Resources for: Stress and Worry
Stress is a common feeling we get when we feel under pressure. A small amount can be good and motivates us to meet our goals. But too much stress, when it feels out of control, can impact our mood, our wellbeing, our relationships with people around us. Reference
Breathing Space
Breathing Space is a free, confidential phoneline for anyone in Scotland over the age of 16 who is feeling low, anxious or depressed.
Helpline number: 0800 83 85 87
Web: https://breathingspace.scot/
Catch it
Catch It is a free app that helps you manage feelings like anxiety, depression, anger, or confusion . You track your mood, reflect on your thoughts, and learn how to turn thinking around, all in a simple mood diary format. It’s great for anyone aged 12+ looking to better understand and improve their mental wellbeing.
Web: https://healthwell.eani.org.uk/apps/catch-it
Crisis Counselling (Erskine Counselling)
Crisis Counselling offers free counselling therapy to children and young people in West Dunbartonshire aged 10 and over experiencing emotional and mental health difficulties. Referral through Education services.
Adults can self-refer with a cost for affordable mental health support. Support is available face-to-face or online to help with issues like anxiety, depression, and trauma.
Web: www.crisiscounselling.co.uk/
Distress Brief Intervention Service (Young person)
The Distress Brief Intervention (DBI) Service in West Dunbartonshire offers quick support to young people aged 14–24 (or up to 26 if care experienced) who are in distress. If you're struggling with issues like anxiety, low mood, self-harm, panic attacks, or low self-esteem, your GP or someone at your school or college can refer you.
You’ll be contacted within 24 hours and supported for up to 14 days by a friendly practitioner who will help you manage your current challenges and feel more in control.
Web: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64l1JrM8Tio
Feartools
A free app for older teens or young adults featuring an anxiety test, relaxing music, guided meditation, TED talks, a thought diary and ideas for activities to help when you’re feeling anxious.
Web: www.feartools.com/
Feeling Good
Feeling Good offers Positive Mental Training audio programmes which can help you feel better, lift your mood and recover from stress, anxiety and depression by building resilience and developing positive feelings.
Web: www.feelinggood.app/
Happify
Happify is an app with fun games, quizzes, and mindfulness tasks to help young people (11 to 19) feel better, reduce stress, and boost their mood. It lets you pick tracks that match what you’re going through, like worry, confidence, or sleep, and works at your own pace. The free version includes lots you can do, though some extra features cost money.
Web: www.happify.com/
Headspace
An app and website packed with guided meditations, mindfulness tools, sleep soundscapes, and stress-management exercises.It’s great for learning to manage everyday worries, improve sleep, or just take a mental break.There is a free version with limited content, and a subscription gives access to the full library.
Web: https://www.headspace.com/
KIDS - Kids Independently Developing Skills
A helpful site with easy-to-understand health advice for kids, parents, and carers. Find tips on keeping your child healthy, spotting common illnesses, and knowing when to get extra help. You can find out about attending hospital and clinic appointments, with examples of children and young people’s experiences with health services. There are also links to supporting websites and other sources of help.
Web: www.nhsggc.org.uk/kids/
Lifelink
A confidential counselling service accessed through West Dunbartonshire secondary schools, where young people can chat to a counsellor to help manage personal and social issues which may be affecting their life.
Web: https://www.lifelink.org.uk/
Living Life
A free, confidential phone service for people in Scotland aged 16+ who need support with low mood, depression or anxiety. It offers guided self-help and CBT-based therapy sessions with trained professionals.
Helpline number: 0800 328 9655
Web: www.breathingspace.scot/living-life/
Mind Yer Time
Designed by children and young people, the site offers tips, stories and practical information on screen time, online wellbeing and related topics, with content suitable for young people and helpful links for adults too.
Web: www.mindyertime.scot/
MindEd
A free UK NHS-backed online learning and resource hub offering mental health education and advice for adults. It provides trusted information and e-learning to help parents, carers, professionals and volunteers understand and support the mental health of children, young people, adults and older adults.
Web: www.minded.org.uk/
Mood Gym
An online self-help program designed to help users prevent and manage symptoms of depression and anxiety. It is like an interactive, online self-help book which teaches skills based on cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). You can log back in to at any time to learn more skills or to add to your workbooks and diaries.
Web: www.moodgym.com.au/
Moodtools
A free app for managing depression with a mood tracker, videos, meditations and more.
