Breathing Space and NHS Living Life

Mission Statement

Breathing Space is a free, confidential phone and web based service for people in Scotland experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety.

We are here in times of difficulty to provide a safe and supportive space by listening, offering advice and information.

It is our belief and hope that by empowering people they will have the resources to recover.

Breathing Space is a COSCA (Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland) recognised counselling skills organisation.

Call Volume

• Circa 7000 answered calls per month • Total calls – 650,000 since February ‘04 • Open between 6pm and 2am Mon – Thurs. From 6pm Fri to 6am Mon • Calls average 20 mins • 90% average call answer Inverness Caledonian FC support Breathing Space

Reasons for Calling

• Depression • Relationship difficulties • Alcohol and drugs • Gender Identity/Sexuality • Self-harm • Abuse • Bereavement • Unemployment/Debt • Prison Issues • Anxiety/Stress • Trauma • Mental Health Problems • Rurality • Isolation & Loneliness • Spiritual/Existentialist

Scene from previous TV Advert

Developments and Partnerships

• BSL Deaf Service • MH Strategy – Commitment 6 • Formal Partnerships: Scottish Huntington's, Princess Royal Trust for Carers; MacMillan Cancer Support; Veterans 1 • BS Day 2013 • Men’s 10k 2013 • Women’s 10k 2013 st Motherwell FC; RNIB.

• Website development • Digital TV/NHS Inform point; Glasgow’s Helping Heroes; • Gay 5k 2013/ Combat Stress 5k • Hearts and Heroes : May 2012

NHS Living Life

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Service (CBT) which includes: • 7 Health Boards for CBT (Lothian, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Borders, Highland, Western Isles, Shetland and Orkney plus Occ Health NHS 24 and GJNH) • Free National Guided Self Help service • GP Referrals and self referrals • PHQ 9 and GAD 7 assessments • Evaluation by Scottish School of Primary Care August 2010

Feedback

“

Without the help offered by Living Life I would have been unable to identify and deal with issues that needed to be dealt with. Living Life has aided my recovery." "I was able to work on tools and mind-set to help me deal with the life stresses that came my way.“ "I feel much happier. I am now a much stronger and more confident person."

"It gave me confidence to get out of the door. I felt happy that I didn't have to visit the surgery. Confidentiality was very important to me and the weekly talks were great. I was able to see progress."

“The first time was really helpful, I was at a very low point and he (advisor) got where I was coming from and each point I made, he reacted to what I said and it was as if he had suffered depression himself or had been dealing with or worked with depressed people for a very long time, he had a deep understanding……”