of missed payments.

If you're in this position, discuss your options with your money adviser. They might be able to:

arrange a payment break

apply to vary the DAS.

In some cases, the DAS might not be the best option any more.

What is the Debt Arrangement Scheme in Scotland

The Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) is a scheme set up by the Scottish government. It helps you pay back your debts in a manageable way without the threat of court action from the people you owe money to (creditors).

Under DAS you can make 1 regular payment into a debt payment programme (DPP). This payment is then divided up and sent to your creditors.

You can apply for a DPP with any amount of debt.

You can also apply for a DPP with your spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner if you are both liable for at least 1 debt.

DAS is just one option for dealing with your debts. You'll need to get advice from a money adviser if you're thinking about setting up a DPP.

If you decide to go ahead with a DPP, a money adviser needs to make the application for you.

Check if you can speak to a money adviser at your local Citizens Advice Bureau. Or check where you can find free debt advice and a money adviser on the MoneyHelper website.

When the Debt Arrangement Scheme might be an option for you

The Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) might be an option for you if:

you have enough money to make regular payments - for example, you have a stable job and you have some money left every month after paying for your bills and for essentials

you don't want to have to sell your home - you are a homeowner with a high level of equity and you don't want to have to sell your home. The equity is the amount of money that you would get after selling your home and paying off the mortgage. In some other debt options, such as a protected trust deed or bankruptcy, you might have to sell your home to release the equity

your job might be affected by other debt options - you are employed in certain jobs which would be affected by other debt options, such as a protected trust deed or bankruptcy. For example if you work in the financial sector, you're likely to be dismissed if you become bankrupt. Becoming bankrupt or setting up a protected trust deed also prevents you from standing for public office or acting as a company director.

Advantages of the Debt Arrangement Scheme

The advantages of the Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) are:

you won't have to sell your belongings or property such as your home or your car (also called assets). But you can decide to sell your home if you want to - this might mean you could pay off your debts more quickly than by making regular monthly payments

no more enforcement action - you can apply to the Accountant in Bankruptcy to stop your creditors taking steps to recover the money you owe them, for example they cannot arrest your bank account. This is called a 'moratorium' and it lasts for 6 months. You can also apply for a moratorium if you're thinking of applying for bankruptcy or setting up a trust deed. You can only set up 1 moratorium in any 12 month period

interest and debt charges are suspended during the DPP and then cancelled when it's complete. This means that you will have cleared your debts by the end of your DPP

employment - if you set up a DPP, this won't prevent you from working in certain jobs or taking up public office. Some other debt options, such as trust deeds or bankruptcy do restrict the kind of work you can do.

Disadvantages of the Debt Arrangement Scheme

The disadvantages of the Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) are:

paying regular contributions - you might have to pay contributions for a long time to repay your entire debt. Some other debt options such as trust deeds or bankruptcy lead to people being discharged from their debts sooner, although they also have other implications

your credit rating will be affected for as long as you're in the debt payment programme (DPP). This can make it harder to get credit like a mortgage or a loan in the future

you can borrow only a limited amount of money during your DPP under DAS. In practice, it might be hard to borrow any money during your DPP

your home might be at risk - if you have mortgage or rent arrears and you set up a DPP, your lender or landlord can still take steps to recover possession of your home. But it's likely that you will be able to negotiate with your landlord to stop this happening as you can show that you are taking steps to repay the arrears by setting up a DPP.

Other things to consider about the Debt Arrangement Scheme

If you're thinking about setting up a debt payment programme (DPP) under DAS, you should also think about:

the length of time you will have to pay contributions

the costs of setting up a DPP.

How long will I have to pay contributions

One of the main reasons for setting up a debt payment programme (DPP) under DAS is that you have enough money to pay off your debts in a reasonable time.

There is no definition of what a reasonable time is. The Accountant in Bankruptcy will decide whether the proposed length of time for payments is reasonable when considering your application for a DPP. As a general rule, more than 10 years might be unlikely to be reasonable unless all your creditors are happy with this.

