On this page, you’ll find a collection of our newsletters, including our general Mental Health Snippet and our Aye Mind newsletter which looks at digital wellbeing and online safety for children and young people.
Mental Health Snippets
Our team produces and circulates a monthly mental health snippet that provides a range of information across the life course, including resources, research articles, reports, events, and learning opportunities. If you would like to sign up for our snippet, please contact ggc.mhead@nhs.scot.
A monthly newsletter that provides information, resources, and events related to digital wellbeing and online safety for children and young people as part of our Aye Mind project. If you would like to sign up, please contact ggc.mhead@nhs.scot.
This page shares information on self-harm work happening across Greater Glasgow and Clyde along with some useful resources and suggested reading.
What is self-harm?
Self-harm is an act that is intended to cause harm to one-self but which is not intended to result in death. It is often described by those who self-harm as a way of coping with emotional pain and of surviving distressing experiences. It is not a suicide attempt. For more information on self-harm visit Self-Harm | NHS inform.
Why should we focus on self-harm?
Self-harm is a growing public health concern. Self-harm is complex and it can be difficult to understand, both for the individual involved and for those around them who want to provide support. Stigma, discrimination and fear of being judged can stop people from disclosing their self-harm, making it difficult to keep records and have an accurate idea of scale. It is almost impossible to say how many individuals are using self-harm as a coping strategy, although data estimates that 1 in 6 people aged 16-24 have self-harmed at some point in their lives. The majority of those who self-harm do not go on to take their own life but a minority do and a small proportion of people who deliberately self-harm are at increased risk of subsequently taking their own life.
How you can get involved in supporting those using self-harm as a coping strategy
What’s the Harm Self-Harm Awareness and Skills Training Resource
What’s the Harm Self-Harm Awareness and Skills Training is a one day training course that seeks to standardise understanding of and responses to self-harm when used as a coping strategy. It has been informed by a wide range of existing work on self-harm from services supporting people who self-harm, research teams and those with lived experience of self-harm. The training recognises self-harm as a coping strategy, a response to distress and a means to keep living. It makes the distinction between suicide and self-harm whilst recognising that there are links between the two.
The NHSGGC self-harm forum is a group of trainers who have successfully completed the ‘What’s the Harm Self-harm awareness and skills Train the Trainer course. Trainers come from Health Improvement, Education and Third Sector.
The forum meets quarterly to keep abreast of national and board developments, share training updates and good practice and develop resources. The group reports to the NHSGGC Suicide Prevention Group and local structures as required. To find out more about the work of the forum, contact ggc.mhead@nhs.scot*.
*Please note that this is a generic admin inbox and not monitored immediately. If you, or someone you know are in distress and need an immediate response call the emergency services on 999 or NHS 24 on 111.
Resources
Self-Harm Resources and Supports is a comprehensive resource for staff providing support and advice to people who may be self-harming containing information on learning, resources, helplines, websites, apps and keeping safe.
A resource pack for teachers and professionals working with children and young people (upper primary onwards). It includes teaching support materials and further information in the form of signposting to external resources and advice services, references, and linked where relevant to the Curriculum for Excellence and other national guidance. Download via the links below:
In 2024, the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Mental Health Improvement Team and the University of Strathclyde forged a partnership to implement a Training for Trainers approach to deliver What’s The Harm; Self-harm Skills and Awareness Training. The programme of work aims to ensure that anyone affected by self-harm in the University receives compassionate support and that those supporting those who self-harm feel better equipped to do so. Both organisations continue to work in partnership to monitor progress and outcomes achieved. Find out more about the work and progress to date below:
May 2024: A partnership between the University of Strathclyde and the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Mental Health Improvement Team to build self-harm capacity for local training delivery within the University – What’s the Harm – May 2024.
January 2025: The first in a series of infographics to summarise the University’s progress since completing the What’s the Harm Self-harm awareness and skills training for training course – What’s the Harm – January 2025.
July 2025: the second infographic summarising the University’s self-harm capacity building progress to date and next steps – What’s the Harm – July 2025.
Useful Reading
We have gathered a range of different papers and reports which will provide you with helpful background reading on self-harm.
An Introduction to Self-harm: an evaluation summary from student wellbeing staff at Glasgow Caledonian University who attended an introduction session to self-harm.
Self-harm Strategy and Action Plan 2023-2027: Scotland’s first dedicated self-harm strategy and action plan aims for anyone affected by self-harm to receive compassionate support, without fear of stigma or discrimination.
Read our report: A partnership between the University of Strathclyde and the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Mental Health Improvement Team to build self-harm capacity for local training delivery within the University.
Read our case study about developing a sustainable model of self-harm training delivery across Education Services in each of the 6 Health and Social Care Partnership’s in Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
NHS Inform – Information about self-harm, including signs, causes, and treatment options.
“It’s not safe and consistent”: Read our report sharing the lived experiences of young people using social media who have experience of self-harm, including the potential risks and protective factors social media offers them.
Suicide prevention is everyone’s business. This page shares information on suicide prevention activity happening across Greater Glasgow and Clyde along with some useful resources and suggested reading.
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, then help is available. Call 999 if someone is at immediate risk of suicide and don’t leave them alone.
For some people they might be finding it difficult to cope and may think of ending their life, if you are concerned about an individual’s mental health and wellbeing and feel they may be in distress, the GP should be their first point of contact or contact NHS 24 on 111. If you feel the individual is in immediate danger please call 999.
