Winter can be a time of celebration and connection with the people around us. However, the winter months can also bring up some difficult emotions, and as things get colder and darker, we can often start to feel the strain on our wellbeing. This year may feel particularly challenging for many of us, with everything going on in the world right now. That’s why we’ve once again focused this booklet on the Scots idea of ‘coorying in’. Coorie means to nestle in or hunker down, and these days, it means seeking warmth, cosiness, and good company, however dreich and dreary it gets outside. It means finding joy and comfort in the small pleasures – and that’s what we want to help you do with this booklet! As well tips and advice on a range of support and helpful contacts across the city, we’ve collected some great wellbeing tips for you to try at home, and we also invited friends and colleagues to share things to make and do this winter.

This booklet has been produced in partnership by Thrive Edinburgh and Health in Mind. Many thanks to our colleagues across Edinburgh who have contributed to the booklet and shared their ideas and resources. Thank you to NHS Lothian Charity for their generous contribution which has supported the printing of this booklet.

https://ithriveedinburgh.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Coorie-In-2024-Final.pdf

Thrive Edinburgh are providing drop-in clinics for people aged 18-64 at the surgery on the dates and times shown below.

Please note this is on a 'first come, first served' basis as these are drop-in clinics.

Drop-in clinics in the surgery from 9am to 11am on the following Tuesdays:

• Tuesday 14th January
• Tuesday 28th January
• Tuesday 11th February
• Tuesday 25th February

The Thrive Drop-in Clinic is not a crisis service.

No appointment needed.

Open to people aged 18-64 who are registered with a GP.

Talk about your mental health and how this is affecting your life.

Learn what support is available and how to access it.

Find out about local resources in your community.

www.ithriveedinburgh.org.uk

Thrive Edinburgh have drop-in clinics at other locations and different days if you are unable to attend South Queensferry Medical Practice:

• Every Monday 1-3pm at St Stephen's Church, 10 Comely Bank Road, EH4 1DW

• Every Wednesday 1-3pm at the Rannoch Centre, 6 Rannoch Terrace, EH4 7ES

• Every Thursday 9.30-11.30am at Craigroyson Health Clinic, 1b Pennywell Road, EH4 4PH

Are you interested in self-management techniques for your mental health?

Health in Mind offer a range of courses and one-off workshops to people aged 18+ living in Edinburgh, covering a range of topics and explore different tools and strategies to help support and improve your mental health and wellbeing.

Courses and workshops are offered either in person (in a variety of locations across Edinburgh) or online (on Zoom).

Please note that sign up is required for all of their courses.

You are very welcome to make an enquiry through their website. Here is a link to their courses:

https://health-in-mind.org.uk/news/wellbeing-courses-and-workshops-edinburgh/

Accessing counselling when you are deaf, deafened, hard of hearing or deafblind works best when it reflects your communication needs.

Health in Mind understand the barriers that you can face and offer a free, confidential counselling service for those aged 18 or over who are deaf, deafened, hard of hearing or deafblind throughout Lothian. You will benefit from a counselling service specially designed to meet your needs.

Health in Mind offer counselling in British Sign Language (without an interpreter) and English. A personal loop system and communication in written English are available for people who are deafened or hard of hearing. This counselling service offers telephone and video counselling.

The service is provided in association with NHS Lothian.  

For more information, please visit https://health-in-mind.org.uk/news/lothian-deaf-counselling-service/

Medication for ADHD can include amphetamines and stimulants. These medications have a higher risk of severe side effects and long term risks and some are controlled drugs by law. For this reason they are usually initiated and prescribed by specialists.

No practices in North West Edinburgh will be prescribing ADHD medications for NEW patients from private clinics. This applies to both Adults and Children.

This does not affect patients who are already currently prescribed ADHD medication.

MENTAL HEALTH INFORMATION STATION: A one-stop-shop for anyone affected by mental health and wellbeing difficulties. It provides a source of support, information and signposting.