If your circumstances change during your DPP, you can apply to change the amount of contribution that you're making.

Also if you have a temporary drop in income, for example because you have lost your job or you're ill, you can apply for a payment break for up to 6 months. The period of time that you are unable to make payments for is added on to the end of your DPP.

You can also apply for a 1 month crisis payment break if you have an emergency that means you can't make a payment. You can have up to 2 crisis payment breaks in a 12 month period.

How much does the Debt Arrangement Scheme cost

It's free for an individual to set up a debt payment programme (DPP) under DAS. Money advisers are no longer allowed to charge you a fee for helping you to apply for a DPP under DAS.

You don't have to pay an administration fee for the running of the DPP. Your creditors do have to pay this fee though.

Alternatives to the Debt Arrangement Scheme

A debt payment programme (DPP) under DAS is not the only option to help you sort out your problems with debt. Other options include:

bankruptcy (called sequestration in Scotland) - this might suit you if your financial situation has become intolerable because you can't pay your debts as they fall due. You can apply for standard bankruptcy if you have debts of £3,000 or more. You can apply for 'Minimal Assets Process' (MAP) bankruptcy if you have debts of £1,500 or more and you have no disposable income or belongings or property that can be sold to raise money. Find out more about bankruptcy

a protected trust deed - this is similar to bankruptcy in that your assets and property are transferred to a trustee who will manage your affairs for the benefit of your creditors. You will have to pay contributions towards your debts for 4 years. It's only likely to be an option for you if you have enough money to make a regular contribution towards your debts or you have belongings that can be sold. You must have debts of £5,000 or more. Having a protected trust deed will not prevent you working in as many types of jobs as bankruptcy. Find out more about trust deeds

voluntary agreement direct with your creditors - this is where you set up an informal repayment schedule with your creditors. It means that you're in control of your finances but it does also mean that you have to negotiate with all your creditors and if you aren't able to keep to your repayment plan there is nothing to stop them taking action to recover the money you owe them.

Before you decide on an option to deal with your debt, you should get advice from a money adviser.

Talk to a money adviser

You can get free money advice from a money adviser at your local Citizens Advice Bureau.

Or check where you can find free debt advice and a money adviser on the MoneyHelper website.

More information

Find out more about DAS on the Accountant in Bankruptcy website and in its Debtor Information Booklet.

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If you are experiencing short-term financial challenges, but don't need a full Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) because your financial difficulty may only be temporary there is a new scheme that might help - the low and grow scheme. The low and grow scheme offers the same protections from creditors and interest that the full DAS provides.

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Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs is a national charity that supports anyone affected by someone else's alcohol or drug use in Scotland. We give listening support and information to many people and help them with confidence, communication, general wellbeing, and we link them into local support. We also help people recognise and understand the importance of looking after themselves.

When we say family, we mean who you see as your family. It could be your spouse, your parent, your sibling, your partner, your friends, your friend's family, your colleagues, your neighbours, and anyone we may have missed.

We were created in 2003 by families themselves who came together to support each other and campaign for recognition. We've grown a lot since then!

We've won some awards including Pioneering Project at the 2021 Scottish Charity Awards for our Click and Deliver Naloxone service. We also won a 2022 GSK Impact Award and were finalists in the 2022 Scottish Charity Awards for Charity of the Year.

We have a number of local and national Family Support Services. Our four national Family Support Services are our Helpline, Bereavement Support, one to one Telehealth Support and Holding On. Our Local Family Support Services include one to one support and group support in Aberdeenshire, East Dunbartonshire, Forth Valley, Fife, and Inverclyde. We also deliver workforce development through our training courses, communications and campaigning work, our young person's group 'Routes' in East and West Dunbartonshire, and wider community development including our Connecting Families programme.

We are one of the Scottish Government's Nationally Commissioned Organisations (NCOs) for alcohol and drugs and are recognised as Scotland's leading charity for families affected by alcohol and drugs.

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Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol & Drugs

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Scottish Families is a national charity that supports anyone affected by someone else's alcohol or drug use in Scotland.