The topic of suicide can be emotional and triggering for some, support is always available, and you may find the below information useful.
Breathing Space
A free helpline for individuals experiencing symptoms of low mood, depression, or anxiety, and offers free and confidential advice for individuals over the age of 16. They can be contacted on 0800 838 587, 6.00pm to 2.00am Monday to Thursday; and from 6pm Friday throughout the weekend to 6am Monday.
Childline
For children and young people, for whenever they need support or advice. It is open 24/7, and there are many ways to get support. You can call 0800 1111. Other ways are set out on their website: www.childline.org.uk
NHS 24 Mental Health Hub
Telephone advice and support on healthcare can be obtained from NHS24 by phoning 111; the Mental Health Hub is open 24/7.
Samaritans
Provide confidential non-judgemental emotional support 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair. You can contact Samaritans free by phoning 116 123 or via email on jo@samaritans.org.
SHOUT
A free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope. Text SHOUT to 85258.
Why Suicide Prevention?
Suicide is a significant public health issue. In 2023, 792 probable deaths by suicide were in Scotland. Every life lost to suicide is an enormous tragedy. And every life lost leaves devastating and long lasting impacts on families, friends and communities. Up to 135 people can be affected in some way by every suicide. Suicide is preventable and is everyone’s business.
How you can get involved in Suicide Prevention work across Greater Glasgow and Clyde
There is a commitment from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to local action planning and delivery to prevent suicide, through the development of a Suicide Prevention Concordat and planning group structures. These include the overarching NHSGGC Suicide Prevention Group and two subgroups, Youth and Young Adults and Suicide Prevention training, where all suicide prevention developments and activity are co-ordinated.
Find out more about some of the key Suicide Prevention progress and activity across NHSGGC over the last two years here, and watch the video below:
For more information on the Suicide Prevention Groups contact: ggc.mhead@nhs.scot.
Please note that this is a generic admin inbox and not monitored immediately. If you, or someone you know are in distress and need an immediate response call the emergency services on 999 or NHS 24 on111.
All Suicide Prevention Resources
Suicide Alert resources: for staff working in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area to support you if you are talking with someone who may be at risk of suicide. It explains the ‘ALERT’ model and provides some ideas for putting it into practice, as well as useful information about support services and suicide prevention resources. Resources include a briefing note and a generic prompt sheet and a Glasgow City specific prompt sheet. A resource directory of mental health APPS, helplines and websites to support staff with signposting and sharing of information that is appropriate to need.
Mental Health Pocket Guide: provides details for a mental health support organisation in each of the 6 Health and Social Care Partnerships; Glasgow City, Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire and West Dunbartonshire. Provides helpful tips for looking after your mental health and wellbeing and who to contact if you feel someone is in distress.
GAMH YouTube: GAMH and Glasgow City HSCP have created a playlist of videos called: Being there for someone at risk of suicide – A guide to taking care of Yourself and Others.
Being There For Someone at Risk of Suicide: A resource developed by GAMH and Glasgow City HSCP which is here for people who care about someone who has tried to take their own life, or are worried that they might. If you, or someone you know is in immediate danger, e.g. has a plan for suicide and the means to carry out this plan, call 999.
Suicide Postvention Resources and Supports: Suicide Postvention refers to the support provided to those affected by the death of someone by suicide. This resource provides useful Postvention information and resources for staff supporting people who have lost someone to suicide.
United To Prevent Suicide: is a social movement of people from all across Scotland, we are united in a shared belief that each and every one of us has a role to play in preventing suicide.
Snapshot Exercise: The Youth & Young Adults Suicide Prevention Group carried out a snapshot exercise in 2021 with 32 stakeholders to gain a picture of youth suicide prevention supports, interventions, collaborative working, referral pathways and examples of good practice.
NHS GG&C Capacity Building Contract Report: SAMH’s Workplace and Corporate Engagement Team worked with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Mental Health Improvement Team between April 2020 to March 2024, to deliver a variety of different training courses as part of the NHS Capacity Building Contract. The report summarises the training delivery and evaluation over the last 4 years.
This page provides information on Infant, Early Years, and Maternal Mental Health including resources, useful reading, and shares some of the work happening across Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
What is Infant, Early Years, and Maternal Mental Health?
Perinatal Mental Health refers to mental health during pregnancy and up to one year after the baby is born. During this period, new and expectant parents (mums, dads, co-parents, partners) can experience issues with their mental health. This includes mental illness existing before pregnancy, as well as illnesses that develop for the first time, or are made worse in the perinatal period. These illnesses can be mild, moderate, or severe, requiring different kinds of care or treatment. The stigma and fear associated with perinatal mental health can leave those affected feeling inadequate as a parent, isolated and vulnerable, and can delay getting help, treatment, and recovery.
Infant Mental Health is the social, emotional, and cognitive wellbeing and development of children in the earliest years of life. It is an infant’s capacity to form close relationships; experience, regulate, and express emotions; and to explore their environment and learn. Infants achieve this through safe, nurturing, and secure relationships.
The perinatal period can be a vulnerable time for all women and their families. However, those with protected characteristics, including women of colour, LGBTQ+ and young parents, are at greater risk of developing mental health problems. Their vulnerability is made worse due to additional factors of culture and ethnicity, stigma attached to mental health, language barriers, poverty, discrimination, lack of awareness of supports available, and many more.
