Tag: Health and wellbeing

Planning Ahead for Christmas: The Silent Struggle of Scotland’s Unpaid  Carers

For Celia, Christmas isn’t about sparkle, it’s about survival

 For those who provide round the clock care to loved ones, the festive season  requires military level organisation around medication schedules, hospital  appointments and the unpredictable demands of caring. 

Carers Trust Scotland have heard from many unpaid carers that they started their  festive season shopping and planning many months ago. This kind of early planning  is common for many of Scotland’s 800,000 unpaid carers, who often have very little  free time and disposable income. These individuals provide care worth £15.9 billion  annually, yet their efforts often go unseen. 

“I started buying gifts last Christmas,” says Celia, who cares for her son Paul. “I can’t  just pop out when I want, so I plan ahead. When I see offers, I buy doubles and store  them away.

“By December, I’m juggling food, drink and all the little extras that add up,  it’s like paying double bills at this time of year.” 

But festive cheer comes with added challenges. Rising energy costs have hit unpaid carers hard: 

“Paul can’t regulate his body temperature, so the heating used to be on all the time,” Celia explains. “Now, with prices soaring, I’ve had to put it on a timer. This morning,  Paul came up and said, ‘Mum, my hands are cold.’

“When I do put the heating on, he  thanks me like I’ve given him an extra present. That’s heartbreaking.” 

Research from Carers Trust Scotland highlights the pressures carers face, even  during the holidays: 

• 41% of unpaid carers on Carer Support Payment are struggling financially. 

• 28% of unpaid carers living in a home with just one adult carer are in fuel  poverty. 

• Almost half (49%) of unpaid carers on Universal Credit and living alone are  fuel poor. 

• 74% worry about affording energy bills and 12% have used a food bank. • Only 30% say Carer Support Payment makes a meaningful difference.

Celia’s story reflects these realities. She’s not only managing the festive season on a  tight budget but also fighting to restore her son’s care package after it was stopped  without warning: 

“Paul has a rare brain disease. He could die at any time. I’ve had to remortgage my  house, and I’m thousands of pounds in debt just to keep his life as it was. If his  routine changes, his anxiety could trigger another collapse.” 

Despite these struggles, Celia remains determined to make the festive season special: 

“Paul is an absolute joy. Every day he brings light and life to our home. He even  makes his own Christmas cards, after six years of therapy just to hold a pencil.” 

Carers Trust Scotland works with a network of local carer organisations to provide  support, funding and advice to unpaid carers across the country. Reaching around  66,000 adult and young carers, the charity aims to ensure unpaid carers are  recognised and have access to the resources they need to live fulfilled lives. 

“Three out of five of us will become carers at some point in our lives,” says Becky  Duff, Carers Trust Scotland Director. “This Christmas, we want people to understand  the reality of caring and to celebrate the resilience and love that unpaid carers bring  to their families every day.” 

As Scotland approaches a new chapter in 2026, there’s an opportunity to ensure  unpaid carers are better supported and recognised. Carers Trust Scotland will  continue working closely with government and partners to shape policies that reflect  the realities of caring. 

A Little Help Goes a Long Way 

Since April 2025, our small grants programme has provided nearly £130,000 in direct  support to carers, funding essentials like heated blankets, tablets to reduce isolation,  and respite breaks. 

Every gift counts: £30 could keep a carer warm this winter, £100 could help an  isolated carer stay connected. 

Learn more about our work and how you can support unpaid carers at  Fundraising for Carers in Scotland | Carers Trust Scotland

Help keep families together with their seriously ill children this Christmas

Dear Editor,

The festive season should be one of joy. Yet for many families, Christmas will be spent facing the fear and uncertainty of having a seriously ill child in hospital.

At The Sick Children’s Trust, we make sure families can stay together during their child’s most critical moments. But we cannot do it alone. We need your vital support.

Without our ‘Homes from Home’, families would face an average of 82 minutes of travel each day to be by their child’s hospital bedside, or be forced to sleep in hospital chairs, expensive hotels that they can’t afford, or even in their cars.

The stress and worry of being unable to be with their seriously ill child is unimaginable, especially at Christmas time. We urgently need donations so we can continue supporting families at this extremely traumatic time.

Families like Frances and Jack experienced this first-hand when their baby son, Milo, developed life-threatening sepsis. They stayed with us at our Acorn House ‘Home from Home’ for ten days while Milo received specialist care at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. 