Web: www.moodtools.org/
NHS Inform
NHS inform is Scotland's national health information service helping the people in Scotland to make informed decisions about their own health and the health of the people they care for. Also includes a service directory with details of health and wellbeing services across Scotland.
Web: www.nhsinform.scot
NHS24
The 111 service provides urgent care triage if you think you need A&E but its not life-threatening, and advice when your GP, pharmacy or dental practice is closed.
Web: www.nhs24.scot/
No panic
Provides a youth and adult helpline and services offering support for people experiencing anxiety, panic attacks, phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The site provides a youth hub, self-help resources, information, online support groups and a helpline to help individuals understand their anxiety and find practical ways to manage it.
Helpline number: 0300 772 9844
Web: www.nopanic.org.uk
SafeSpot
SafeSpot is designed to help you through tough spots. It gives you your own personalised coping plan, useful strategies and tools to help and directions to local resources to help you - all at your fingertips. Includes information on a range of mental health issues on the 'safespotopedia'.
Web: www.safespot.org.uk/
Samaritans
A 24 hour support service for anyone who’s struggling to cope, who needs someone to listen without judgement or pressure.
Web: www.samaritans.org
Self-help App for the Mind (SAM)
A simple app to help you manage anxiety, depression and loneliness, with breathing exercises, an anxiety tracker and distraction feature, which is helpful if you’re feeling panicky.
Web: www.mindgarden-tech.co.uk/
SHOUT Crisis text service
Shout is the UK's first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.
Helpline number: 85258 free text support service
Web: www.giveusashout.org/
Smiling Mind
Smiling Mind is a unique tool developed by psychologists and educators to help bring balance to your life through daily meditation and mindfulness exercises which you can practice from any device.
Web: www.smilingmind.com.au/smiling-mind-app
stem4 - supporting teenage mental health
Stem4 promotes positive mental health in teenagers and those who support them. Discover stem4's free guides to manage mental health issues, free supportive apps and mental health videos.
Web: www.stem4.org.uk/
Stepping Stones
Help for people over 16 years old in West Dunbartonshire who are experiencing common mental health difficulties such as depression, anxiety or stress. Stepping Stones also offers a Bereavement and Loss support service.
Phone: 0141 941 2929
Web: www.stepstones.org.uk
The Mix
The Mix is a UK based charity that provides free, confidential support for young people under 25 via online, social and mobile.
Phone: 0808 808 4994
Web: www.themix.org.uk/
Time for You - SAMH support service
Time for You is an online wellbeing support service for anyone experiencing mild to moderate emotional or mental health difficulties aged 16 and over and living in Scotland. Time for You offers access to Wellbeing Coaching and Counselling for anyone experiencing symptoms that have a limited effect on their daily life.
Web: www.samh.org.uk/about-us/our-work/time-for-you?mc_cid=00f4aeddf4&mc_eid=abf485ff65
Worry Tree
WorryTree helps you record, manage and problem solve your worries and anxiety based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques.
Web: www.worry-tree.com/worrytree-mobile-app
OCD UK
Advice, information, and support services for those affected by Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD), and campaign to end the trivialisation and stigma of OCD.
Phone: 01332 588112
Web: www.ocduk.org/
Anxiety UK
Anxiety UK is a national charity dedicated to supporting people living with anxiety disorders and phobias.
They offer a 24/7 free Self-care Infoline, along with a texting service (07537 416 905), email support, peer-led groups, courses, and a helpful chatbot—providing practical guidance and reassurance whenever you need it .
Helpline number: 03444 775 774
Web: www.anxietyuk.org.uk/
Heads Up Mental Health Support
NHS GGC page that gives reliable information and help for people in Greater Glasgow and Clyde who are dealing with mental health challenges. It explains conditions, support options, and treatment paths, and includes materials in British Sign Language. The site shows how to connect with local NHS teams, find help in a crisis, and access both professional services and self-help tools.
Web: www.nhsggc.scot/your-health/heads-up-mental-health-support/
The Scottish Refugee Council
A charity dedicated to supporting people in need of refugee protection.
Helpline number: 0808 1967 274
Web: www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk/
Feeling Good Teens
Feeling Good offers Positive Mental Training audio programmes which can help you feel better, lift your mood and recover from stress, anxiety and depression by building resilience and developing positive feelings.
