For Immediate Help
feeling distressed
in a state of despair
suicidal
in need of emotional support
someone’s life is at immediate risk, for example by serious injury or overdose
someone has a life- or limb-threatening emergency like chest pain, severe bleeding or breathing difficulties
If your GP practice is open, that’s the first place to go for help. Phone your GP practice and ask how they can help.
Key Helplines and Messaging Services
NHS 24 mental health services are available to everyone in Scotland, of all ages for FREE. The services they offer include listening, offering advice, and guiding you to further help if required.
Call: 111
Text: 18001 111
Open Hours: 24/7 for ALL AGES
Download: Accessing the right mental health care from NHS 24
Samaritans offer FREE confidential, non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide.
Call: 116 123
Email: jo@samaritans.org
Open Hours: 24/7 for ALL AGES
Find a Branch: Find your nearest Samaritans branch | Branch Finder | Samaritans
Breathing Space is a free, confidential phone and web based service for people in Scotland experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety.
Call: 0800 83 85 87
Open Hours: Weekdays: Monday-Thursday 6pm to 2am and Weekend: Friday 6pm-Monday 6am
Webchat is available: Monday-Friday: 6.00pm to 2.00am and Saturday-Sunday: 4.00pm - 12.00am
Age: 16 and over.
Shout is a free, confidential and 24/7 text messaging service for anyone in the UK who needs support, struggling to cope and need to talk.
Text: word SHOUT to 85258
Open Hours: 24/7
Resources and tips to support you: Resources and support for your mental wellbeing. | Shout 85258
Age: 12 and over.
Living Life at NHS 24 offers free telephone support using talking therapies for anyone experiencing low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, or a combination of these symptoms.
Call: 0800 328 9655 to refer yourself for an assessment
Open Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am – 9pm
It can take up to 6 weeks for an initial assessment, then 12 weeks for treatment to begin.
Age: 16 and over.
CALM suicide prevention helpline offers free and confidential support to anyone affected by suicide or experiencing suicidal thoughts.
Call: 0800 58 58 58
Live Chat: Suicide prevention helpline | Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
WhatsApp: +44 20 4587 6634 WhatsApp | Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
Open Hours: Open 5pm - midnight every day.
SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) provides support, information for yourself or someone you care about, and a safe space to talk about mental health.
Call: 0344 800 0550 (Calls charged at local rates)
Live Chat: samh.org.uk/informationservice will pop up during opening hours.
Open Hours: 9am-6pm, Monday to Friday (except Scotland and Northern Ireland Bank Holidays).
Age: 11 and over.
Social Prescribing
A Community Link Worker is a member of the wider GP practice team that can provide support and advice on many social issues that may be affecting your health and wellbeing.
To Make an Appointment: speak to your GP receptionist
Email: argyllandbutecommunitylinks@wearewithyou.org.uk
Argyll and Bute CLW Provider: Argyll and Bute Community Links Service | WithYou
Age: 16 and over.
Distress Support and Guidance
Distress Brief Intervention (DBI) connects people with local services to help them get through periods of distress or emotional pain. DBI offers short-term support, lasting up to 14 days.
Call: 111 team who can refer you or ask your GP for referral
Age: 16 and over.
Argyll and Bute DBI Provider: Distress Brief Intervention (DBI) - Change Mental Health
Email: advice@changemh.org
Bereavement Support
The Suicide Bereavement Support Service offers free and confidential one-to-one support for anyone who has lost a loved one to suicide in Highland and Argyll & Bute.
Call: 0800 471 4768
Email: suicidebereavementsupport@nhs.scot
Fill the Form Online: Suicide Bereavement Support Service - Change Mental Health
Support can be provided over the phone, by secure video calling or face to face.
Call: 0808 802 6161 (Open weekdays 9am-8pm and weekends 10am-2pm)
Use our GriefChat: Open weekdays 9am-9pm
Email: support@crusescotland.org.uk
Practical and Legal Support: Learn more
Cruse Scotland provides professional support for bereaved adults, children and families across Scotland. They also train and educate individuals and organisations to help bereaved people.
Bereavement Support - Beatson Cancer Charity provides support to adults who have lost a loved one to cancer who was treated at the West of Scotland Beatson Cancer Centre or other West of Scotland hospital. To get in touch: supportservices@beatsoncancercharity.org / 0141 212 0505
Download Bereavement Service Referral Form: CLICK HERE
Download Fear of Recurrence / Living with Uncertainty Referral Form: CLICK HERE
Group programmes: Fear of Recurrence & Living with Uncertainty
Support for Men
Call: 03300 949 395
Email: support@amis.org.uk
Open Hours: weekdays from 9am to 4pm
Age: 16+
AMIS is Scotland’s leading charity for men who experience domestic abuse. They operate a national helpline, website and training services.
Men’s Sheds offer a friendly, welcoming and healthy environment for men to socialise, work on personal and/or Shed projects and take part in activities together with a purpose.
Find a Shed Near You: Shed Finder
Call: 07465 202 834 (Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm)
Email: admin@scottishmsa.org.uk
Learn more: scottishmsa.org.uk
The Mankind Initiative is the principal, expert and specialist charity in the UK focusing on male victims of domestic abuse.
