Crisis lines

If you are struggling in Scotland, or in the wider UK, help is always available, whether for emotional support, emergency support, debt advice, and more. The following are details of agencies that can help:

BREAK THE SILENCE (Scotland)
A local support to 16+ where self-harming is linked to adult survivors of child sexual abuse.
Info@breakthesilence.org.uk
0141 2292580 or 0131 4752380

PENUMBRA (Scotland)
A Scottish voluntary organisation working within the field of mental health.
www.penumbra.org.uk

CHOOSE LIFE (Scotland)
A National strategy and action plan to prevent suicide in Scotland.
www.chooselife.net
08000684141

PAPYRUS
Working towards prevention of young suicide.
www.papyrus-uk.org

BREATHING SPACE (Scotland)
A free, confidential phone helpline for those experiencing low mood/depression. Mon-Thurs (6pm -2am) / Fri-Sun (6pm -6am).
0800838587
www.breathingspacescotland.co.uk

YOUNG MINDS
Info about young people’s mental health.
08008025544 (parent helpline)
www.youngminds.org.uk

MIND (UK)
www.mind.org.uk
0300 123 3393
(Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day)

SAMARITANS (UK and Ireland)
Provide a 24 hour confidential helpline for those in crisis or who may need to talk.
116 123 (free, UK and Ireland)
www.samaritans.org

HOPELINE UK
Prevention of Young Suicide
https://papyrus-uk.org/hopelineuk
0800 068 4141

CRUSE (UK)
Bereavement helpline
https://www.cruse.org.uk
0808 808 1677

SHELTER (UK)
Help and advice if homeless
www.shelter.org.uk
0808 800 4444

CHILDREN 1st (Scotland)
www.children1st.org.uk
08000 28 22 33

NSPCC (UK)
www.nspcc.org.uk
0808 800 5000

CHILDLINE (UK)
www.childline.org.uk
0800 1111

RAPE CRISIS SCOTLAND
www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk
08088 01 03 02

RAPE CRISIS (England and Wales)
https://rapecrisis.org.uk
0808 802 9999

AGE UK
https://www.ageuk.org.uk
0800 055 6112

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (UK)
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
0800 9177 650

SILVERLINE (UK)
Help for Older People
www.thesilverline.org.uk
0800 470 8090

NATIONAL DEBTLINE (UK)
0808 808 4000
www.nationaldebtline.org
(NB: "Our phone lines and webchat will be closing at 12:30 on Christmas Eve and will open again at 9:00 on 2nd January 2020.")

CITIZENS ADVICE (UK)
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
NB: Select relevant nation from home page

Having worked in the past as a caseworker for both the Scottish and UK parliaments, I know from experience that contacting your local elected parliamentary representative in total confidence can certainly help in certain situations (although they cannot intervene with legal cases). You can find details of your local MSP or MP at https://www.theyworkforyou.com. For Scotland, your local MSP details can also be sourced from https://www.parliament.scot/msps.aspx.

Chris