Telephone: 0131 537 8688

Location: Walpole Hall, Palmerston Place, Edinburgh, EH12 5AW.

https://services.nhslothian.scot/mentalhealthinformationstation/

AGEING WELL EDINBURGH: Aims to maintain and promote physical and mental health, wellbeing and quality of life for people over 50 in Edinburgh through a list of activities (Self-Referral).

Telephone: 0131 458 2260

https://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/activities/active-communities/ageing-well

THISTLE FOUNDATION: Thistle offers support to adults living with long term health conditions, long covid, or facing challenging life situations (Self-Referral).

Telephone: 0131 661 3366

https://www.thistle.org.uk/support-in-edinburgh-the-lothians-and-fife

STAFFORD CENTRE (CHANGE MENTAL HEALTH): The Stafford Centre aims to help people to manage their mental health, gain greater self-confidence and become more integrated within the community (Self-Referral).

Telephone: 0131 557 0718

https://changemh.org/

Find up to date information on the support and activities available for families across Edinburgh at

 https://services.nhslothian.scot/camhs/edinburgh/

CAMHS (Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services): CAMHS works with children and young people (5yrs -18th birthday) and their parents or carers. CAMHS provides specialist assessment/ intervention to establish clinical need and priority status (GP Referral). Website: https://services.nhslothian.scot/camhs/

Mental Health Information Station: A one-stop-shop for anyone affected by mental health and wellbeing difficulties. It provides a source of support, information, and signposting.

Telephone: 0131 537 8688

Location: Walpole Hall, Palmerston Place, Edinburgh, EH12 5AW.

Website: https://services.nhslothian.scot/mentalhealthinformationstation/

Citadel Youth Centre: Community-based youth work that creates strong links to local people and local partners (Self-Referral).

Telephone: 0131 554 0510

Website: https://citadelyouthcentre.org.uk/

CrossReach Counselling and Recovery: A counselling service for anyone 16+ affected by their own or someone else’s past or present drug use (GP & Self-Referral).

Telephone: 0131 225 6028

Website: https://www.crossreach.org.uk/our-locations/simpson-house-counselling-recovery-service

Creative Express (The Junction): Creative Express focuses on using creativity to support the health and wellbeing of local young people. The service includes one-to-one support, open access and structured groupwork, as well as outreach (Self-Referral).

Telephone: 07526 204317

Website: https://the-junction.org/creative-express/

The Sorted: Mental Health App contains a number of different audio programmes for recovery, everyday relaxation & wellbeing.

 
Good feelings make your mind function better, improving focus & concentration, making it extremely helpful for your daily life. Good feelings also help you bounce forward from setbacks and overcome challenges in your life. This is resilience, and with repetitive listening, resilience & wellbeing will grow.

Supported by Lothian NHS, the app is free to download and there are no ongoing subscriptions to pay.

For more information please visit Sorted: Mental Health App

Are you affected by mental health challenges?
Or do you care for someone who is?
Come along to this free weekly, friendly drop-in.

• Increase your understanding of mental health
• Speak with an NHS mental health professional
• Seek guidance on education and courses
• Connect with your community
• Obtain information on volunteering and work
• Meet staff from a range of community organisations

We are open for walk in visits at the Walpole Hall every Thursday from 10.30am to 3.00pm. No appointment is necessary.
Our phone service runs on Thursdays from 10.00am - 3.00pmon 0131 537 8688.

Please click on the links below for more information:

Mental Health Information Station Leaflet

Mental Health Information Station Newsletter

https://services.nhslothian.scot/mentalhealthinformationstation/

A new website has launched in a bid to help people across Scotland look after their mental wellbeing.

If you’re going through a difficult patch, feeling stressed, anxious, or low, it’s important to remember that help is available. Mind to Mind is a new website where people who have had challenges with their mental wellbeing share their experiences to help others. The website also provides practical advice on how to deal with life’s ups and downs and signposts where people can access further support. Hearing about the experiences of others can help, visit Mind to Mind.

Your online space for mental health and wellbeing information in Edinburgh:

ithrive edinburgh

The Wellbeing Lothian website has been developed to provide information, self-help resources and links to help you manage your mental health and wellbeing.

Wellbeing Lothian