Support
Where to find help

The Covid-19 has been a challenging and distressing experience for all of us in our own, individual ways.
We understand that, by taking part in The Lothian Diary Project, we may be asking you to relive some painful or upsetting moments. For this reason, we want to make sure that, if you do begin to experience some distress while taking part in this study, you know what services are available to support you.
On this page, you will find some links to websites and services that you can contact for support.
The NHS Inform website has a lot of information about how to take care of your mental wellbeing during the pandemic, as well as an extensive list of organisations to contact if you need further support.
Clear Your Head is a website provided by the Scottish Government, and contains some ideas about ways to look after your mental health on a day-to-day basis during the pandemic.
Public Health England has produced a list of recommendations about how to look after the mental wellbeing of children, young people and other vulnerable adults during Covid-19.
If you need to speak to someone quickly, the Samaritans are available 24/7.
SDAFMH provides support to those who may have been affected by domestic abuse or forced marriage in Scotland. They provide a 24h free helpline that you can call, or you can chat with them online via their website.
Mind is a UK based charity that advocates for recognition and respect for people suffering from mental health issues. They provide a wealth of information about different mental health conditions, and provide practical resources and material that can help in a variety of crises.
Rape Crisis Scotland provides support and advice to those affected by rape and sexual violence.
If you are struggling with addiction, NHS Scotland provides an extensive list of helplines and resources that can help you.