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We offer a range of services to support children and families affected by parental substance use. We work alongside families to help them build upon existing strengths to make and sustain positive lifestyle choices.
Support for parents/carers:
We provide services to support:

recovery from substance use

improving family relationships and providing practical support, e.g. establishing boundaries and routines within your home

managing your children's behaviour

accessing local services and activities for you and your children

improving nursery and school attendance and achievement for your children

addressing your own and your family's health needs

attending meetings with other professionals

We will also provide support to other members of your family who are involved in the child's life e.g. grandparents.

The Harbour, Edinburgh Project has a dedicated Fathers' Support Worker (see Fathers' Support)
Support for children and young people:
We provide 1:1 support for children and young people in schools or in the local community. Creative approaches are used to help children express their emotions, build their confidence and develop resilience to help them cope with any difficulties.

The Harbour Project, Edinburgh, offers therapeutic support to children through a partnership with CrossReach's Sunflower Garden Project.

The Harbour Project, Edinburgh, has a dedicated Young Persons' Worker (see Children and Young People).

The East Lothian Project has a dedicated Children's Resilience Worker (see Children and Young People).

Whole Family Support Services

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We offer a range of services to support children and families affected by parental substance use. We work alongside families to help them build upon existing strengths to make and sustain positive lifestyle choices. Support for parents/carers: We provide services to support: recovery from substance use improving family relationships

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SupportED - The Community Eating Disorder Charity

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We work in communities across Scotland to support people with an eating disorder, their families and carers. We aid your journey to recovery.

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Eating and body image issues arise when people have distorted views of their own bodies and become obsessed with their weight and size, feeling embarrassed or self-conscious about themselves. They may become obsessed with losing weight and may begin to diet and exercise. In addition, stress and feeling unhappy can disrupt eating patterns resulting in loss of appetite or cravings for certain foods. Over a long period, these disrupted patterns of eating and exercising can develop into eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Compulsive Eating.

Eating disorders are commonly seen as a female problem, but they actually affect both men and women and have a big impact on sufferers physically and emotionally.

The symptoms of an eating disorder

Anorexia Nervosa: This is a life-threatening disorder that stems from an intense fear of gaining weight. Sufferers may become obsessed with food restriction or exercise; have a distorted image of their own body; weigh themselves excessively; have a low self-esteem; feel depressed; and feel their control over their food or weight is their only way of coping. The physical effects of anorexia are very serious. Starving the body can weaken the heart and muscles.

Bulimia Nervosa: Bulimia is characterised by binge eating followed by 'purging'. Purging might be in the form of self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise, or using laxatives to prevent weight gain. Someone with bulimia might hide or hoard food or eat in secret; be obsessed with food and their weight; feel depressed; and feel disgusted or ashamed of their body. The physical effects of bulimia are very serious. Regular vomiting can cause a number of serious physical effects including tooth erosion and tears in the stomach and intestines.

Compulsive Eating: Some people feel they cannot control their eating. They might continuously graze or have periods of binge eating when they eat way beyond the point of feeling full.

The causes of eating and body image issues

Pictures in the media and on tv can make us feel inadequate about our bodies and lead to eating and body image problems as we strive to achieve the perfect body. We may be affected in different ways. For example, men may start exercising obsessively to mould their body into the ideal shape while women might diet obsessively to reach size '0'. Whatever the method there is often an underlying problem of low self-esteem in people with an eating or body image disorder. However there is no one cause of an eating disorder. Rather, they usually arise when things such as stress, personality and the perceived expectations of others combine to create pressure on an individual.

Further information

Our booklet explores the topic of eating disorders and body image issues in more depth and looks at some of the reasons why these issues develop. We look at some of the most common disordered eating diagnoses and the types of behaviours, thoughts and feelings that accompany them. We also discuss what you can do if you think you may have an eating disorder or body image issue.
Download our free pdf booklet here >

Useful websites: www.b-eat.co.uk

Self help

There are many self-help books on the subject of eating and body image. We have listed a few that you may find helpful below.

