https://www.clao.org.uk/if-we-cant-help/information-on-other-organisations-or-agencies-that-may-be-able-to-help/mental-health-and-adults-with-incapacity-awi/
https://www.clao.org.uk/if-we-cant-help/information-on-other-organisations-or-agencies-that-may-be-able-to-help/mental-health-and-adults-with-incapacity-awi/
NHS 24 Mental Health is available for anyone in Scotland, of all ages. The service offered includes listening, offering advice and guiding you to further help. If you are feeling distressed, in a state of despair, suicidal or in need of emotional support you can call NHS 24 Mental Health on 111.
You can also visit the website: www.111.nhs.uk/triage/check-your-mental-health-symptoms
If you are feeling suicidal or need emotional support and just want to speak with someone over the phone you can contact Samaritans on their 24 hour helpline.
UK Helpline number: 116 123 (replaced 08457 90 90 90)
Breathing Space is a confidential phone-line for anyone in Scotland over the age of 16, who is feeling low, anxious, or depressed and would like to speak with someone.
Tel: 0800 83 85 87
Weekdays Monday-Thursday 6pm to 2am & weekends Friday 6pm – Monday 6am.
Website: www.breathingspace.scot
Childline provide support for young people under 19 struggling with mental health issues, or any other problem.
Tel: 0800 11 11 to speak with an adviser 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you need help for a mental health crisis or emergency you should try to contact your GP. If you do not have a GP or your GP is not available, you can contact the Mental Health Assessment Service on their 24-hour helpline.
Tel: 0131 537 6000
This is an emergency assessment service based at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital and The Royal Infirmary Hospital.
Edinburgh Crisis Centre is a service open 24 hours every day for people who are aged 16 and over who are using or have used mental health services and live in the City of Edinburgh when they are facing a crisis.
This includes people who have seen their GP, used voluntary services and people who identify themselves as having a mental health issue.
They can provide face to face support.
Freephone 24-hour helpline: 0800 801 0414
Text:07974 429 075
Email: crisis@edinburghcrisiscentre.org.uk
MHARS is a free confidential helpline for Midlothian residents aged 18-65 years old who are experiencing mental health and wellbeing crisis or distress and want to talk to someone.
Tel: 0800 118 2962, open daily 8am to 10pm
Penumbra Aberdeenshire 1st Response Support can provide you with short terms support when you feel at crisis point. If you are feeling overwhelmed they can provide support tailored to your needs when you feel you need it most.
Tel: 0800 135 7950
Email: aberdeenshire1stresponse@penumbra.org.uk
Penumbra Mental Health is a pioneering charity providing services for people with mild to serious and enduring mental ill health. They support people on their journey to better mental health. If you would like to explore ways to improve your mental health, use their service checker to see what is available in your area:
Service checker: www.penumbra.org.uk/services
Website: www.penumbra.org.uk
The office of Public Guardian has a general function to main a public register of powers of attorney, guardianship and intervention orders; supervise those individuals who have been appointed to manage the financial and property affairs of adults who lack the capacity to do so for themselves and investigate circumstances where property or finances belongings to an incapable adult appear to be at risk.
Their website can tell you about their role and provides a single information point about financial provisions contained within the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000.
Tel: 01324 678 300
Website: www.publicguardian-scotland.gov.uk
The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland aims to be a leading and independent voice in promoting a society where people with mental illness, learning disabilities, dementia and related conditions are treated fairly, have their rights respected, and have appropriate support to live the life of their choice.
They do this by empowering individuals and their carers, monitoring mental health and incapacity law and influencing and challenging service providers and policy makers.
They operate an advice line where they can advise on rights and good practice with mental health and incapacity law, care and treatment.
If they cannot help directly, they can refer you to other organisations who can. They cannot provide specific legal advice or comment on whether diagnosis or medication is correct.
Advice Line: 0800 389 6809 open Mon-Fri, 9am to 12pm & 1pm to 4pm.
SAHM operate over 70 services in communities across Scotland, providing mental health social care support, addictions and employment services. Services are person centred and bathes of an ethos of recovery. For details of local services contact:
Tel: 0141 530 1000 open 9am to 4.45pm, Mon – Fri
Website: www.samh.org.uk
The Free Legal Services Unit (FLSU) was established to provide free legal advice and representation by volunteer advocates for those who cannot afford the legal help they need, and who cannot obtain assistance from any other source. If you are interested in accessing help from the FLSU you will need to consult an accredited agency and meet certain criteria.
Free Legal Services Units which can be accessed through accredited agencies. Current accredited advice agencies can be found at www.advocates.org.uk/instructing-advocates/free-legal-services-unit
Health in Mind offers practical and emotional support to individuals based in Edinburgh, Midlothian, East Lothian and West Lothian to help you explore your mental health and wellbeing, achieve your personal goals and develop coping strategies. The service is open to all adults experiencing problems with their mental health, but they also provide support specifically for women; men, people from Black and minority communities; survivors of trauma and childhood sexual abuse; people with substance abuse problems; carers and young people.
Tel: 0131 225 8508 Mon – Fri, 9 am to 5pm.
Email: hello@health-in-mind.org.uk
Website: www.health-in-mind.org.uk
Independent Advocacy is a way to help people have a stronger voice and to have as much control as possible over their own lives. Edinburgh Advocard provides individual advocacy for anyone experiencing mental health issues, whether they are living at home or are an inpatient in hospital. It can also provide individual and collective advocacy service to people who have or have had problems with substance abuse.