Frances said: “At Acorn House we had somewhere comfortable to sleep, a shower and shared kitchen, meaning we could look after ourselves as best we could while still being on the hospital grounds.

“We never wanted to leave Milo’s side, but The Sick Children’s Trust gave us the chance to rest while being able to return to the hospital in minutes should he take a turn for the worse. We can’t describe how grateful we are to have had that vital support.

“After making a full recovery Milo is now a happy, thriving eight-month-old. We’re really looking forward to celebrating Milo’s first Christmas, which is even more special when we think about how critically ill he was.”

This year has been tough for our charity, with rising costs and supporters feeling the effects of the cost-of-living crisis but this Christmas, we expect all ten of our ‘Homes from Home’ to be full. For families, it’s free.

For us, it costs £40 to support a family for just one night, and we rely entirely on voluntary donations to make this possible.

Please donate what you can to keep more families together this Christmas.

Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy festive season.

Jane Featherstone

CEO, The Sick Children’s Trust

Mental Health Foundation: Finding The Light

COPING WITH GRIEF AT CHRISTMAS

Christmas is often portrayed as a season of wall-to-wall joy and celebration. But for those of us who have lost loved ones, this season can sometimes feel heavy and complicated. 💜

Our CEO Mark reflects on his own journey with grief at this time of year and offers tips for those who may be struggling during the holidays.

Read the blog now: https://shorturl.at/USg13

#GriefAwarenessWeek

#MentalHealthAwareness

#Wellbeing

#GrowingWithGrief

#NGAW

#NGAW25

Samaritans Scotland urges politicians to make suicide prevention a priority

Life can be wonderful. Life can be tough. Relationships. Work. Money. Loneliness. Mental health. Self-harm. We can all struggle. Any place. Any time. One in four of us have had suicidal thoughts.  

Ahead of the 2026 Holyrood Election, leading national suicide prevention charity, Samaritans Scotland, is asking all political parties to make suicide prevention a priority, keeping it in mind across all policy areas to help people not only in their moment of need, but before they reach crisis point.

The charity says that suicide is and needs to be treated as an issue of inequality, with the rate of suicide mortality in the most deprived areas in Scotland being 2.5 times higher than the least deprived area. The charity says that tackling inequalities across Scottish society and in services is the only way to reduce the number of lives lost to suicide in our communities.

Developed alongside its Lived Experience Advisory Group, Samaritans Scotland’s manifesto outlines Five Priorities to Save Lives that it wants to see taken forward by the next Scottish Government.

These priorities include increasing funding for mental health services, delivering a minimum income guarantee, using workforce training to end stigma and discrimination, increasing support for people in prison, and increasing resourcing for community services.

The asks aim to target the root causes of circumstances that can contribute to someone experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviour, before they reach crisis point.

Speaking at the launch event, Neil Mathers, Executive Director for Scotland, said: “As we look ahead to the 2026 election and next parliament, Scotland faces many big challenges. Our communities are still grappling with the cost of living, cuts to frontline services, and the ongoing impact of inequality on mental health and wellbeing.

“But there are also real opportunities at next year’s election to make lives better – to reduce poverty, improve wellbeing, to make sure the right support is there at the right time, and ultimately, to reduce deaths by suicide.

“Suicide remains one of the most urgent public health issues facing Scotland. At Samaritans Scotland, we’re calling on all political parties, candidates, and policymakers to make suicide prevention a real priority ahead of the election.”

Mark Diffley, Founder and Director of the Diffley Partnership, was in attendance to deliver an overview of the political landscape ahead of election day. It was highlighted that three out of four people in Scotland are already supportive of a Minimum Income Guarantee, with the top priorities of voters at the moment including healthcare and the cost-of-living crisis.

Research by Samaritans Scotland in partnership with Strathclyde University released last year indicated just how closely connected economic insecurity was with suicidal ideation, as well as the importance of social connection and community support networks, which is why the charity is urging politicians to prioritise these areas.

With the most recent probable suicide rate for people in prison in Scotland standing at 18.9 per 100,000 people, higher than the probable suicide rate of 12.7 per 100,000 in the general population, the charity is also calling for increased support for people in prison.

Nancy Loucks, Chief Executive of Families Outside, who was also in attendance, spoke about the potential for delivering a Minimum Income Guarantee for Scotland, saying: Having a Minimum Income Guarantee is so important.

“So much of what we see (at Families Outside) is a result of poverty and trauma. We expect prisons to solve problems that start much earlier. It’s about giving people the opportunities at the start, that prevent these issues from arising.”

