Mental Health: key points
- Two aspects of mental health are considered on these pages: mental wellbeing (positive mental health) and mental health problems.
- In 2022, on the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) that measures mental wellbeing among adults and teenagers, the mean score for Scottish adults aged 16+ was 47.0. This is the lowest recorded in the time series (2008-2022). The WEMWBS scale runs from 14 (the lowest level of wellbeing) to 70 (the highest).
- Twenty seven percent of those aged 16+ years in Scotland in 2022 had a General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) score of 4 or more, an indicator of potential mental health problems. This is an increase from 22% in 2021.
- In 2021/22, 17% of adults reported having two or more symptoms of anxiety, 13% reported two or more symptoms of depression, and 10% reported having previously self-harmed.
Some of the data presented in the following Mental Health pages were collected through the Scottish Health Survey. In 2020, Scottish Health Survey data were gathered via telephone interview for the first time, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, the results are not directly comparable with the survey results from previous or current years, so we have omitted figures from the 2020 Scottish Health Survey across the following Mental Health pages.
Mental health: Finding support
Support for your mental health and wellbeing is available, and some sources are listed below.
If you are in crisis, phone 111. If there’s an emergency, phone 999.
Breathing Space is Scotland’s mental health helpline for individuals experiencing symptoms of low mood, depression, or anxiety, and offers free and confidential advice for individuals over the age of 16. They can be contacted on 0800 83 85 87, 6pm to 2am Monday to Thursday; and from 6pm Friday throughout the weekend to 6am Monday.
Samaritans provide confidential non-judgemental emotional support 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair. You can contact Samaritans free by phoning 116 123 or via email on jo@samaritans.org.
Telephone advice and support on healthcare can be obtained from NHS24 by phoning 111; the Mental Health Hub is open 24/7.
Childline is a free service for children and young people, for whenever they need support or advice. It is open 24/7, and there are many ways to get support. You can call 0800 1111. Other ways are set out on their website: www.childline.org.uk
If you are looking for information on specific mental health conditions, please visit NHS Inform.
Section Updates:
- A review of this section was completed in July 2024.
- The next review / update is due to be carried out by end March 2025.