It is crucial that families are supported to have positive mental health and wellbeing during the perinatal period. Untreated perinatal mental health problems are a major public health concern and can have long-term impacts on the physical and mental health outcomes of mothers, babies, partners, and families.
Why should we focus on Infant, Early Years, and Maternal Mental Health?
Becoming a parent is often portrayed as a joyous time, however for many the reality is very different with reports showing that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men and partners are affected by mental health problems during pregnancy and the first year after birth. The stigma and fear associated with perinatal mental health can leave those affected feeling inadequate as a parent, isolated, and vulnerable. It can impede or delay getting help, treatment, and recovery.
Whilst the perinatal period can be a vulnerable time for all women and their families, research highlights that those with protected characteristics including women of colour, LGBTQ and young parents are at greater risk of developing mental health problems. Their vulnerability is further intensified due to additional factors of culture and ethnicity, stigma attached to mental health, language barriers, poverty, discrimination, lack of awareness of supports available and many more.
Untreated perinatal mental health problems present a major public health concern and can have long-term impacts on the physical and mental health outcomes of mothers, babies, partners, and families. It is crucial that families are supported to have positive mental health and wellbeing during the perinatal period.
Exploring the experiences of the NHSGGC Perinatal and Infant Mental Health network in engaging with Black and Ethnic Minority women and their families during the perinatal period to support mental health and wellbeing. Read the report here along with a thematic analysis comparing the findings to other research papers.
How you can get involved in supporting Infant, Early Years, and Maternal Mental Health
The NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Mental Health Improvement Team have established a Perinatal and Infant Mental Health network to help deliver on the Infant and Maternal Mental Health agenda. The network is made up of partners from Health Improvement, Third Sector, Clinical Services, Social Work, Education, Health Visiting and many more.
The network meets monthly to keep up to date on national and board developments, work together to translate national policy into local meaningful actions, share good practice and hear from different services. The service spotlight section is an opportunity for partners and organisations to provide an overview of the services and supports they provide. If you would like to attend one of the meetings to promote your service please contact ggc.mhead@nhs.scot*.
*Please note that this is a generic admin inbox and not monitored immediately. If you, or someone you know are in distress and need an immediate response call the emergency services on 999or NHS24 on 111.
Watch our short clip below to find out more about the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Network and the work we do.
The Early Years Mental Health Improvement Framework
This framework has been created as a planning tool to help support those working with babies and young children who are under 5 and their parents/carers to plan and deliver mental health improvement activities. It outlines the range of themes that evidence shows promotes positive mental health in the early years and highlights factors that both threaten and support good mental health.
Policy Mapping Document: A document illustrating how the framework links to some of the key policy drivers for early years mental health and how they interconnect.
Evidence briefings: A series of documents highlighting evidence that underpins each element of the framework:
Voice of the Infant Best Practice Guidelines and Infant Pledge
The Scottish Government has published the Voice of the Infant Best Practice Guidelines and Infant Pledge. Co-produced by a short-life working group, on behalf of the Infant Mental Health Implementation and Advisory Group, which was part of the Scottish Government’s Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Programme Board, the new guidelines provide direction on how to take account of infants’ views and rights in all encounters.
The guidelines offer suggestions on how those who work with babies and very young children can notice, facilitate and share the infant’s feelings, ideas and preferences that they communicate through their gaze, body language and vocalisations. The Infant Pledge states clearly what babies and very young children should expect from those around them, and can be printed off as a poster.
This is an educational film that has been produced to help those suffering from Perinatal Health Conditions – mother’s experiences to help other mothers.
Useful Reading
We have gathered a range of different papers and reports which will provide you with helpful background reading into infant and maternal mental health.
From Bumps to Bundles: a research paper exploring Perinatal Mental Health in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
This page provides information about mental health stigma and discrimination, including information about how you can get involved to help tackle it, helpful resources, and further reading.
What is mental health stigma and discrimination?
Mental health problems can be challenging for people, but it can be made worse by having to deal with stigma and discrimination from others, or from ourselves.
Stigma is “a social process that involves the damaging labelling, stereotyping, and exclusion of individuals or groups based on perceived differences that deviate from dominant social norms”.
Discrimination is “a key part of stigma. It is the inequitable or prejudicial treatment of individuals or groups based on their stigmatised identities. It can be intentional (explicit prejudice) and unintentional (underlying in organisations and systems)”.
Why is mental health stigma and discrimination an issue we should focus on?
According to research by See Me, Scotland’s national anti-stigma programme:
More than two-thirds (71%) of people with mental health problems in Scotland experience stigma and discrimination
More than nine in 10 people with experience of a mental illness say that they have faced stigma in relationships with family and friends
1 in 3 young people in every classroom will experience a mental health problem, and 3 in 4 say that they fear the reaction of their friends.
The impact of stigma and discrimination can be wide-ranging, including making someone’s mental health problems worse and stopping them from getting support. That’s why it’s so important we all play our part to challenge stigma and discrimination.
How you can get involved to challenge mental health stigma and discrimination
Join See Me’s movement
There are lots of ways that you can get involved to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination. You can join thousands of people across Scotland by taking part in See Me’s movement for change. Visit See Me’s website to get all the tools and resources you might need to take action – we have listed some of them below in the ‘Resources’ section too.
