Young teenagers in Scotland are to benefit from a pioneering mental health initiative which aims to help those in distress.
The Distress Brief Interventions (DBI) project was set up as a pilot scheme two years ago to offer support to patients at GP practices or accident and emergency units.
The scheme, which is being trialled in Lanarkshire, the Borders, Inverness and Aberdeen until 2021, has helped almost 3,000 people since then, although it is currently available only to those aged 18 and over. From this summer it will be extended to teenagers aged 16 and 17.
Under the initiative, specially trained staff help people to manage difficult emotions and problem situations early on, coming up with a “distress plan” to help prevent future mental health