Mental Health Links

Mental Health Organisations

Bipolar Scotland: The aims of Bipolar Fellowship Scotland are to provide information, support and advice for people affected by bipolar disorder/manic depression and all who care, to promote self-help throughout Scotland, to inform and educate about the illness and the organisation.

CAPS - The Consulation & Advocacy Promotion Service: is an independent advocacy organisation for people who use, or have used mental health services. CAPS supports mental health service users as individuals or as members of a group to set their own agenda, to find a stronger voice, to get their point across, and influence decisions which affect their lives.

Edspace: has been set up to provide support for people with mental health difficulties and their carers. The website was launched by Edinburgh city council, the NHS and several charities. It includes an online directory of services in Edinburgh as well as fact-sheets on topics relating to mental health and well-being. Managed by Health in Mind, the website also includes information on self-help, and was designed by working with people with mental health problems.

The Edinburgh Crisis Centre provides vital help for people with mental health problems. It provides a 24-hour telephone helpline, 365 days of the year to people in Edinburgh aged 18 and over and their carers. Face to face meetings can be arranged over the phone.

Health Scotland: Health Scotland was set up on 1 April 2003 as a Special Health Board in NHS Scotland and works at a national level to support organisations, policy-makers, communities and individuals to take action to improve health and reduce health inequalities across Scotland.

Hearing Voices: Offers information, support and understanding to people who hear voices and those who support them.

HUG: Highland User Group is a network of users of mental health services who live in the Highlands main aim is to improve the way users of mental health services, are treated by campaigning to improve the rights, services and treatments of people with mental health problems.

LifeSIGNS: A voluntary organisation that raises awareness about the syndrome of self injury in the UK and beyond.

Living Life to the Full: Offers free life skills training based on a CBT model for people with anxiety and depression.

Mental Health Foundation: Site provides information about mental health issues, the work of the Mental Health Foundation. Links to other resources on mental health in the UK and overseas.

Mental Health in the UK: The site was created to reform people's ideas about everyone who suffers from mental health problems by informing and enlightening with creativity, talent and imagination.

Mentality: A national charity dedicated solely to the promotion of mental health. They work with the public and private sector, user and survivor groups and voluntary agencies to promote the mental health of individuals, families, organisations and communities.

MIND: Mind is the leading mental health charity in England and Wales.  Site has information on wide range of topics including depression, self harm and suicide.

Muslim Womans Helpline: The Muslim Women's Helpline aims to provide any Muslim girl or woman in a crisis with a free, confidential listening service and referral to Islamic consultants, plus practical help and information where required.

National Schizophrenia Fellowship: National Schizophrenia Fellowship (Scotland) works to improve the wellbeing and quality of life of those affected by schizophrenia and other mental illness, including families and carers.

Penumbra: Penumbra provides a range of person-centred support services for adults and young people.

Reaching Deaf Minds: Reaching Deaf Minds is a key part of Sign's work to make health and social care providers aware of the need to promote positive mental health for all Deaf people, parent/carers, educators and employers.

SADA: Seasonal Affective Disorder Association provides supports and advice for sufferers of the illness.

Saheliya: Black and minority ethnic women's mental health organisation in Edinburgh.

Samaritans: Samaritans provides confidential emotional support 24 hours a day 7 days a week by telephone, email, face-to-face or by letter to people of all ages who are in emotional distress.

Scottish Association for Mental Health: SAMH operates a range of services across Scotland for people with mental health problems. It also strives to influence public policy as it affects people with mental health problems.

Scottish Mental Health First Aid: The SMHFA website focuses on the role-out of Scotland's Mental Health First Aid with provision of information for potential instructors and course participants.

Seasonal Affective Disorder Association: Seasonal Affective Disorder Association provides supports and advice for sufferers of the illness.

Survivors UK: Survivors UK supports and provides resources for men who have experienced any form of sexual violence.

Young Minds: Young Minds is the national charity committed to improving the mental health of all children and young people (8-16 year olds).  Also have a parent's information service.

Young Scotland in Mind: Young Scotland in Mind is led by Barnardo’s and funded by HeadsUpScotland. This is a forum for voluntary sector and non-government organisations with the aim of improving the mental health and well-being of young people in Scotland.

Mental Health in Later Life

Age Concern: Age Concern Scotland is a charity working throughout Scotland to help make the lives of older people more secure, comfortable, dignified and enjoyable.

Alzheimer Scotland: Alzheimer Scotland provides services and campaigns actively to help people with dementia and their families and carers. The website is for people with dementia, carers, family members, professionals, policy-makers, students and anyone who wants to know more.

Ceartas: Ceartas provides information and advocacy for older people and people with dementia in East Dunbartonshire.

Contact the Elderly: Runs informal outings once a month for older people and supportive volunteers.

Counsel & Care: Counsel and Care provides direct services to older people that give them the support needed to make informed choices.  They do this by providing advice, information and casework; providing and developing new services that increase choice; providing training and support that improves the quality of care; and advocating for improvements in laws and services affecting older people.

Help The Aged: The Health and Care part of this site contains information on mental health and healthy ageing.

Mental Health in Later Life: Mental Health in Later Life website from the Mental Health Foundation. Site contains information for people in later life concerned about having good mental health and for their families and friends.

Mood Project: This project aims to identify people over the age of sixty in West Lothian who have or are risk of developing depression or mental health problems and to devise a range of resources to support them and their carers. Resources on this site includes information on depression and the rights of older people with mental health problems.

Scottish Executive: Older People Site: The Scottish Executive's older people website.

Recovery from Mental Ill Health

Clan Unity: Clan Unity is an international mental health recovery and reclamation consultancy, based in Scotland. Clan Unity supports professionals and people in mental distress, who are interested in exploring the journey through recovery and the discovery of mental health.

FMHR: Family Outreach and Response Program based in Ontario, Canada.

Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health: The Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health aims to improve mental health and well being for individuals and communities in Scotland and enhance services and supports for people with mental health problems by providing services that offer training, information sharing and learning, research and evaluation, support for change and development.

Scottish Recovery Network: The Network aims to engage service providers, service users and the wider community in debate on how best to promote and support recovery for people who experience long-term mental health problems.

The Tidal Model: The Tidal Model is a philosophical approach to the discovery of mental health, focused on helping people recover their personal story of distress, as a first step towards reclaiming control over their lives.

Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders: National Centre for Eating Disorders.

Eating Disorders Association: Information and help on all aspects of eating disorders including Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder and related eating disorders.

Stress/Anxiety

Combat Stress: Assist ex-servicemen and women suffering from stress-related mental illness. Also help with war pensions and appeals.

Muslim Youth Helpline: The Muslim Youth Helpline is a confidential helpline for young Muslims. Provides counselling and befriending services to youth in need.

No Panic: No Panic is a charity whose aims are to aid the relief and rehabilitation of those people suffering from anxiety disorders.

Rethink: A mental health resource for young people under stress or worried about their thoughts and feelings.

R U OK?: An interactive web site for all teenagers, addressing emotional health and well-being. Contains separate sections and links for parents and health professionals.

Gambling

Gamblers Anonymous: Gamblers Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who have joined together to do something about their own gambling problem and to help other compulsive gamblers do the same.

Gamblers Care: Provides a helpline, counselling, advice and an on-line assessment for people experiencing problems with gambling.