Get inspired by participants in our Anti-Stigma Fund
You could also get inspiration from others who are doing great work in this area. For several years, the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Healthy Minds Network ran an Anti-Stigma Fund, inviting creative bids from organisations to help address some of the issues surrounding mental health stigma and discrimination. To find out more about some of the projects that received funding, you can read our Glasgow City-Based Case Study, or have a look through some of the other projects detailed below:
Youth Inspired – Mental Health Stigma Amongst Young People
This video was funded by the Healthy Minds Network’s Anti-Stigma Fund. It was co-produced by a group of young people who worked with Youth Inspired, formerly Youth Interventions, and a professional videographer to show the mental health stigma that they have faced.
Mental Health Stigma and Chronic Conditions
The animation below was funded by the Healthy Minds Network’s Anti-Stigma Fund. It was developed by the Teapot Trust and a group of young people with chronic physical conditions to show what it’s like to have a chronic physical health condition, and how it can impact someone’s mental health.
Helpful Resources
We have listed below a range of resources that will help you tackle mental health stigma and discrimination across the life course:
General
Healthy Minds Awareness-Raising Resource: An awareness-raising session offering an introduction to mental health stigma and discrimination that is free to download and can be used by anyone (session number 15).
“Let’s Chat” tool: A tool from See Me that provides guidance, tips, and scenarios for line managers and supervisors to start open and honest conversations about mental health in the workplace.
Perinatal and Infant
Perinatal and Infant Good Practice Guide: A resource to support Health Care Workers, Third Sector Partners, and any community organisations that are in contact with, supporting and/or working with new and expectant parents. It is underpinned by the nine protected characteristics as set out in the Equality Act (2010).
Young people
“What’s on your Mind?”: A pack to support teachers and young people to learn about mental health and develop the skills and confidence to tackle stigma and discrimination in school and the wider community.
FeelsFM: An emoji jukebox that can be used to host conversations with young people, to get their views on mental health and how to tackle stigma.
Further Reading
We have gathered a range of different papers and reports which will provide you with helpful background reading into Anti-stigma and discrimination.
See Me in work e-Learning Portal: An online programme to help you understand more about mental health stigma and discrimination in work.
The Scottish Mental Illness Stigma Study (2022): Shares the findings from a survey with adults in Scotland who identified as living with severe, complex and/or enduring mental illness where they described the ways in which they experienced stigma and discrimination in the last 12 months.
Please email the team at ggc.mhead@nhs.scot* with any questions about Anti-stigma and Discrimination.
*Please note that this is a generic admin inbox and not monitored immediately. If you, or someone you know are indistress and need an immediate response call the emergency services on 999or NHS 24 on 111.
Training and building the capacity of our workforce to promote positive mental health and wellbeing is a key priority at a local and national level (Mental Health Strategy, 2017-2027). We must therefore ensure staff working with people across Greater Glasgow and Clyde are confident and equipped to support and promote positive mental health and wellbeing and respond to those in distress.
This page shares information on mental health training and capacity-building opportunities available across Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Building Mental Health Improvement Capacity across Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Running Your Own Mental Health Session
Healthy Minds
Healthy Minds is an awareness-raising resource that can be used by anyone to promote basic awareness and understanding of mental health. The sessions cover a variety of topics that can impact people’s mental health and wellbeing.
Materials include a PowerPoint presentation, speaker notes, and resources. You don’t need previous experience in training to deliver a session. They are completely free to download and adapt to suit your purposes: Healthy Minds Resource – NHSGGC.
Mental Health Improvement Training Pathway
The Mental Health Improvement, Self-harm and Suicide Prevention Training Pathway is a tool to encourage staff to progressively build their knowledge and skills relevant to their role and responsibilities in the area of mental health. The resource is not a training calendar but rather a reference and guidance document to help individuals, teams, and organisations explore potential training opportunities that are available.
Online Harms Module: A free e-learning module that helps staff gain knowledge and resources around online safety concerns and understand how they can assist those they support in dealing with these issues and minimising their potential harm. Available via Turas for anyone with an email address. Please note that a Turas account is required, you can create an account here.
Mental Health Improvement Training and Capacity Building Calendar
There are no training opportunities planned for the foreseeable future.
About us
In the Mental Health Improvement Team, we believe that everyone has the right to live with good mental health and wellbeing, regardless of who they are and where they come from.
We collaborate with our colleagues and partners across Greater Glasgow and Clyde to create the conditions that enable people and communities to thrive. This includes working to promote mental health, prevent future mental health problems, and support recovery. We are also part of the wider Mental Health, Alcohol and Drugs Health Improvement team.
Our approach spans the life course, from infant and maternal health through to older adults, and is grounded in a commitment to:
If you have any questions about our team or our work, please get in touch with us by emailing ggc.mhead@nhs.scot.
Mental health is a state of wellbeing where an individual can cope with normal daily stresses in life, realise their abilities, learn well, work well, and contribute to their community (World Health Organisation).
Mental health issues are widespread among adults, with 1 in 4 experiencing them each year. It’s possible to prevent these issues from happening, and with the right support at the right time, people can recover too.
This page provides information and resources to help promote positive mental health among adults. It is based on the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Healthy Minds – Adult Mental Health Improvement and Early Intervention Framework.