The Broken Mirror by Katherine Phillips
This is currently one of the best books available for understanding Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and problems related to body image.

Eating in the Light of the Moon: How women can transform their relationship with food through myths, metaphors and storytelling by Anita Johnston.

Feel free to contact us to ask about psychological therapies available at First Psychology Edinburgh that may help with eating and food related issues such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and body image issues.

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Eating & Body Image - Eating Disorders

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Eating and body image issues arise when people have distorted views of their own bodies and become obsessed with their weight and size, feeling embarrassed or self-conscious about themselves. They may become obsessed with losing weight and may begin to diet and exercise.

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I offer short, mid, and long-term therapy to teens and adults age 15+. I usually work from the Schema Therapy model, but include Person Centred, Positive Psychology, and TA where appropriate.

If regular sessions feel tricky right now, why not try out one of our 6-week online courses, designed to allow you to take your recovery at your own time and pace.

IT'S LIKELY YOU HAVE AN EATING DISORDER IF...

Thoughts of food become overwhelming or intrusive in your day, and you feel significant shame and self-blame around food and eating.

LOCATION

Kingsford Serviced Offices

2 Walker Street

Edinburgh

EH3 7LA

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I offer short, mid, and long-term therapy to teens and adults age 15+. I usually work from the Schema Therapy model, but include Person Centred, Positive Psychology, and TA where appropriate. If regular sessions feel tricky right now, why not try out one of our 6-week online courses, designed to allow you to take your recovery at your own time and pace.

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Support for families - The City of Edinburgh Council

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Contact the Parent and Carer Support team if you are finding it difficult to identify or access support for you, your child or a family member. Send us information on any free or low cost programmes, activities or groups for parents, carers or families in Edinburgh which you would like to see included or if any content needs to be amended.

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While Covid related, there is some valuable information on resilience building here.

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We all want to help our children and young people make as smooth a transition as possible back into school and to feel safe and happy there. We've created these tips as a resource for parents and carers to use to support themselves and their children to become more resilient and develop the skills needed to cope with challenging times - especially as we get ready to return to school.

These tips complement the building resilience primary and secondary school resource. They help to engage pupils, families and staff in raising awareness and understanding of ten protective factors for our mental health and wellbeing which are drawn from key research.

Moving on, coming together - Supporting children and young people

A short presentation which aims to provide space for reflection on the impact of Covid-19 on family life and look towards how to best support children and young people to have a positive transition back to school, with a wellbeing focus.
Download the printer friendly version of the video
Moving on, coming together - Looking after our own wellbeing

Aiming to encourage parents and carers to reflect on their own wellbeing, this presentation discusses how to address this in order to best meet the needs of their child/young person as they move towards a return to school.

Back to school tip 1: Keep connected - Relationships matter

Your Child Support your child to contact a friend from school, chat online or spend some time together before the start of term. For children who may find this difficult, help plan an activity or discuss ideas of what they could talk about.

Think of ways your child can feel connected to you when they return to school, E.g. give them a picture, a written message or a familiar object that they can take with them in their pocket or bag. Schools will give advice on what your child can bring with them initially.

You Arrange to meet or call a friend or another parent, have a chat and share your plans for returning to school. Suggest walking to school together or arrange to meet up after school starts.

Together Share anything important that has happened during lockdown with school at the start of term- let them know about any family changes, positive achievements or challenges experienced. Your child may want to draw a picture or take a photo of something positive they have done to share with a staff member or their friends.

Back to school tip 2: Be kind to others - Everyone needs kindness

Your Child Encourage your child to think of ways they can be kind to others and pay attention and praise your child when you notice them doing this. "It was kind of you to... share with your friend/ include them in your group at break"

Children learn by watching others- show or tell your child ways you have been kind to others. For example, "I had a chat with our neighbour, she looked a bit sad."

You Notice other parents on their own in and around the school, you never know who may welcome a friendly greeting or chat.

Above all, be kind to yourself. We've all been through exceptional circumstances.