Scott Thomson, member of Samaritans Scotland’s Lived Experience Advisory Group, said: “My key ask of the next Scottish Government would be to increase funding for mental health services.

“The NHS and frontline services are under too much strain; waiting lists are too long, and people need support now.

“Nurses and doctors are at a higher risk of suicide, with burnout and workplace pressures being significant factors. I think that by increasing funding towards these services, we can impact and potentially alleviate many other challenges that arise from a system that is struggling to cope with demand.”

Suicide is complex and touches every part of society. It is vital that politicians recognise the devastating impact that suicide has on people’s lives and make clear commitments to address the factors that contribute to suicide risk. 

Services in Scotland are working tirelessly to improve the lives of the people that need support, but statutory mental health services must have greater investment to enable them to keep up with growing demand.  

Suicide is preventable. Samaritans Scotland’s vision is that fewer people die by suicide, that people feel able to ask for help when they are struggling, and where the right support is available at the right time. 

Read the full manifesto here. 

RCEM: Scottish government must act now to avoid a “truly ugly winter”

12-hour waits in EDs joint worst on record for October

The Scottish government must take urgent action on overcrowding and delayed discharges, or Emergency Departments (EDs) in Scotland will be completely swamped – and patients will be the ones who suffer. 

ED performance figures, released today (2 December 2025) by Public Health Scotland (PHS) for October 2025, showed that one in 16 (7,362) patients waited 12 or more hours before being admitted, transferred or discharged in that month.  

That is the same proportion as last October, which was the worst since records began in 2007 for 12-hour waits.  

The figures also showed:  

  • 16,659 patients, or 14.1% of all attendances, waited eight or more hours, the worst of any October on record, and an increase of 1,211 on last year 
  • Only 62.8% of patients were seen within four hours at major (Type-1) Emergency Departments, which is the worst four-hour performance for any October since records began and far below the target of 95% 
  • There was an average of 1,981 beds each day occupied by patients medically fit to be discharged 

These figures come shortly after the publication of the Scottish government’s winter plan, in which it pledged £20m to tackle delayed discharges across the devolved nation.  

Dr Fiona Hunter, RCEM Vice President for Scotland, said: “The figures for October demonstrate the unacceptable pressures our departments are under, and just how bad things are as we go into winter. 

“Now, seasonal pressures such as flu are beginning to hit EDs and the system is starting to crack under pressure,which means patients and staff are suffering. And we are only in the early stages of winter so it will likely become even worse for patients if nothing changes. 

“As our hospitals deal with the inevitable strains and stresses on vital resources that the colder weather brings we’ll once again see the consequences of the failure to properly tackle the issues EDs face; overcrowding, long delays and avoidable deaths. 

“The number of patients experiencing the longest waits is utterly unacceptable and something must change. Clinicians, through no fault of their own, are struggling to provide our patients with the care they deserve and need. 

“Last month, we welcomed the government’s £20 million funding announcement to boost social care capacity this winter, and its accompanying plan for the health service to tackle the cold months.  

“This showed that the government understood the issue. But we need that understanding to translate into further meaningful short and long-term action. Urgent action is needed to ensure that health boards can make the improvements that are needed to improve patient flow and tackle delayed discharges.   

“Our EDs will only get through the coldest months if the government steps in – or we all need to brace ourselves for a truly ugly winter.”  

Graphs of the data can be found on the RCEM website.

#ResuscitateEmergencyCare

Dunfermline children learn lifesaving skills at Amazon

The children of Amazon employees in Dunfermline are one step closer to becoming lifesavers after taking part in a special first aid and CPR training session at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Dunfermline.

The mini medics course welcomed 23 Amazon employees and their children for a fun and interactive session that introduced them to essential first aid skills, learning how to check for danger and practising CPR techniques.

Mini Medics is a basic first aid course designed for children between the ages of seven and 16. The course introduces children to health knowledge, lifesaving skills and administering first aid. 

Jamie Strain, General Manager at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Dunfermline, said: “First aid and CPR are important skills for young people to have and I’m pleased that our mini medics course has been so popular with our employees and their families.

“I’d like to say a big thank you to our colleague, Anna, for facilitating the training for our team.”

Anna Soltysiak, an associate at Amazon in Dunfermline who led the training, added: “The children who attended our mini medics events were enthusiastic and keen learners. I had a great time teaching them about first aid.

