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.
Find Support
Age Scotland is the Scottish charity for older people. They work to improve the lives of everyone over the age of 50 and promote their rights and interests.
Call: 0800 12 44 222
Email: helpline@agescotland.org.uk
Open Hours: Monday-Friday, 9-5pm
Become a Member: Membership | Age Scotland
The Silver Line Helpline run by Age UK is a free, 24-hour telephone service for older people across the UK. They offer friendship, conversation, and support for people aged 55 or over, especially those who may be experiencing feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Call: 0800 4 70 80 90
Open Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Volunteering Opportunities: Volunteer with The Silver Line
Alzheimer Scotland provides support and information to people with dementia, their carers and families, they campaign for the rights of people with dementia and fund vital dementia research.
24 hour Freephone Dementia Helpline: 0808 808 3000
Email: helpline@alzscot.org
Find Nearest Dementia Resource Centre: Find support near you | Alzheimer Scotland
National Dementia Advisor Service: call 0300 373 5774 from Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm
Carr Gomm is a leading Scottish social care and community development charity. They offer a variety of support services for older people throughout Scotland.
Call: 0300 666 3030
Get in Touch Online: Contact Us - Carr Gomm
Watch about service in Argyll and Bute: https://youtu.be/EXrdDVBFVGE
Carr Gomm Services Map: Our Service Locations - Carr Gomm
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.
Key Helplines
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.
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.
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.
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.