Framework For Adult Mental Health
The NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Adult Mental Health Improvement and Early Intervention Framework is a local tool to support those working across Greater Glasgow and Clyde to support positive mental health in adults. The framework brings together a range of activities that have been demonstrated as having value in the promotion of good mental health.
It is designed to be read from the bottom up, starting with actions that can be taken against the underlying determinants of mental health. This includes socio-economic factors and social environment issues like challenging stigma and discrimination. It then considers health promotion and what can be done to prevent mental health issues from occurring in the first place. Finally, the upper tier is more focused on early detection and intervention of mental health issues to prevent them from worsening, as well as recovery-oriented action.
Adult Mental Health Policy Landscape: A useful planning tool to illustrate how the Healthy Minds Mental Health framework links to and supports key adult mental health policy drivers.
Adult Mental Health Supports
Adult Mental Health Apps, Helplines, and websites: A resource directory of mental health apps, helplines, and websites to support staff with signposting and sharing of information that is appropriate to need.
Mental Health Posters
Adult Mental Health Supports Poster: A wipe-clean poster showing how mental health supports can be accessed, from 1 to 1 support, reading, group work, phone, and online. Populate with your own up-to-date information on an ongoing basis.
The Framework in Action
Listed below, you’ll find resources and supports against each element of the framework.
Respond Better to Distress
Unfortunately, some people can find it difficult to cope at times in their lives and may harm themselves or think of ending their life. We need to improve our responses to people in distress, both from services and the wider community, including action to prevent suicide and better support for people who self-harm.
If you are concerned about an individual’s mental health and wellbeing and feel they may be in distress, the GP should be their first point of contact, or contact NHS 24 on 111. If you feel the individual is in immediate danger, please call 999.
Resources
There is a range of suicide prevention and self-harm activities underway across Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Visit the suicide prevention and self-harm pages to find out more.
Suicide Prevention Resources
Suicide Prevention Resources – NHSGGC: Brings together a range of suicide prevention information for staff relating to learning, resources and websites, helplines, and keeping safe.
Suicide ALERT Resources: for staff working in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area to support you if you are talking with someone who may be at risk of suicide. Resources include a briefing note, prompt sheet, and a resource directory of supports.
Time Space Compassion: An introductory guide from the Scottish Government to a relationship and person centred approach to improving suicidal crisis. It has been developed for use by people and services who regularly come into contact and support people experiencing suicidal crisis.
Healthy Minds Pocket Guide – Our mental health and wellbeing card provides details for a mental health support organisation across Greater Glasgow and Clyde (Glasgow City, Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, and West Dunbartonshire).
Healthy Minds Basic Adult Mental Health (1): A session from our Healthy Minds Resource that aims to raise awareness of mental health, what can impact mental health, what to look out for if someone is struggling with their mental health, and what we can do to help protect and support mental health.
Trauma-Informed Resources
National Trauma Transformation Programme Hub – Resources at the Trauma-Informed level, which are aimed at absolutely everyone and provide an overview of trauma and what a trauma-informed approach looks like.
Promote Wellbeing for People with Long-Term Conditions
Long-term conditions are defined as health conditions that last a year or longer, impact a person’s life, and may require ongoing care and support. People with long-term mental health problems have significantly poorer health outcomes with an up to a 20-year gap in life expectancy. Similarly, people with other long-term conditions are at higher risk of mental health difficulties.
It is important to promote holistic health for people with long-term conditions (“healthy body, healthy mind”), promote recovery approaches, and social inclusion. It is also important to include a focus on carers’ wellbeing as part of this agenda. The Healthy Minds Long Term Conditions (no. 6) session can help raise awareness of the impact that long-term conditions can have on mental health and explores strategies to help manage this.
Helplines
Anxiety and Stress Disorders: NHS Living Life provides a free telephone-based service for people over the age of 16 feeling low, anxious, or stressed. Call 0800 328 9655 – lines are open Monday to Friday, 9.00 am – 9.00 pm.
Epilepsy Scotland: Provides a free, confidential helpline that provides information and emotional support to anyone affected by epilepsy. Call 0808 800 2200, Monday to Friday, 10.00 am – 4.30 pm.
NHS Inform: provides information on a range of illnesses and conditions and helps people make informed choices about their health and wellbeing.
Promote Wellbeing and Resilience with People & Communities
Resilience is an individual’s ability to successfully adapt to life tasks in the face of social disadvantage or highly adverse conditions. It’s a key part of good mental health.
Being socially connected and resilient, both as individuals and communities, are powerful influences on mental health and wider wellbeing. This can be achieved through developing social connections, tackling isolation, building resilience, strengthening the use of community assets (including social prescribing), and strengthening self-care and peer support.
There is a wealth of initiatives happening across communities to help social connections and reduce loneliness and isolation, including the Thriving Places initiative.
Resources
Local Mental Health Supports
Healthy Minds Pocket Guide – Our mental health and wellbeing card provides details for a mental health support organisation across Greater Glasgow and Clyde (Glasgow City, Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, and West Dunbartonshire).
Mental Health in the Workplace
Mental Health in the Workplace: A resource that provides information about the range of resources, supports, websites, and learning opportunities available for staff working across Greater Glasgow and Clyde to support mental health in the workplace.