“It’s important for young people to have basic medical skills, as it may one day help save a life.” 

Community donations and employee volunteering are just two of the ways Amazon supports the communities where it operates. Amazon co-founded The Big House Multibank in Fife with former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to support families in need.

The Multibank network has now donated more than 12 million surplus goods to over 800,000 families across Scotland, Wales, Greater Manchester, London, Tees Valley and Birmingham. This year, the Multibank will send 1 million orders to families across the UK. 

Amazon has supported more than one million students across the UK with free STEM education programmes through Amazon Future Engineer and helps community organisations transport meals and other essentials to families in need through its pro bono logistics programme, Amazon Local Good.

Amazon partners with Comic Relief and is the official home of the charity’s iconic Red Nose. Together with its employees, customers, and partners, Amazon has raised over £4.8 million to fund projects that support people across the UK, and around the world.

Craigmount High School projects promote healthy lifestyle choices

Craigmount High School S2 pupils displayed great initiative in creating promotional materials encouraging young people to make positive lifestyle choices which were showcased during their recent ‘Live It!’ healthy living fair.

Several pupils chose to research the topic of e-cigarettes and addiction as part of their project work and created a campaign presenting information about the risks to health caused nicotine dependency.

The project work by students Owen Adams, Murray Bruce, Max Green and Olly Hay which also provided tips suggesting how young people could take steps to quit vaping, is being commended by health charity, ASH Scotland.

The pupils used the charity’s website to find details about the importance of tackling youth vaping, which is a major public health concern as e-cigarettes contain high levels of addictive nicotine as well as toxic chemicals.

Murray Bruce said: “Vaping isn’t only bad for your lungs. I’m concerned about young people getting addicted. I’ve found out it’ young people that are targeted with the bright colours and different flavours.

“I’d like to see more ‘fake customers’ going into shops to try to buy vapes from the shops that sell them to underage people and catch them. More people need to be caught so that they stop selling them.”

Project Learning Lead at Craigmount High School, Laura Thompson, who led the project said: “I’m pleased to see a number of our S2 pupils chose to focus on the issue of youth vaping, as it is a real concern to society.

“Banning smoking from public places seemed like such a game changer when that was brought in. Over 20 years on and we’ve just created a new problem. We don’t yet know the full extent of the issue, as long-term impacts of vaping are not yet known.

“I do worry about the health implications moving forwards. It’s important for young people to take the lead in finding out more and looking at what can be done to raise awareness of this problem.”

Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “We congratulate all the S2 students at Craigmount High School for their dedicated work to raise awareness about the issues of addiction among young people and the challenges to health presented by tobacco and recreational nicotine products such as vapes.

“The information campaign developed by Owen, Murray, Max and Olly raised much-needed awareness about the damage that tobacco and e-cigarettes can cause young people in their excellent project work promoting healthy living.”

For information about young people and vaping, visit:

www.ashscotland.org.uk/young-people-vaping.

Specsavers Home Visits partner puts mental health first with new qualification

A PARTNER who leads the Specsavers Home Visits team across Edinburgh, the Lothians and the Scottish Borders has placed the mental health of her team and customers front and centre by completing a mental health first aid qualification.

Lynne Seebaluck, director at Specsavers Home Visits, recently completed the Mental Health First Aid course, enabling her to better recognise the subtle signs of mental health struggles within her team or when visiting customers at home. 

With the training, she can also offer practical advice and coping techniques for anyone feeling pressure on their mental wellbeing.

The Specsavers Home Visits team provides essential care to customers who, due to a multitude of reasons, are unable to pay a visit to a high street store to receive eye health and hearing services.

Speaking about the training, Lynne says: ‘As we work remotely most of the time and are not always in each other’s company, it can be sometimes difficult to spot when someone is struggling.

“With this new qualification, I now feel like I have the skill set to promote open and honest conversations with my colleagues if they need to confide in someone.

“It’s also going to be useful for our patients, as many of the people we see experience depression, loneliness and isolation. Sometimes, it’s just good to have someone who can listen without judgement and who can also signpost that person to other groups who can provide the support they need.”

Following Lynne’s completion of the Mental Health First Aid course, the remainder of the team will also undergo mental health first aid training, enabling the entire Home Visits team to provide key mental health support when visiting customers.

For more information about the Specsavers Home Visits team, visit:

https://www.specsavers.co.uk/home-eye-tests/request-a-free-home-visit 

or call 0808 239 4492 to book a home visit.