Back to school tip 3: Talk things over - It's good to talk...and listen

Your Child Notice when is a good time and make space for your child to talk about things. This may be walking the dog, in the car or at bedtime. Create opportunities for your child to build a relationship with another family member, trusted adult or professional.

Be available to actively listen to what your child is thinking or how they are feeling. Name what you think they are feeling, let them know you understand and try not to jump in too soon with a solution. For example. "It sounds like you're worried about having no one to play with, I can see why that's upsetting you."

After the school day, your child may need time to wind down before telling you about their day. You could try sharing something about your day first.

You Think about who you can talk to about any concerns or worries you have, such as a friend, family member or maybe a professional.

Back to school tip 4: Look on the bright side - Find positive moments, however small, each day

Our brains are wired to notice threats, sometimes that stops us seeing the good stuff. That can mean we have to really try to be positive.

Your child Help your child identify the positive things about lockdown easing or returning to school. Who might they be looking forward to seeing or what might they be looking forward to doing?

You Consider the positives for you of lockdown easing and children returning to school.

Together It can be helpful to make time each day to think of one or two positive things. It may be nice to write these down in diary or post them in a jar, share them with your child and listen to their ideas. You could have a phrase like "Today I loved.... playing football with you"

Back to school tip 5: Challenge your mindset - Remember we can cope...we just did

Your child It can be unsettling not knowing what may happen. Help your child focus on all the things they do know, such as how to get to school, what they will wear, seeing a friend. Introduce new information gradually as it becomes available.

Everyone is a unique individual, discuss with your child the little things that they can do or have already achieved. Remind them of these skills and successes when embarking on a new challenge.

You It is normal that many children and parents will be feeling anxious, try to focus on how you will manage rather than what might go wrong. Show confidence, even if you are feeling a bit wobbly, it helps that your child sees that you have a plan to carry out together.

Back to school tip 6: Take a moment - We all need some time out

Your child Reflect on what you have noticed helps or may help your child to cope with new or difficult situations or emotions such as listening to music, jumping on the trampoline, etc. It might be helpful to practice new coping strategies together and plan for how these can be used when things are tricky.

You Being a parent can be really tough, doing things to look after our own wellbeing helps to manage stress, boost our confidence and makes us more able to cope with the ups and downs. Try to prioritise doing something that improves your wellbeing - it might help to set aside some time each day. You could- chat with a friend, go for a walk, read a book, go fishing, etc.

Together If appropriate share with your child a way you have managed a difficult situation.

Back to school tip 7: Make a difference - Small things can make a difference

Your child Discuss with your child what they did to make a difference to someone in your community or your environment over the past few months. Like displaying a rainbow, shopping for a grandparent or cutting the grass for a neighbour.

Acknowledge the small things - for example notice your child when they help a sibling, put litter in the bin, help around the home.

You Talk about who or what made a difference to you or your family during lockdown.

This could be something that seems small, like someone calling when you needed cheering up. Consider how you made a difference and what else you'd like to do.

Together By each of us washing our hands, wearing a mask and keeping a distance we help protect others.

Back to school tip 8: Get active - Keep going, or get started

It's proven that physical activity boosts our sense of well-being.

Your child If your child started to be more active during lockdown, think about how this can be continued. If not, what small steps could you encourage. Be curious about what may interest them and plan how they could try something new.

You A lot of us were more active individually as well as together as a family - playing games, going for cycle rides and walks together. We will have noticed the benefit; plan how you can keep these activities going.

Together As lockdown eases we can benefit from more exercise outdoors and reduce some of family screen time and online activity.

Remember little rewards to yourself and family can help establish a good habit!

Back to school tip 9: Respect yourself - Be proud of your child and yourself

Your child Help your child make a list of the things they have learnt and enjoyed over the last few months. E.g. learned to hula hoop, baking, mountain biking. Share and celebrate these with family and friends.

You Think about and share all the ways you and the family have adjusted to the challenges over the last few months and acknowledge together, the strengths you've shown. There may have been ups and downs but remind yourself of the things you managed to do. Such as using video calls, cooking family meals, supporting your child with their learning or exploring your neighbourhood.

