This page has summarised information about local services, helplines and digital support that you can access yourself or contact directly.
If you think you need specialist mental health support, please speak to your GP. GPs can support patients and discuss whether medication or referral to our specialist mental health support services might be helpful.
You can find out more detail about all of the mental health services in the Scottish Borders in this Information Resource (download PDF)
Information Station for Mental Health and Wellbeing
Open for drop-in visits without an appointment at the What Matters Hubs where you can have a conversation with our health and social care staff.
Find out more about the advice, information and support that’s available to help mental health and wellbeing. Find out more about the Information Stations HERE
PEEBLES - Second Wednesday of each month, 10am - 12.30pm, Costa Coffee, Peebles
HAWICK - Second Thursday of each month. 10am - 12.30pm, Heart of Hawick
KELSO - Third Wednesday of each month, 10am - 12.30pm, Mayfield Garden Centre, Kelso
GALASHIELS - Fourth Wednesday of each month, 10am - 12.30pm, Asda Cafe, Galashiels
Local Services
NHS Borders Wellbeing Service - Provides low level (tier one) self-help emotional and wellbeing support to people age 16+ who are able to self-manage, including support to stop smoking. Self-referrals accepted. Tel: 01896 824502 Email: wellbeing@borders.scot.nhs.uk
Health in Mind - 1:1 support, peer support and group based learning. Self-referrals accepted.16+. Tel: 01896 807000 Email: scottishborders@health-in-mind.org.uk
Local Area Co-ordination Team, Scottish Borders Council - Encourages and enables individuals to live an active, more connected and purposeful life in their community. Promotes recovery in individuals with lower levels of need. Self-referrals accepted. 16+. Tel: 01896 664 155 Email: LAC@scotborders.gov.uk
Quarriers - Resilience for Wellbeing Service - 1:1 support and group work. Self-referrals accepted. Prevention and early intervention for young people aged up to 18. Tel: 01896 668 411 Email: borders@quarriers.org.uk
Mental Health and Wellbeing Forum - An open forum which aims to give a voice to people with lived experience and carers - provides opportunities for networking, raising issues and participating in service improvements. Contact via Borders Care Voice - Tel: 01896 757290 Email: admin@borderscarevoice.org.uk
Andy’s Man Club 18+ - A men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups in person and online. Meets Mondays 7 - 9pm (*Not held on English Bank Holidays) at:
- Gala RFC, Netherdale, Galashiels
- Eyemouth Parish Hall, Victoria Rd
- Vale of Innerleithen Social Club, Leithen Crescent
Helplines
NHS24 Mental Health Hub (24/7) - Urgent mental health support from NHS24. Speak to a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner or other mental health specialist. Call 111 and select the mental health option.
NHS24 Breathing Space - A free and confidential helpline for anyone
experiencing low mood, anxiety or depression or who is unusually worried and needs someone to talk to. Tel: 0800 83 85 87, open Monday - Thursday 6pm - 2am and Friday 6pm - Monday 6am
PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide - For children and young people under the age of 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide. For anyone concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide. HOPELINE is also a Debrief Service for any professional who has had an experience supporting with suicide.
Tel: 0800 068 4141 (HOPELINE) [24/7]
Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org
Text: 07860039967
Samaritans - Provides free confidential emotional support for anyone experiencing feelings of distress or despair. Tel: 116 123 Email: jo@samaritans.org
SHOUT text crisis service (24/7) - Free, confidential, anonymous text support service for if you’re struggling to cope. Text SHOUT to 85258
Silverline (24/7) - Free, confidential telephone service for older people. Provides friendship, conversation and support. Tel: 0800 4 70 80 90
Childline (24/7) - Can listen or support children and young people up to age 19 with anything they’d like to talk about. Tel: 0800 1111
Veterans 1st Point (V1P) - Open to any veterans in the Scottish Borders. First point of contact and a gateway to sources of support for a range of problems, including mental health and addictions. Self-referrals accepted. Tel: 01896 668551
Online support
Kooth - Online emotional wellbeing support service for young people aged 11–18. Articles, personal experiences and tips.
Togetherall - Online community where people support each other. Anyone in the Scottish Borders aged 16+ can join the online community. Share experiences in a safe, anonymous space.
NHS Inform - Information about mental health and wellbeing including self-help guides and tools.
Self-harm Network Scotland - Webchat support from the team at Penumbra, 6pm - 10pm every day. Information, resources and compassionate support. 12+
Stay Alive App - Information and tools to help you stay safe in a crisis or support someone in crisis. Free to download. Down-load on the App Store or Google Play.
Bereavement Support
Child Bereavement UK - Confidential support, information and guidance for individuals, families and professionals throughout the UK. Tel: 0800 02 888 40 (Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm) Email: helpline@childbereavementuk.org
CRUSE - Provides professional support for bereaved adults, children and families across Scotland. Also provides support to workplaces where there has been a suicide. Tel: 0808 802 6161 (Monday - Friday 9am - 8pm, Weekends 10am - 2pm)
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) - National helpline that provides support to people aged over 18 bereaved by suicide. Contact the local coordinator on scottishborders@uksobs.org to find out more about local group support. Te: 0300 111 5065 (Monday - Thursday 9am -7 pm)
Connecting you to your community
Find services, groups and activities for health and wellbeing on ALISS - A Local Information System for Scotland.
