Breathing Space provides a confidential phone line and web-based service for issues on mental health and wellbeing. It is aimed at young men but not exclusively, and also family, partners and friends who are concerned.
It offers assistance at an early stage in order to stop problems escalating, as well as empathy, understanding and advice through active listening. It attempts to instil hope when none exists. It provides direction for those who do not know where to seek help.
Contact Details
- Telephone: 0800 83 85 87
- Hours of service: Mon - Thurs 6pm to 2am; Fri - Sun 6pm till 6am
- Website: Breathing Space Scotland
Helpline Advice
When a young person calls Breathing Space, they will be able to talk to one of the specialist advisers who come from a range of mental health, counselling and social work backgrounds. A young person can ask to speak specifically to a man or a woman. People of all ages and backgrounds contact Breathing Space and they treat each call with patience and respect. Breathing Space helps people to explore their problems but will also give advice and recommend local and national services. Only in extreme situations will Breathing Space seek to intervene via emergency services.
Referrals
The advisers offer advice and, if appropriate, give referrals to agencies that can help with more specific problems in your local area. If you are phoning it may be helpful to have a pen and paper handy in case the advisor gives you any practical help with phone numbers, addresses, etc.
Breathing Space may suggest that a young person contact their GP who can offer help to get other kinds of support.
Outwith Breathing Space Hours of Service
If a young person is feeling distressed, in a state of despair, suicidal or needs emotional support out with the hours of service, they can contact Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90. Their call will be confidential and will be taken by a trained Samaritans volunteer. The phone line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Breathing Space is free to phone from landlines and mobile networks Vodaphone, Orange, Virgin and 3. The phone number won't show up in telephone bills. Other mobile networks will charge for calls to Breathing Space and calls will be listed in telephone bills. If you let the advisers know, they can phone you back in order to save your mobile phone charge.
Ongoing Support
If the call lasts a while, this is okay. The adviser, on feeling that a young person has talked through their concern sufficiently, will bring the call to an end, but if a young person feels they would benefit from speaking more they can call again on another occasion. People can call repeatedly but Breathing Space try to limit and encourage people to phone once per day at most. Apart from being able to continue using the service Breathing Space does not provide ongoing support like case work or a counselling contract with sessions. People access the service as a helpline, anonymous, confidential and when they need to do so. Breathing Space does not offer the opportunity to call back and request a particular advisor.
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