Together You may wish to put together a scrap book or time capsule to help remember this extraordinary time. It could include photographs of the things you did at home, news articles, letters, interviews from different family members, etc.

Back to school tip 10: Have a goal - A new journey starts with a step...

Your child Talk to your child about what they would like to learn or get better at by the end of this term, such as a sport's skill, a new hobby, being able to cook something, dress themselves, etc.

You Think about something positive you can start to do, or you keep doing when your child returns to school. E.g. start a new class, exercise, meet a friend, complete a home improvement project.
Download the back to school tips guide
Back to school tips - Additional support needs focus

These back to school tips have been adapted to have more of a focus on supporting families with children who have additional support needs.

Support for families

If you would like to know more about the supports available for parents and carers or children and young people in your local area go to parent and carer support resources.

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Building resilience - Back to school tips - The City of Edinburgh Council

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We all want to help our children and young people make as smooth a transition as possible back into school and to feel safe and happy there. We've created these tips as a resource for parents and carers to use to support themselves and their children to become more resilient and develop the skills needed to cope with challenging times - especially as we get ready to return to school.

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Appendix C- Services who May be able to address some identified gaps v3

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Raising Teens Course for Parents at JGHS

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Raising Teens Course for Parents at JGHS

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Raising Teens Course for Parents - An Intro

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Raising Teens Course for Parents - An Intro

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RTWC Intro 5 min Presentation for Parents

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Who to refer:

Patients who have been assessed as having problematic alcohol or drug use

Patients already in treatment who have become unstable and would benefit from reassessment by the specialist service

Adults 18 years of age and above who consent to the referral

Patients looking for further help to achieve recovery

Who not to refer:

Patients whose drug use is stable and who require specialist mental health assessment are usually more appropriately referred to General Adult Mental Health Services
Patients with acute medical needs
For patients with an urgent medical need please refer to the appropriate acute medical service at the RIE, WGH or St John's Hospitals

Patients with acute medical needs are medical emergencies include:

acute confusional states

and/or withdrawal seizure(s),

with or without Wernicke's encephalopathy,

acute alcoholic hallucinations

or delirium tremens

Patients with acute psychiatric needs
Patients with suicidal intent is a psychiatric emergency.

For patients with acute psychiatric needs please refer to

Edinburgh, Mid and East Lothian A&E or Mental Health Assessment Service (MHAS) at the RoyalEdinburghHospital (0131 537 6000)West Lothian - Ring St John's 01506 52300 and ask for ACAST duty bleep

Patients under 18 years of age)

Edinburgh and East Lothian The Adolescent Substance Use Service (ASUS) offers treatment and support to young people (living in Edinburgh or East Lothian) aged 18 and under experiencing difficulties with drugs, alcohol or new psychoactive substance. Referrals can be made by professionals, family or the young people themselves. There is no criteria on the level of substance use but it must be causing the young person problems. Referrals to Jayne Reed, ASUS, City Chambers level 6, 249 High Street Edinburgh EH1 1YJ 0131 529 6700 or email ASUS@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

Midlothian Under 18s with addiction problems can self refer to MYPAS in Midlothian Contact via 0131 454 0757 or www.mypas.co.uk

West Lothian - awaiting further info - please seeks advice from local substance misuse service - see below

Primary Stimulant or Cannabis Users should be referred to: CREW 32-32a Cockburn St, Edinburgh, EH1 1PB, 0131 2203404 https://www.crew.scot/

How to refer:

Local Drop in Hubs

Most patients may simply be directed to their local Drop in service - Patients may be seen by a member of staff from any of the partnership agencies - NHS, SW or third sector. Edinburgh Drug and Alcohol hub drop ins http://www.edinburghadp.co.uk/edinburgh-drug-and-alcohol-recovery-hub-drop-ins-from-1st-september/ . There is also an app (free to download from www.arcapp.co.uk) which has been developed by Edinburgh ADP. It contains details of services, lists of Mutual Aid and other meetings, a diary, a calendar and relaxation

