Today we publish “State of Caring: The Cost of Caring in Scotland 2025”, painting a troubling picture for Scotland’s 627,000 unpaid carers, with significant costs to their financial security, health, employment and opportunities.
We look forward to working further with partners on the development of DBI for children and young people.
Read the report below (with thanks to @stir.ac.uk, @childreninscotland.bsky.social & @natcen.bsky.social) 👇
We have been delivering DBI to children and young people in Highland.
Scottish Government have published an independent evaluation on this pilot, stating that DBI can be an effective intervention to reducing distress and offering compassionate help for this group.
🧵
Free mental health training taster sessions, available only this Autumn!
Explore 30-minute tasters on resilience, burnout, supportive conversations, menopause and workplace performance.
Step back & take away practical strategies 👇
www.eventbrite.com/cc/change-me...
“Today’s news of an 11% decrease in the numbers of probable suicides in Scotland is good news. “That number represents dozens of people still alive today who might not have been in years past. This is a testament to the incredible work happening on suicide prevention across Scotland. “We should celebrate but we also must remember that there is still a lot more to do.
“Far too many people still take their lives by suicide and every death in this way is a preventable tragedy. We need to remember the impact that such deaths can have on friends, families and communities. “There needs to be continued funding and support for Scotland’s suicide prevention strategy, of which Change Mental Health is proud to be one of the outcome leads for, and we must ensure that people get the support they need, when they need it and in a way which works for them.” Nick Ward, CEO, Change Mental Health.
Today's data from National Records of Scotland has revealed 704 probable suicides in 2024, a 11% decrease from the previous year.
While we welcome this reduction, there is still a lot more to do in Scotland.
Read our statement below in the graphics.
Blue background with white circle that says within it, "Mental health partnership manifesto calls for urgent action." Scotland's Mental Health Partnership logo at the bottom right.
Scotland is in a mental health emergency.
Scotland's Mental Health Partnership, with 17 organisations, has launched its manifesto today, calling for urgent investment and early intervention & prevention.
The time for talking is over. It's time for action.
Read the full manifesto 👇
www.smhp.scot
We are relieved that our services in Edinburgh, including our Stafford Centre, are safeguarded for now.
Today's decision by the EIJB means we will be involved in a recommissioning process, but there is work to be done to ensure better collaboration equals better outcomes.
Read our statement 👇
Pink background, Change Mental Health logo at the top right. Quote mark above text. "Children and young people are still not getting the support they need and when they need it. We still want a future where they aren’t put on waiting lists and instead accessing early intervention, community-based support that stops poor mental health from escalating."
Pink background, Change Mental Health logo at the top right. “But waiting over 1000 days for support is completely unacceptable and there needs to be targeted action from the Scottish Government to stop this from happening. “Wherever children and young people are in Scotland, they deserve timely, high quality support. We know there are other options, such as funding third sector organisations to intervene and support early, meaning children and young people don’t need to access CAMHS. We just need local and national government to fund them.” White shape at the bottom right. Text within says 'Nick Ward, CEO, Change Mental Health
Some children and young people are waiting over 1000 days for mental health support.
This isn't good enough. We need to change the way we think about how we support children and young people with their mental health.
Read the response from our CEO, Nick Ward 👇
‘Action needed now to avert health and social care crisis in Scotland’, over 200 third sector leaders urge First Minister in open letter, published in today’s Herald on Sunday. @heraldscotland.bsky.social
Read the open letter to the First Minister & key calls:
www.ccpscotland.org/ccps-news/action-needed-now-to-avert-health-and-social-care-crisis-in-scotland-sector-leaders-urge-first-minister-in-open-letter/
@r-cackett.bsky.social
@crossreach.bsky.social
@thistlefoundation.bsky.social
@changemh.org
Four people outside a Change Mental Health service called The Stafford Centre. Three people are holding a blue sign which says SAVE THE STAFFORD CENTRE.
Two people looking at artwork on the wall.
Two people looking at a book outside.
