Resources for: Body Image and Eating Disorders
Eating disorders change someone’s attitude towards food and their body in a way that influences their behaviour and eating habits. This can cause the person to spend a lot of time thinking about weight and body shape, and do things like avoid eating as much as possible, or exercise more than is healthy. This can affect the person physically, mentally, and socially. Reference
See a list of supports and services below.
Beat Eating Disorders
Beat (Beat Eating Disorders UK) is the UK’s leading eating disorder charity offering free support, resources, online chatrooms, peer support, workshops, and educational materials to help individuals and their families understand and recover from conditions like anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, ARFID, and more . Their HelpFinder directory connects users to local NHS or voluntary services, and they provide virtual workshops and training for carers and professionals
Helpline number: 0808 801 0432 (open 3–8 pm, Mon–Fri)
Web: www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/
Brave
BRAVE Online is a free, fun programme that helps kids and teens (ages 3–17) learn how to manage worries and feel less anxious. You go through 10 easy online sessions with cool activities that teach you how to relax, think positively, and handle tricky feelings. Plus, there’s friendly support from a therapist by email to help you along the way! And there’s help for parents too.
Web: www.brave-online.com/
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/
Ditch the Label
A youth charity for ages 12–25, offering support with bullying, mental health, identity, relationships, and growing up. Through free online advice, safe spaces, and digital mentoring, young people can explore challenges and find help in a non-judgmental environment. The site also features real stories, practical guides, and tools to build confidence and self-esteem.
Web: www.ditchthelabel.org/
Eating Disorders Support
A free app with reliable information, self-care tools, and links to local and national support for anyone affected by eating disorders. Developed with experts and people with lived experience, it includes a Calm Zone and tips for managing thoughts and emotions. 17+ years.
Web: www.expertselfcare.com/eating-disorder-support-app/
Fumble
A friendly, youth-led charity providing free online resources about sex, relationships, and mental health. Their guides, created by young people for young people, help build confidence and understanding around consent, identity, and sexual health.
Web: www.fumble.org.uk/
Health Talks
Healthtalk’s Young People section shares real stories about health and wellbeing challenges like depression, eating disorders, diabetes, and more. Through videos, young people talk honestly about their experiences to help others feel less alone and find support.
Web: https://healthtalk.org/young-people/
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/
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/
NHS GGC Healthy Minds resources
This awareness-raising resource from NHS GGC aims to promote basic awareness and understanding of mental health and topics that are associated with and can impact on mental health and wellbeing.
It is a cascading and capacity building resource that aims to support partners and organisations deliver on the public mental health agenda. The focus of Healthy Minds is prevention and early intervention.
The sessions can be delivered in person or online.
Web: www.nhsggc.scot/hospitals-services/services-a-to-z/mental-health-improvement/healthy-minds-resource/
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
Recovery Record
Eating disorder management from the privacy of your mobile phone. Includes a log for how you feel, and suggestions for positive thoughts and coping strategies. Set yourself goals and choose coping skills that you think might work for you. There are guided meditations which you can pair with images of your choice.
Web: www.recoveryrecord.co.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
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/
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
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/
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/
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/
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/?
Parenting Mental Health
PMH is one of the few charities in the UK that specifically helps parents who are supporting a child with mental health challenges and whose needs and impact for positive change are all too often overlooked. Current support includes the Partnering not Parenting programme, a safe Facebook community with a variety of sub-groups to reduce isolation, Listening Circles, online support groups, as well as respite care. The work they do equips parents to deal with and cope more effectively with their situation, provides access to free resources, enables more appropriate support, better help for their child and improved mental health within the family.
Web: https://www.parentingmentalhealth.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/
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/?