Adult Mental Health Reading List: A reading list of books has been created to help people self-manage any mental health or wellbeing issues, gain more understanding of mental health and wellbeing, and feel less alone.
Promote Wellbeing and Resilience at Work
Workplaces have a key role to play in improving our nation’s health and quality of life. Good quality work can be beneficial for our mental health, while unemployment and poor quality work are toxic influences.
The business case for supporting the mental health and wellbeing of employees is a strong one. The benefits include fewer days lost to sickness/absence, greater staff retention, productivity, and staff morale.
Resources
Mental Health in the Workplace Resources
Mental Health in the Workplace: Information on the range of resources, supports, websites, and learning opportunities available for staff working across Greater Glasgow and Clyde to support mental health in the workplace.
Healthy Working Lives For employers in Scotland looking for workplace health, safety, and wellbeing information. This includes information on supporting the mental health and wellbeing of employees, what they can do, and access to resources to help with this.
Workplace Mental Health Stigma
See Me in Work – Supports employers and individuals to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination in the workplace.
Mental Health Awareness-Raising
Healthy Minds can be used by organisations and employers to raise awareness of mental health and issues that can impact mental health such as sleep, loss, and grief.
Promote Positive Attitudes, Challenge Stigma and Discrimination
Despite supportive policies within Scotland, the experience of people with mental health issues in our communities remains poor. More than two-thirds (71%) of people with mental health problems in Scotland have experienced stigma and discrimination.
The impact of stigma and discrimination can be wide-ranging, including making someone’s mental health problems worse and stopping them from getting support. Visit the Anti-stigma and discrimination page to find out more about some of the work being taken forward across Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Resources
See Me – Scotland’s Programme to Tackle Stigma
See Me is Scotland’s Programme to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination funded by the Scottish Government and managed by Scotland’s Association for Mental Health and The Mental Health Foundation.
Mental Health Stigma Awareness Session
Healthy Minds Stigma and Discrimination session (no. 15) aims to raise awareness of mental health stigma and discrimination and what can be done to help tackle it.
Tackle Underlying Determinants and Promote Equity
Health inequalities are the unfair and avoidable differences in people’s health across social groups and between different population groups.
To reduce health inequalities, action is needed across society to address the fundamental causes of social inequality. This includes inequalities in income, employment, education, and daily living conditions.
In Scotland, improving children and young people’s mental health is a priority action area. We know that there’s no one intervention that can promote positive mental health. Instead, children and young people have a number of prerequisites they require to develop resiliently, and these span the school, family, and community life of young people.
This page provides you with information and resources to help promote positive mental health among children and young people. It is based around the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Healthy Minds – Children and Young People Mental Health Improvement and Early Intervention Framework.
What is the Child and Youth Early Intervention Framework?
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have developed a Child and Youth Mental Health Improvement and Early Intervention Framework, a local tool for anyone working with children and young people across Greater Glasgow and Clyde to support mental health. It outlines six key elements that evidence shows supports children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing.
Child and Youth Mental Health Policy Landscape: A document illustrating how the framework links to some of the key policy drivers for child and youth mental health and how they interconnect to ultimately Get it Right for Every Child.
Mental Health Supports
Child and Youth Mental Health Supports: A document that maps out the range of available mental health supports for children and young people to access, including websites, apps, and helplines.
Explore Each Section of the Framework
One Good Adult
The concept of ‘One Good Adult’ is to emphasise the importance of a dependable adult who can support and protect the mental wellbeing of a child and/or a young person. The presence of One Good Adult has been found to be a key indicator of how well a young person copes with their struggles, and in one study, over 70% of young people repported they received a high level of support from a special adult (‘My World Survey’). This ‘One Good Adult’ can be a parent, grandparent, teacher, sports coach or someone who is available to them in times of need.
Helpful Resources
One Good Adult
One Good Adult Job Description: The One Good Adult Job Description captures the ethos of a suite of learning resources that have been designed to upskill people who work (or volunteer) with children and young people.
Healthy Minds – One Good Adult Session: The One Good Adult session (number 12) from our Healthy Minds Resource can help raise awareness of the concept and what is means to be that one good adult.
Resilience
Resilience Toolkit: Contains a One Good Adult activity session for children and young people, to help them identify the qualities a one good adult should have and who theirs might be.
Resilience Development in Schools
Schools play a key role in protecting and supporting the mental health of children and young people. A whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing can help children and young people develop the knowledge, understanding, skills and attributes they need for mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing for now and in the future. This means embedding mental health and wellbeing into all aspects of school life.
Helpful Resources
Resources for Early Years, Schools, and Youth Providers
Resources for Early Years, Schools, and Youth Providers: A comprehensive document that offers a range of suggested resources that can be used in early years, schools, by youth providers to help protect, promote, and support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.
Healthy Minds Resilience Session: The Resilience session from our Healthy Minds Resource (number 13) can help raise awareness of what resilience is, what it means to be resilient, the benefits to mental health and what we can do to help develop resilience.
Resilience Poster: A poster that includes top 10 tips for developing resilience.
Resilience Toolkit: This Emotional Resilience Toolkit provides practical guidance in promoting the resilience of young people as part of an integrated health and wellbeing programme.
Resilience Development in Communities
Many children and young people have links to their communities and opportunities to be involved in various youth groups and clubs. Youth services, voluntary and community organisations are in a very good position to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people, includin those who are most vulnerable.
