Mental health and wellbeing in primary care services: resources

4. Adults: Mental Health and Wellbeing Advice, Support and Signposting

4.1 Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund

We have invested £66 million in our Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for adults since 2021, with more than 4,800 grants made to local projects across Scotland over the first three years.

The fund is delivered and managed by Third Sector Interfaces (TSIs) in partnership with local integrated health authorities and other partners including Community Planning Partnerships and local authority mental health leads. The Fund supports grass roots community groups in building resilience and aims to reduce the need for clinical interventions and improve happiness within communities by supporting community led initiatives and local support services.

The Fund has also been included as a commitment within the Best Start, Bright Futures child poverty delivery plan 2022-26, given the strong links between poor mental health and poverty.

The Fund has a strong focus on prevention and early intervention and prioritises a range of ‘at risk’ groups. Year 4 will see a continued focus on those facing socio-economic disadvantage made worse by the cost of living crisis.

The ‘at risk’ groups are:

• women (including women experiencing gender- based sexual violence)
• people with a long term health condition or disability;
• people from a Minority Ethnic background;
• refugees and those with no recourse to public funds;
• people facing socio-economic disadvantage;
• people experiencing severe and multiple disadvantage;
• people with diagnosed mental illness;
• people affected by psychological trauma (including adverse childhood experiences);
• people who have experienced bereavement or loss;
• people disadvantaged by geographical location (particularly remote and rural areas);
• older people;
• people with neurological conditions or learning disabilities, and from neurodiverse communities;
• L esbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) communities.

4.2 NHS Inform

NHS inform provides online guides to mental wellbeing and self-help guides from clinicians for a wide range of mental health concerns. Advice on dealing with low mood, anxiety, phobias, stress and where to get help or find support groups.

Details of health and wellbeing services in Scotland. Includes GP practices, dental services and support groups can be found at Scotland’s Service Directory.

The “Your Mental Wellbeing” section links to existing, updated and new online resources including mental health content and Self Help Guides. This resource was developed to provide enhanced care information in relation to making a plan for care (advance care plan). The resources are intended to be accessible for all demographics the website includes audio content and translated BSL content.

The core website is split into:

• Content on Mental Health conditions
• Content on Mental Wellbeing
• Mental Health Self Help Guides

4.3 Mind to Mind

Mind to Mind is an online library of lived experience mental wellbeing advice, created by members of the public for members of the public. It offers short video and audio clips around common mental wellbeing concerns, offering advice to help people cope or improve their resilience.

Topics covered by Mind to Mind are: anxiety, panic, low mood, stress, coping with money worries, grief, trouble sleeping and social isolation and loneliness.

Mind to Mind signposts to helpful websites, apps and organisations if further support is needed, including Sleepio, Daylight and Silvercloud.

Information is available in multiple languages including Polish, Punjab and Urdu.

4.4 NHS 24 Mental Health Hub at 111

The NHS 24 Mental Health Hub (the Hub) is accessible through the 111 service and provides a compassionate 24/7 response to anyone requiring mental health support or those experiencing distress. It can be accessed for urgent support when a person’s GP Practice or usual mental health service is closed.

A team of Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners, supported by Mental Health Nurses, will triage people using a psychosocial assessment to either help manage their needs or direct them to the most appropriate form of support such as their GP, community psychiatric nurse, the 999 service, or local emergency department.

4.5 Breathing Space

Breathing Space is an out of hours confidential telephone support and webchat service. Breathing Space is for adults aged 16 and over, and provides a listening ear, support and signposting to those experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety.

Helpline number: 0800 83 85 87 Opening hours:

Weekdays: Monday-Thursday 6pm to 2am Weekend: Friday 6pm-Monday 6am

Information on how to contact Breathing Space using BSL, Language Line or Relay UK is available on the Breathing Space website, including information on contacting the service via a range of other languages.