Tel: 0808 169 3525
Website: advocacysupport@advocard.org.uk
Partners in Advocacy provide independent advocacy for individuals living with learning disabilities, autistic spectrum disorders, physical disabilities and people over 65. They also provide independent advocacy to children and young people who are living with mental health issues, additional support needs and learning disabilities.
Tel: 0131 478 7723
Website: www.partnersinadvocacy.org.uk
CWIC Mental Health is a primary care service for people in East Lothian aged over 17 years and 9 months. They work closely with GP practices and Adult Mental Health Services to help you access a wide range of mental health specialist to help you get the right support for your needs.
Tel: 0300 730 6292
Website: www.eastlothian.gov.uk/info/210662/health_services/12677/cwic_east_lothian_mental_health_service
MHAP work with people in the hospital and community and can help in a range of different situations such as Mental Health Act, Adults with Incapacity Act, The Adult Support & Protection Act, Care & Treatment Issues, Housing Issues, Family issues, Benefit and Finance issues and Criminal issues.
Tel: 01506 857 230
Email: admin@mhap.org.uk
Website: www.mhapwl.org
Advocacy Highland provide one-to-one, issue based advocacy to individuals aged 16 and over throughout the Highland Council area. They are funded to advocate for people identified under the terms of the Mental Health (Care & Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, specifically people with mental ill health, learning disabilities, personability disorders, ASD or dementia. All advocacy is free and confidential. They can accept self-referrals, referrals from friends and families as well as referrals from professionals.
Tel: 01463 233 460
Email: info@advocacyhighland.org.uk
Web: www.advocacy-highland.org.uk
The Highland Advocacy Partnership provides independent advocacy for individuals aged 16+ living within a 25-mile radius of Inverness who have lived or living experience of dependence or recovery in relation to drugs and alcohol use.
Tel: 01463 513 993
Email: referrals@highlandadvocacypartnership.org.uk
Web: www.advocacy-highland.org.uk/highland-advocacy-partnership
Moray Advocacy Service can assist people who are 18 years and over, who live in Moray whose circumstances may include, but are not restricted to: mental ill health, dementia, learning, disabilities, personality disorders, physical disabilities, acquired brain injury, chronic illness, autistic spectrum diagnosis, drug and/or alcohol dependency and long COVID.
They can support people have their say, understand their rights, raise issues they are worried about and ensure safeguarding in situations where they may be vulnerable.
Tel: 01343 559 543
Email: info.moray@circlesnetwork.org.uk
Website: www.circlesnetwork.org.uk/moray
Visit: 40-42 Moss Street, Elgin, Moray, IV30 1LT
Advocacy Orkney is a registered charity and an independent services which provides free, confidential and independent advocacy to people within Orkney. Services primarily focus, but not exclusively, those with mental ill health or learning disabilities, on children and young people and on the elderly.
Email: servicemanager@advocacyorkney.org
Website: www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/ADVOCACYORKNEY
Tel: 01856 870 111
The Advocacy People offer advocacy in the Shetland Islands for people with mental ill health and who lack capacity to help people understand their rights and get answers to their questions. They can attend meetings with you and speak on your behalf. They can support individuals who lack capacity by representing their likely views to those responsible for making decisions.
Tel: 0330 440 900 Mon – Friday. 9am – 5pm.
Email: info@theadvocacypeople.org.uk
Website: www.theadvocacypeople.org.uk
Mikeysline can support people in emotional distress and struggling with their mental health. They cover Highland and Moray and are available Sunday – Thursday, 6pm – 10pm and Friday and Saturday, 7pm to 7am.
Text (SMS): 07786 207 755
WhatsApp: 01463 729 000
Book an appointment: www.mickeysline.co.uk
Mental Health Aberdeen is a local charity that provides free counselling and information services to children, young people and adults experiencing difficulties related to their mental health and wellbeing. Available Monday – Thursday 9am – 8.30pm and Friday 9am – 4.30m.
Tel: 01224 573 892
Email: acis.office@mhaberdeen.org.uk
Website: www.mha.uk.net
Advocacy Service in Aberdeen provides free, independent and confidential advocacy to people in Aberdeen City, in the following groups: people with mental ill health, learning disability, autism, who use substances, victims of domestic abuse, carers and older people. They can help people have a stronger voice and as much control as possible over their own lives.
Tel: 01224 332 314
Email: asa@advocacy.org.uk
Web: www.advocacy.org.uk
Advocacy North East is a rights based independent advocacy service in Aberdeenshire working with people aged sixteen years and over who are experiencing mental illness or disability. This includes people with dementia, people with learning disabilities and those with an acquired brain injury – to support them in matters relating to their health and care.
They can also support a range of other people including those who may be involved in Adult Support and Protection processes, people with problematic substance use and people who are resident within HMP Grampian.
Tel: 01467 651 604
Email: admin@advocayne.org.uk
Website: www.advocacyne.org.uk
Lomond & Argyll Advocacy Service is an independent, free and confidential advocacy organisation operating in Argyll & Bute and West Dumbartonshire providing advocacy to people aged 16 years or older.
One of their priorities is to those with a Statutory Right to Advocacy under the 2003 Mental Health Care and Treatment Act (Scotland) and vulnerable adults engaged in statutory processes.
For example, those detained or subject to the Mental Health Act, Adults with Incapacity Act, Adult Support and Protection proceedings.
Telephone: 01389 726 543
Email: admin@laas.org.uk
Website: Lomond and Argyll Advocacy Service | Making sure your voice is heard (laas.org.uk)
Find tips, guides, tools and activities to support and improve mental health by visiting www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help