24/7 mental health crisis support to expand across Scotland

People experiencing a mental health crisis in Scotland will have greater access to round-the-clock support under plans to expand specialist services and introduce mental health triage cars across every region.

The Scottish Government has announced a series of measures intended to provide more alternatives to A&E and ensure people experiencing distress can access appropriate mental health support at any time of day. Mental Health Triage Cars, which are already operating in Glasgow, Inverness and Dundee, will be rolled out across Scotland. The service brings together mental health and emergency response expertise to assess people in crisis and determine the most appropriate care.

The approach is intended to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and A&E attendances while also limiting situations where the police become involved because suitable mental health support is not immediately available.

Scotland’s NHS 24 Mental Health Hub will also be expanded. The service, which can be reached through NHS 24 on 111, already provides specialist mental health support 24 hours a day and currently helps around 10,000 people each month. Under the new plans, psychological therapies will be added to the support available through the hub, allowing more people to receive therapeutic intervention rather than simply being assessed and directed to another service.

The government has committed an additional £3.5 million to strengthen 24/7 mental health support, alongside wider plans to develop community-based alternatives for people experiencing a crisis. These will include further walk-in support, with five new SAMH Nook services planned to provide accessible mental health help without requiring an appointment. Safe Spaces and other community crisis services will also form part of efforts to provide alternatives to hospital emergency departments.

The changes reflect a broader attempt to intervene earlier when someone is struggling and provide support in settings better suited to mental health needs. A&E departments can be busy and distressing environments, particularly for someone experiencing an acute mental health crisis, while emergency services have repeatedly faced situations where they are responding to people whose primary need is psychological rather than medical or criminal.

Providing specialist assessment in the community could allow some people to remain at home or receive support locally, while those requiring hospital treatment can still be directed to appropriate services.

The expansion forms part of the Scottish Government’s wider plans to reform health and care services, with greater emphasis being placed on providing treatment within communities and reducing avoidable pressure on hospitals. For people experiencing a mental health crisis, however, the most significant change could be simpler: increasing the chances that specialist support is available when and where they need it, including during the night and at weekends.

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