Edinburgh & National Services

Helpers in Your Community

Is the helper able, available, and acceptable?
LivingWorks ASIST Chris Grant
Use this list to think about who might help, for the people you support and for yourself. A helper is most useful when they are able to help, available when needed, and acceptable to the person. Tap any number to call or text, or any name to open the website.
In an emergency or crisis right now
999
Emergency services
Immediate risk to life, serious injury or suicide risk
111
NHS 24
Urgent health advice when your GP or mental health team is unavailable
116 123
Samaritans
Free · 24/7 · listening and crisis support for anyone
Police, non-emergency 101 · for concerns that are not an immediate emergency
Crisis & distress
Breathing Space
0800 83 85 87 · Mon-Thu 6pm-2am, Fri 6pm-Mon 6am · breathingspace.scot
Shout
Text SHOUT to 85258 · free · 24/7
Edinburgh Crisis Centre
0808 801 0414 · 24/7
DBI (Distress Brief Intervention)
dbi.scot
Suicide prevention & bereavement
PAPYRUS HOPELINE247
0800 068 4141 · text 07860 039967 · 24/7 · under 35s · papyrus-uk.org
Suicide&Co (bereaved by suicide)
0800 054 8400 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · suicideandco.org
Edinburgh Suicide Prevention
edinburghhsc.scot/services/suicide-prevention
Children & young people
Childline
0800 1111 · free · 24/7 · under 19s · childline.org.uk
PAPYRUS HOPELINE247 · under 35s (see above)
Everyday & professional support
GP
First port of call, medication, referrals, counselling access
NHS Inform
nhsinform.scot
CBT · via GP referral
COSCA (find a counsellor) · cosca.org.uk
HT Counselling · htcounselling.co.uk
EAP · via employer
Mental health support & outreach
SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) · samh.org.uk
Health in Mind · health-in-mind.org.uk
Penumbra · penumbra.org.uk
Change Mental Health (The Stafford Centre) · changemh.org
iThrive Edinburgh · edinburghthrive.com
Hub of Hope · hubofhope.co.uk
ALISS (local services search) · aliss.org
Doc Ready (prepare for a GP visit) · docready.org
Students
Student Support
Via your individual institution
Res Life (University of Edinburgh) · residence-life.ed.ac.uk
Nightline Edinburgh
8pm-8am, term time · edinburghnightline.org
Think Positive · thinkpositive.scot
Peer, community & connection
Andy's Man Club (men's support)
Monday 7pm · andysmanclub.co.uk
iThrive Peer Support Groups · ithriveedinburgh.org.uk
parkrun Edinburgh · parkrun.org.uk
Vintage Vibes (older people, loneliness) · vintagevibes.org.uk
Uni Societies · via your individual institution
Alcohol & drugs
Alcoholics Anonymous · alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
Narcotics Anonymous · ukna.org
CREW · crew.scot
Know the Score
0800 587 5879 · knowthescore.info
Scottish Drugs Forum · sdf.org.uk
Faith & spiritual
Chaplaincy
Via hospitals, universities, some workplaces
The Listening Service (UoE Chaplaincy) · chaplaincy.ed.ac.uk/the-listening-service
Specific communities
Switchboard (LGBTQ+ helpline)
0300 330 0630 · 10am-10pm daily · switchboard.lgbt
Apps & online
Togetherall (online community, guided support) · togetherall.com
SilverCloud (online CBT) · via NHS or employer
Headspace · headspace.com
Calm · calm.com
Breath Coach · app
Experiencing or at risk of abuse
Rape Crisis Scotland
08088 01 03 02
Daily 5pm-midnight · text 07537 410 027
Domestic Abuse & Forced Marriage
0800 027 1234
Scotland's helpline · 24/7
NSPCC
0808 800 5000
Worried about a child · Mon-Fri 10am-4pm
chrisgrantgla · contact@chrisgrantgla.com · www.chrisgrantgla.com
Helper categories are based on the LivingWorks ASIST Helpers in Your Community template. Edinburgh and national services compiled by Chris Grant from SMHFA and ASIST courses delivered in Edinburgh. Details correct at the time of publishing, please check current contact information before relying on it.