One person looking at someone talking, while she talks to someone else.
We were pleased to be joined by @cajardinemp.bsky.social
at our Stafford Centre last week.
Christine learned more about the transformational support we deliver in Edinburgh that is currently under threat with proposed cuts by the EIJB.
Read her @scotsman.org column today 👇
buff.ly/HfJGGWv
A board that says 'SAVE THE STAFFORD CENTRE' with a navy blue background and the Change Mental Health logo at the top right. A QR Code at the bottom right appears with 'sign the petition'.
Our Stafford Centre in Edinburgh is under threat.
Proposed cuts by the EIJB would effectively end community mental health support in the city. This cannot happen.
Sign the petition and urge the EIJB to stop these cuts 👇
buff.ly/0WNd2HG
Two people posing for a photo and one person holding a framed motion.
Someone presenting at the front and many people sitting down watching.
Someone presenting and holding a zine while people watch
Someone presenting with a piece of paper in their hand and the other person watching them, also with a piece of paper in their hand.
🎈 Our Hearing Voices service has turned 30!
We gathered in Kirkcaldy last week to celebrate a service that has challenged stigma and continued to support people every day across Fife for three decades.
Read more about it 👇
buff.ly/sg40iJ8
Series 2 - Movement in Conversation
This podcast episode follows Change Mental Health and how they’re supporting people living with long-term health conditions to move more across Scotland.
www.movementforhealth.scot/podcast-epis...
#MovementInConversation #MentalHealth @changemh.org
Need more information?
Call our Advice and Support Service on 0808 8010 515 or contact advice@changemh.org. It's open 10am to 4pm from Monday to Friday.
Read more about weather and mental health ⤵️
Change Mental Health logo at the top right with a yellow background. Sun icon in pink in the middle. Text reads: "There's some hot weather at the moment. Stay cool and hydrated, self-care is important and get support if needed."
🌡️ With highs of 25°c this weekend, hotter weather can be exciting but it's important to stay safe.
Certain medication means your body might not regulate heat well.
Stay cool, drink water and find shade. But most importantly, try and enjoy it!
“If the Forum didn’t exist, we would have to create it just to be able to effectively consult with people in rural and island parts of Scotland.” Graphic in the bottom half features three people next to a sign that says 'National Rural and Islands Mental Health Forum'.
“The National Rural and Islands Mental Health Forum is an extremely informative, beneficial and connecting resource, to enable a wide range of organisations that work with rural communities to come together and review the needs of communities. “It is a great resource for RSABI to have,to find ways to support those in rural and island communities.” Josie Barclay, RSABI
“The National Rural and Islands Mental Health Forum has been a great place to meet with those invested in wellbeing within the rural environment of Scotland. “It has helped us connect with partners outwith the agricultural community we weren’t aware of and it has a created a platform for sharing best practice, sharing success stories and shining a light on unique challenges within the sector and rural societies.” Alix Ritchie, Farmstrong Scotland
“Presenting at the National Rural and Islands Mental Health Forum provided us with the opportunity to engage with other charities and organisations in rural Scotland, increasing our connections and our understanding of rural issues in relation to mental health. “By collaborating through the Forum, we have a greater understanding of these issues and we are now building this into our campaigning and advocacy work.” Sarah Tilsted & Tom O'Connor, The Patients Association
🪧 The National Rural and Islands Mental Health Forum impact report is out!
With a membership of around 300 organisations and an outreach to over 500,000 people across rural and island communities, the Forum is called "invaluable" and "necessary".
Read the impact report 👇
www.changemh.org/forum
Many people in a room holding Change Mental Health signs and smiling for the camera.
Two people talking to each other at an event with balloons behind them.
A bunch of people in a room posing for a photo with a pop-up banner next to them and a yellow coloured table in front with leaflets decorating the table.
Many of our services hosted an open day for partners in Inverness this week! 👥
As well as showing the incredible work we do across local and national services, our teams got a good opportunity to catch up in person.