Web: https://www.feelinggood.app/teens-download/
The Anxious Child
The Anxious Child is a booklet guide for parents about supporting a child experiencing anxiety.
Credit; The Mental Health Foundation
Web: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/publications/anxious-child
Get Self Help
This website provides resources for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT).
CBT has been proven to help mental health problems. This website provides CBT self help and therapy resources, including worksheets and information sheets, plus videos and self help mp3s.
Web: https://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/
Anger - a self help guide
Do you get frustrated and annoyed by the slightest thing?
Do you find yourself saying hurtful things when someone has annoyed you?
Have you damaged or thrown things because you were so furious?
Have you been physically aggressive towards someone?
If the answer to any of these questions is ‘yes’, you may be experiencing problems relating to
anger and you may find this workbook helpful.
Web: https://www.mcgill.ca/counselling/files/counselling/anger_moodjuice_self-help_guide.pdf
Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution
SCCR is a charity based in Edinburgh, Scotland with expertise in mediation. Their award-winning digital resources and free training and events improve understanding of conflict and emotional needs, to transform relationships and lives. The SCCR focuses on early intervention with young people and their families experiencing difficulties and conflict.
Web: https://www.scottishconflictresolution.org.uk/
Mentor Scotland
A peer-to-peer support group in West Dunbartonshire for people aged 16+, offering a safe, non-judgemental space to share experiences and challenge mental health stigma. They run a range of wellbeing activities and talking groups, including meditation, walks, sports, and regular drop-in and peer support sessions.
End the stigma ❤️
.
Phone: 07470 461685
Web: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086874550111
SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health)
Whether you’re living with a mental health problem or supporting someone who is, accessing information about a condition is vital. SAMH provides resources, support and online information to help.
Helpline number: 0344 800 0550
Web: https://www.samh.org.uk/
Daylight App
Daylight is a free NHS-approved app for adults in Scotland to help manage anxiety using cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). It offers short, daily exercises tailored to your needs, aiming to reduce worry and improve wellbeing over time. It's not for under-18s or those in crisis but can be a helpful tool for managing mild to moderate anxiety.
You can start today! (first part of your postcode is required when you sign up)
Web: https://onboarding.trydaylight.com/daylight/nhs/144#1/1
Mentally Healthy Schools
Mentally Healthy Schools from Anna Freud brings together quality-assured mental health resources, information and advice for primary and secondary schools and further education settings in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Web: https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/?
Action for Happiness
Action for Happiness is a movement focused on building a happier, kinder world. It offers practical resources, daily actions, and free monthly calendars to support mental wellbeing and positive relationships for individuals, families, and communities.
Web: https://actionforhappiness.org/?
Silvercloud
A website with courses you can do to improve your mental wellbeing. You can learn new ways to deal with the challenges you’re facing. Courses are available for students (16yrs+), adults, and parents/carers.
It is free, use the code Scotland2020 and an email address to sign up.
Web: https://wellbeing.silvercloudhealth.com/onboard/nhsscotland/
Improving Lives West Dunbartonshire
They believe everyone should be able to access the support and information they need quickly and easily. They are also passionate about making sport accessible to everyone.
Phone: 0141 237 4560
Web: https://www.improvinglives.co.uk/?
NHSGGC Mental Health Improvement Resources for Early Years, Schools and Youth Providers
This comprehensive document gathers some resources listed individually on this site and more! It shares a range of suggested resources (curricular packs, toolkits, guidance etc) 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.
Web: https://www.nhsggc.scot/downloads/mental-health-resources-for-schools-and-organisations/?
Hollie Guard app
A free personal safety app from the Hollie Gazzard Trust. It lets you discreetly send an alert by shaking your phone or tapping a button that shares your location and live audio/video with your emergency contacts. Features include journey tracking, meeting timers, fall detection, and “stealth” or “deterrent” modes to help you stay safe in risky situations.
Web: https://hollieguard.com/
Think Positive
A leading initiative dedicated to supporting student mental health across Scotland that empowers students to access trusted resources, challenge stigma, and build a more positive, supportive campus community.
Web: https://thinkpositive.scot/
Social Workers' Toolbox
a free online collection of printable tools and resources for work with children and young people, adults and families. If offers worksheets, guides, posters and activity sheets designed to support emotional wellbeing and assessment in professional or educational settings.
Web: https://www.socialworkerstoolbox.com/