Call FREEPHONE: 0808 800 1170 (will not show on your bills)
Call HELPLINE: 01823 334 244 (for those with inclusive minutes)
Support for Male Employees: Learn more
Open Hours: Monday – Friday 10am to 4pm (excluding bank holidays)
Call Freephone: 0808 8010327
Webchat support: Wednesday 10-11:30am & Thursday 2-4pm
Email: info@mensadviceline.org.uk
Open Hours: Mon–Fri 10am-5pm
Men’s Advice Line is a team of friendly Advisors who will listen and believe you. Their team are available to offer you non-judgmental support, practical advice and information.
Support for Women
Call: 01369 706636
Email: info@abwa.org.uk
Open Hours: 9:30am-12:30pm, 1:00pm-4:00pm (Monday-Friday)
Contact Form: https://argyllwomensaid.org.uk/contact
Argyll and Bute Women's Aid provides free and confidential support to women and children who have been affected by domestic abuse.
Argyll and Bute Rape Crisis provides support services to survivors of rape and sexual abuse in the area, offering crisis support, advocacy, and therapeutic services to help them regain control of their lives.
Call: 0800 121 4685
Email: support@ab-rc.org.uk
Contact Form: Argyll and Bute Rape Crisis - Contact Us
Age: 12 and over.
National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247
Open Hours: 24/7, any day any time
Chat Live: https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Chat-to-us-online/ (Monday-Friday, 10am - 10pm)
Tech Safety Tool available in English, Urdu, Spanish and Polish
Refuge supports thousands of survivors in the UK, helping them to overcome the physical, emotional, financial and logistical impacts of abuse and rebuild their lives — free from fear.
Specialised Support
Self-Harm Network Scotland provides free compassionate support, resources & information about self-harm, training to families & professionals, and a Live Chat for people who self-harm and need support.
Contact Online: Contact Us - Self-Harm Network Scotland Penumbra
Interactive Help Tool: I need support - Self-Harm Network Scotland Penumbra
The Live Chat: 6pm – 10pm, 7 days a week, or leave a message and the team will get back to you.
Age: 12+
Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline is there to support anyone experiencing domestic abuse or forced marriage, as well as family members, friends, colleagues, and professionals.
Call: 0800 027 1234
Live Chat: Twilio Flex Web Chat
WhatsApp/Text: 07401288595
Open Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Victim Support Scotland is dedicated to supporting people affected by crime throughout Scotland. They offer free, independent and confidential support for victims, witnesses and their families.
Call: 0800 160 1985 (8am – 8pm Mon-Fri, and 10am – 4pm Sat-Sun)
Chat: from 8am – 8pm Mon-Fri, 10am – 4pm Sat-Sun (chat box on the website)
Request Support: Personal Referral
Victim support services in Highlands & Islands: FIND HERE
RSABI (Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution) supporting people in Scottish agriculture by providing FREE practical, emotional, and financial support.
Call: 0808 1234 555
Open Hours: available 24 hours
Email: helpline@rsabi.org.uk
Chat Online: https://www.rsabi.org.uk/support-service/helpline-and-web-chat/
LGBT+ Helpline Scotland provides FREE emotional support and information to the entire diversity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community across Scotland.
Call: 0800 464 7000
Live Chat: lgbthealth.org.uk (a red chat box on the website)
Opening Hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays (12-9pm) and Sundays (1-6pm) or find out more
Age: 16 and over.
Gamble Aware provides free advice, tools, and support to keep people safe from gambling harm. They also offer confidential support, accessible 24/7, for individuals and families affected by gambling.
Call: 0808 8020 133
Live Chat: https://www.gambleaware.org/ (an orange chat box on the website)
Opening Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Support in your area: https://www.gambleaware.org/tools-and-support/support-in-your-area/
Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs supports anyone affected by someone else’s alcohol or drug use in Scotland, whether they are still actively using substances or in recovery, or you are bereaved.
Call: 08080 10 10 11
Email: helpline@sfad.org.uk
Support Near You: https://www.sfad.org.uk/service-directory
Contact Form: https://www.sfad.org.uk/contact
Care Information Scotland provides comprehensive information and advice about care services for adults living in Scotland, including details on rights, care home costs, and support for carers.
Call: 0800 011 3200
Live Chat: https://www.careinfoscotland.scot/ (a green chat box on the website)
Text: ‘CIS’ to 07903 588 669 for social care information and signposting to local services
Open Hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm
Lomond & Argyll Advocacy Service ‘LAAS’ is an independent, free and confidential advocacy organisation for everyone aged 16 or older. Member of the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance.
Contact: Contact Us | Lomond and Argyll Advocacy Service
Dumbarton Office: Unit 2, 32 High Street, G82 1LL. Tel: 01389 726543
Lochgilphead Office: Comraich Centre, A & B Hospital, Blarbuie Road, PA31 8LD. Tel: 01546 606056
Open Hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 4.00pm
The Charity for Civil Servants supports current, former and retired civil servants when they face tough times. They can’t prevent the tricky, stressful, sad stuff from happening but can help when it does.
Book and introduction session: Introduction talks | Charity for Civil Servants
Email: help@cfcs.org.uk
Call: 0800 056 2424 (from 10am to 1pm)
To get help you will need to register and create an account on the Self Serve Portal: CLICK HERE
Local Support
Argyll and Bute Community Directory (ABCD) is your one-stop resource for finding local groups, activities, and services tailored to your needs. Use the interactive map to easily locate services near you, or use Quick Links to quickly locate the support by category.
Search or apply filters to narrow your results, and the map and listing grid will automatically update to display relevant services.