Find out more about our work 👇
www.changemh.org/need-support
“We are encouraged to see prevention at the heart of the Scottish Government’s fiscal and policy agenda moving forward. The benefits to both lives and budgets if crisis can be avoided are obvious. We desperately need to heed the call of the Christie Commission 14 years later, and finally see wholescale system shift towards preventing social ills in the first place. “We need to see local delivery meet national ambition: starting right here in Edinburgh, with the cancellation of proposed cuts to community mental health services by the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board.” Nick Ward, CEO, Change Mental Health
We are encouraged to see prevention at the heart of the Scottish Government's fiscal and policy agenda.
But we need to see local delivery meet national ambition. That means starting in Edinburgh by cancelling the proposed cuts to community mental health services by the EIJB.
A black and white picture of the Palace of Westminster with text We need Scottish MPs to vote against the unjust cuts to disability and incapacity benefits, Justice and compassion demand it.
People want a government that believes in justice and compassion. That’s why we need Scottish MPs to stand up for social security. #WeDemandBetter
www.povertyalliance.org/news-more-th...
Three people next to a pop-out banner that says 'national rural and islands mental health forum'
Six people inside and outside a colourful Change Mental Health gazebo in pink and yellow and some people holding signs.
A fantastic first day at the Royal Highland Show with our very colourful stand 🎪
We're here all weekend until Sunday talking about rural and islands mental health, training and how you can make it everyone's business to tackle mental health.
Join us on 7th Avenue. Let's chat 💬
In a world that rarely slows down, yoga offers more than just movement.
Through shared rituals, quiet reflection and playful classes, it creates space to breathe, belong and reset.
Learn from our friends at Tribe Yoga how belonging supports mental health 👇
📖 We've refreshed A Menu of Questions for Carers with @carerstrustscot.bsky.social on #CarersWeek!
This practical resource equips carers with the right questions to ask: enabling them to feel informed, empowered and supported.
Read more 👇
You don’t need to be an expert to make a difference. All you need is time, compassion and the willingness to connect.
This #VolunteersWeek, we’re celebrating the listeners, the doers and anyone who’s made space for someone else.
Read more and contribute today 👇
We are pleased that the EIJB seemed to listen at the Thrive public meeting on Monday, pushing back their decision to August.
Now we need the EIJB to work and engage with the third sector to find solutions that will not leave some of the most vulnerable people behind.
Make your voice heard to ensure that we, along with Thrive partners, can stop these cuts that will effectively end community mental health support in Edinburgh.
Sign the petition 👇
Someone talking into a microphone with four panel members next to him.
A man talking at a lectern with a presentation in the background that says Let Edinburgh Thrive.
Four people at a panel with one person talking.
A member of the crowd asking a question into the microphone.
"It is quite literally life-saving... there could be suicides, because people have nowhere else to go."
The Thrive Collective came together at a public meeting yesterday to show that cutting community mental health services in Edinburgh is a false economy.
Let Edinburgh Thrive.
Our pioneering partnership with @kingdomhousing.bsky.social was spotlighted in @ihmanagement.bsky.social 📰
The service supports tenants to have better mental health outcomes and live independently through holistic, person-centred support.
Read more 👇
Mental health support cuts don’t save money! They shift the cost to hospitals, crisis teams and lives lost.
We’re standing with our Thrive partners to stop £2.2M in cuts across Edinburgh.
You can help us too by signing the petition 👇
www.change.org/p/stop-menta...
Photo has two women - one talking and one listening to someone else. Change Mental Health logo at the top right. Text in red branded shape reads 'come along to our Perth open day. Wednesday 4th June, 12pm to 4pm. Unit 1, Methven Mews, Perth, PH1 5NX. Visit Change Mental Health’s Tayside base in Perth and see firsthand how we support people across your local community. This is where mental health support happens every day, where lives are changed through connection, care and person-centred help."
📅 Come along to our Perth Open Day on 4th June!
Visit our Tayside base to explore and learn more about where we deliver mental health support across different services every day.
Sign up 👇
buff.ly/pamYgAj