It is important that youth services, voluntary and community organisations have access to mental health resources and have a baseline knowledge and understanding of mental health and feel confident to intervene to help children and young people in situations of distress, including self harm and suicide.
Helpful Resources
Mental Health Supports
Child and Youth Mental Health Supports: A document which maps out the range of available mental health supports for children and young people to access, including websites, apps, and helplines.
Resilience Resources
Healthy Minds Resilience Session: The Resilience session from our Healthy Minds Resource (number 13) can help raise awareness of what resilience is, what it means to be resilient, the benefits to mental health and what we can do to help develop resilience.
Resilience Poster: A poster that includes top 10 tips for developing resilience.
Guiding Through the Service Maze
For children and young people mental health problems can develop as a result of life circumstances like exam stress, transitions, or caring responsibilities. Many of these mental health problems are mild and temporary and often manageable with help from supportive trusted adults. However, some children and young people may require support from an organisation who specialises in the area that is impacting on their mental health, such as bereavement.
It is important that children, families and young people have range of support options for early intervention and can be helped to find their way to appropriate help quickly.
Still concerned?
For some children and young people they may be finding it difficult to cope and may think of ending their life, if you are concerned about a child or young person’s mental health and wellbeing and feel they may be in distress, their Doctor should be their first point of contact. If you feel the young person’s life in immediate danger please call 999 for assistance.
Accessing Mental Health Support – Child and Youth Poster: A poster illustrating the different ways in which mental health supports can be accessed. Anyone working with children and young people can download it to populate it with their own information.
CAMHS Video: Watch this video from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) which includes information for referrers.
Responding to Distress
Unfortunately, some children and young people can find it difficult to cope at times in their lives. As a result, they may harm themselves or think of ending their life. It is therefore important that frontline staff working with children and young people are confident and supported to intervene and help children and young people in situations of distress, including self-harm and risk of suicide.
The NHSGGC Self-Harm Forum is a group of trainers who have completed the What’s the Harm: Self-Harm Awareness and Skills Training Course. They play a key role in building capacity across the board area to help standardise understanding of and responses to self harm when used as a coping strategy. If you want to hear more about their work, please contact us at ggc.mhead@nhs.scot.
Helpful Resources
Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention Resources
Suicide alert resources: for staff working in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area to support you if you are talking with someone who may be at risk of suicide. It explains the ‘ALERT’ model and provides some ideas for putting it into practice, as well as useful information about support services and suicide prevention resources. Resources include a briefing note and prompt sheet. A resource directory of mental health APPS, helplines and websites to support staff with signposting and sharing of information that is appropriate to need.
Promoting Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Preventing Self-Harm and Suicide: A series of animations co-produced by NHS Education for Scotland and Public Health Scotland. Developed to support the knowledge and skills of those in health, social care, and the wider public sectors who need to be informed about mental health, self-harm, and suicide prevention in relation to children and young people.
Mental Health Supports
Child and Youth Mental Health Supports: A document which maps out the range of available mental health supports for children and young people to access, including websites and helplines.
Peer Help and Social Media
In 2024, those aged 18-24 spent over 6 hours each day online. Digital is now he medium by which most young people conduct their lives. It’s therefore no longer possible for us to support a child or young person’s mental health without thinking about the online environment. This includes being aware of the risks of the online environment and supporting children and young people to maximise the benefits of being online.
Helpful Resources
Aye Mind
Aye Mind: A platform for anyone who works with children and young people to help them build their knowledge and understanding of the online environment and how it impacts children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. Includes topics like cyberbullying, sextortion, and more.
Support for Online Harms
Online Harms – Useful Websites, Helplines, and Reporting Mechanisms: A document outlining the range of helplines, websites, and reporting mechanisms to support those who have experienced a variety of online harms. This includes cyberbullying, harassment, hate crime, online gambling-related harms, online sexual exploitation and abuse, scams and fraud, and content promoting disordered eating, self-harm, or suicide.
Digital Wellbeing Conversation Starters
Digital Wellbeing Conversation Starters – A toolkit for anyone who works with a child or young person. It outlines eight key building blocks of digital wellbeing in a Digital Wellbeing Wheel (mapped against the SHANARRI indicators) and shares hints and tips for talking about children and young people’s online lives.
Further Reading
“It’s not safe and consistent”: Read our report sharing the lived experiences of young people using social media who have experience of self-harm, including the potential risks and protective factors social media offers them.
Child and Youth Mental Health Policy Landscape: A policy landscape to highlight how our evidence-based child and youth mental health improvement prevention and early intervention framework links to some of the key policy drivers for child and youth mental health and how they interconnect to ultimately Get it Right for Every Child.
Adult Mental Health Policy Landscape: A policy landscape to highlight how our evidence-based mental health improvement framework links to and supports some of the key adult mental health policy drivers.
Resources
We have developed a range of free resources on a range of themes that cut across the life course which are available for use:
Perinatal and Infant Mental Health
Resources
Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Good Practice Guide
A resource to support Health Care Workers, Third Sector Partners, and any community organisations that are in contact with, supporting and/or working with new and expectant parents. It is underpinned the nine protected characteristics as set out in the Equality Act (2010).