For advice please telephone
North East 0131 5547516
North West 0131 3152121
South East 0131 469 5132/5093
South West 0131 4539448

Midlothian and East Drug and Alcohol Partnership http://www.meldap.co.uk/index.php?id=services

For advice please telephone
Midlothian 0131 6606822
East Lothian 0131 4464853

West Lothian http://www.westlothianchcp.org.uk/media/19524/Breakaway-Recovery-Clinics/pdf/Breakaway_Clinics_Client_Leaflet_(Jan_2018).pdf http://www.westlothianchcp.org.uk/article/9440/How-to-get-help
To find out more in West Lothian please get in touch with:
West Lothian Drug & Alcohol Service: 01506 430225
Social Work Addictions Team: 01506 282844
West Lothian NHS Addictions Service: 01506 282845

SCI gateway:

Written referrals via the SCI gateway can still be made and may be helpful in situations where additional information about medical history or social background would be helpful or the referrer has a specific request.

If you believe your patient would be unable to attend then we can offer to assess the patient at their GP practice, at another site or in their home. This will not be offered routinely but if this is something which you feel would be required for your patient please let the service know.
Prescriptions will not be provided at triage appointments.
For each referral please:

Move patients who are currently unstable on opiate replacement prescriptions to daily supervised pickup unless there is a compelling reason not to. This is safer practice in this group and is the first intervention in those referred before decisions are made about increasing doses.

Arrange toxicology testing which will help the assessment process; and a drug diary if appropriate.

Check contact details including a current mobile phone number where possible: advise patients that they may be contacted by phone and that the number may appear 'unlisted'.

Ensure patients have given consent to a referral and understand that the services operate in partnership Local Authorities & Third Sector Organisations.

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COVID-19: Advice, information and contact details to help with managing substance misuse problems during the current pandemic can be found on the Primary Care Facilitation Team Intranet Site.

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Free Webinar - 19 November, 17:30 pm Fantastic news - we have an upcoming event that is free to attend for everyone. At 5:30 pm on 19 November 2020, we will be hosting the event on Zoom with speakers: Dr Elizabeth Bates, Iris Quar and Charlie Bird.

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Phone our helpline for free and confidential legal information. We also offer face to face advice at our legal surgeries. Find out more...

I need help

We help women aged 16 and over affected by violence and abuse by providing free legal information and advice through legal guides, weekly helplines and legal surgeries. Find out how we can help...

Sexual Harassment

Our specialist legal service provides information, advice, and representation to women who have been sexually harassed at work, in further education, or online. Find out more...

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We help women aged 16 and over affected by violence and abuse by providing free legal information and advice through legal guides, weekly helplines and legal surgeries. Find out how we can help... Our specialist legal service provides information, advice, and representation to women who have been sexually harassed at work, in further education, or online.

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*Currently due to Coronavirus, we have stopped face to face support. However, we will be supporting our women, children and young people through telephone, WhatsApp and Facetime. We will get back to normal working as soon as possible.*
*Our service will be closed on the following public holiday dates in spring: April: May: Friday 8th and Monday 18th. Help for black minority ethnic (BME) women, children and young people who are experiencing, or who have experienced, domestic abuse. Friday 10th, Monday 13th and Monday 20th.
Phone us on 0131 475 2399 or email us if you are worried or frightened about what is happening to you or someone you know.

The person who is abusing you could be a partner, ex-partner and/or other member of the household. You may be under a lot of pressure from family and community. You may not be sure about your rights, for example to stay in the UK, or to safety.

We can help you with this. We will not tell your family or community. All our staff are women.

If you think you or your children are in immediate danger of being hurt, phone the police on 999.

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Our service will be closed on the following public holiday dates in spring: April: May: Friday 8th and Monday 18th. Help for black minority ethnic (BME) women, children and young people who are experiencing, or who have experienced, domestic abuse. Friday 10th, Monday 13th and Monday 20th.