Greater Glasgow and Clyde Prevention and Early Intervention Guide
The Greater Glasgow and Clyde Prevention and Early Intervention Guide helps staff have conversations with parents about their mental health during the perinatal period and signpost to supports appropriate to their needs to prevent a mental health crisis from developing.
Accessing Mental Health Support – Child and Youth Poster
Accessing Mental Health Support – Child and Youth Poster: A poster illustrating the different ways in which mental health supports can be accessed; from 1 to 1 support, reading, group work, phone, and online. Anyone working with children and young people can download it to populate it with their own update to date information on an ongoing basis, relevant to their organisation, locality area, and wider.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Card
Mental Health & Wellbeing Card: Our Mental Health and Wellbeing Card provides details for mental health support organisations in each of the 6 Health and Social Care Partnerships; Glasgow City, Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, and West Dunbartonshire. It also provides helpful tips for looking after your mental health and wellbeing and who to contact if you feel someone is in distress.
Child and Youth Mental Health Apps, Helplines, and Websites Supports
Child and Youth Mental Health Supports: A document that maps out the range of available mental health supports for children and young people to access, including websites and helplines.
Resilience Toolkit: This Emotional Resilience Toolkit provides practical guidance in promoting the resilience of young people as part of an integrated health and wellbeing programme.
Resources for Early Years, Schools and Youth Providers
Resources for Early Years, Schools and Youth Providers
Resources for Early Years, Schools, and Youth Providers: A comprehensive document that offers a range of suggested resources that can be used in early years, schools, and by youth providers to help protect, promote, and support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. Whilst this is not an exhaustive list, the resources highlighted have been developed by Education and Health colleagues and National Mental Health organisations.
Whole School Approach to Loss and Bereavement
Whole School Approach to Loss and Bereavement: This guidance aims to support practitioners to increase their knowledge and understanding on the subject of bereavement, loss, and change and how to support children and young people through this.
A resource pack for teachers and professionals working with children and young people. It includes teaching support materials and further information in the form of signposting to external resources and advice services, references, and linked where relevant to the Curriculum for Excellence and other national guidance. Download via the links below:
Self-Harm Resources and Supports is a comprehensive document for the wider public health workforce that brings together a range of self-harm information for staff relating to learning, resources and websites, helplines and keeping safe. The information is targeted at the Informed and Skilled levels as set out in the Mental Health Improvement and Suicide Prevention Framework.
Suicide Prevention
Suicide Alert Resources
Suicide alert resources: for staff working in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area to support you if you are talking with someone who may be at risk of suicide. It explains the ‘ALERT’ model and provides some ideas for putting it into practice, as well as useful information about support services and suicide prevention resources. Resources include a briefing note and prompt sheet. A resource directory of mental health apps, helplines, and websites to support staff with signposting and sharing of information that is appropriate to need.
Adult Mental Health Supports Poster: A poster showing the ways in which mental health supports can be accessed; from 1 to 1 support, reading, group work, phone, and online. The resources allow anyone working with adults to populate with their own update to date information on an ongoing basis, relevant to their organisation, locality area, and wider. It is a reusable, wipe-clean resource.
Healthy Minds Pocket Guide
Healthy Minds Pocket Guide – Our mental health and wellbeing card provides details for a mental health support organisation in each of the 6 Health and Social Care Partnerships; Glasgow City, Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, and West Dunbartonshire. It also provides helpful tips for looking after your mental health and wellbeing and who to contact if you feel someone is in distress.
Adult Mental Health Apps, Helplines and Websites
A resource directory of mental health apps, helplines, and websites to support staff with signposting and sharing of information that is appropriate to need.
Self-Harm Resources and Supports is a comprehensive document for the wider public health workforce that brings together a range of self-harm information for staff relating to learning, resources and websites, helplines and keeping safe. The information is targeted at the Informed and Skilled levels as set out in the Mental Health Improvement and Suicide Prevention Framework.
Suicide ALERT resources: for staff working in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area to support you if you are talking with someone who may be at risk of suicide. It explains the ‘ALERT’ model and provides some ideas for putting it into practice, as well as useful information about support services and suicide prevention resources. Resources include a briefing note and prompt sheet. A resource directory of mental health apps, helplines, and websites to support staff with signposting and sharing of information that is appropriate to need.
Self-Harm Resources and Supports is a comprehensive document for the wider public health workforce that brings together a range of self-harm information for staff relating to learning, resources and websites, helplines and keeping safe. The information is targeted at the Informed and Skilled levels as set out in the Mental Health Improvement and Suicide Prevention Framework.
Suicide Alert Resources
Suicide Alert Resources: for staff working in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area to support you if you are talking with someone who may be at risk of suicide. It explains the ‘ALERT’ model and provides some ideas for putting it into practice, as well as useful information about support services and suicide prevention resources. Resources include a briefing note and prompt sheet. A resource directory of mental health apps, helplines, and websites to support staff with signposting and sharing of information that is appropriate to need.
LGBTQ+ Resources and Supports: A document that brings together a range of information and supports for LGBTQ+ communities across the life course, from perinatal and infant mental health, children and young people, through to adults.
We will continue to add to this page – please contact us at ggc.mhead@nhs.scot* if you have any questions or would like to make a suggestion.
*Please note that this is a generic admin inbox and not monitored immediately. If you, or someone you know are in distress and need an immediate response call the emergency services on 999 or NHS 24 on 111.
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