Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart UK
Healthy Heart Tip: Protein and heart health
Many people know the benefits of protein for muscle growth and repair, but do you know the other benefits for your health? Protein is one of the main forms of nutrients you need for your body to function.
In the UK, on average, there is an over consumption of the recommended amount of protein but often from few sources.
It is essential that your body is getting protein from a range of different foods to ensure you meet all your body’s requirements. Did you know that approximately 16% of the UK population follow a meat-free diet? These people may need to focus more attention on meeting their protein requirements than those who regularly eat meat.
In this healthy tip we discuss the importance of protein, different sources and how to get protein into your diet:
Importance of protein
Protein is required for general health, growth and maintenance of the body’s tissues. It helps your bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments and skin to stay healthy and have structure, strength and elasticity. Protein helps your muscles to repair and rebuild after exercising and helps to increase your muscular strength.
It also supports the immune system by helping to form antibodies that fight against disease-causing bacteria and viruses.
Protein has a satiating effect on the body and helps you to feel fuller for longer. It provides energy to your body, but only as a last resort if all your carbohydrate and fat stores have been used up. It should make up 10% to 35% of your total daily energy intake.
Sources of protein
Animal proteins are often more known and more commonly consumed than other protein sources.
These include meat and poultry, fish and seafood, eggs, and dairy products.
However, more people are beginning to follow a diet rich in plant proteins and consuming more nuts and seeds, beans, chickpeas, lentils and tofu.
Getting protein into your diet
You should try and include a portion of protein in every meal of the day, as well as in the snacks you eat. This will help to keep you feeling fuller for longer and reduce those cravings for foods with low nutritional value.
For better heart health you should aim to eat a diet that is rich in plant foods. This simply means you need to consume lots of plant-based foods and proteins, and lower amounts of proteins from animal sources. This will not only benefit your heart health but also the sustainability of the planet.
If you are consuming animal proteins, then red meats and processed meats are often high in fat and it is more beneficial for your health to consume leaner protein sources such as plant proteins, poultry and fish where possible.
ASH Scotland is encouraging youth groups in Edinburgh to join its new Youth Conversations Hub where learning and resources on smoking and vaping are being shared to enable young people to make confident, informed decisions to protect their long-term health.
The charity will be hosting a series of in-person and online events via the hub in upcoming months to give people working or volunteering for youth organisations opportunities to connect and further their understanding of how health harming tobacco and related products such as e-cigarettes affect young people.
The hub is also providing a space for young people to share their views and experiences of smoking and vaping through its youth survey which is running until Friday 29 November.
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive for ASH Scotland, said: “We are delighted to launch our new Youth Conversations Hub which can equip youth group organisers and volunteers in Edinburghand across Scotland to share and obtain ideas about starting conversations with young people, to increase their knowledge about smoking and vaping so that they can make informed choices to protect their physical and mental health.
“We hope that, by signing up to the hub, youth organisations can support local young people to become more aware of the tobacco and e-cigarette industries’ marketing tactics targeting children, and will inspire youngsters to exercise their rights to live healthy lives by rejecting smoking or vaping.
“ASH Scotland believes that is vitally important that young people’s views are heard, so we are running a survey through youth organisations which join the hub so that youngsters themselves can directly drive the action that is needed to ensure Scotland becomes a tobacco-free generation by the target of 2034.”
A resilient Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) student has celebrated her graduation after recovering from colon cancer – and thanked the staff who supported her along the way.
Sophia McIntosh studied for a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from her home in Kingston, Jamaica, alongside her work as a university lecturer there.
She took time out from her studies after receiving her cancer diagnosis in 2019 but was later able to return to and complete the course.
Sophia crossed the stage at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall on Wednesday to collect her degree, having travelled from the Caribbean with her mum for the ceremony.
Sophia said: “I am just so full of joy, not just for me but for all of my family members and friends who have supported me.
“I am happy that I went on this journey, I am liberated and more confident. The doctorate is the icing on the cake, but the journey has transformed me.
“I still have my thesis on leadership sitting on my table at home and sometimes I just open it to have a look!
“I’m so proud of myself – I never knew I had it in me to read and learn so much.”
Having felt unwell for some time, it was through a chance meeting with a doctor at church that Sophia was referred for health checks and discovered her cancer diagnosis.
She underwent surgery and chemotherapy in the autumn of 2019, followed by more treatment the following year.
She said: “When I was told the news, I just went numb. I was told we would have to move quickly and have surgery.
“All the horror stories about chemotherapy happened to me. I had complications from my surgery, and my parents came down from another part of Jamaica to look after me.
“I had two major surgeries, and we lost my adopted brother around the same time. But despite these traumatic events, I resumed my studies after the year.”
Sophia’s graduation comes after taking time out from the course because of illness and the Covid pandemic. She is now receiving checks every six months.
Now that Sophia has completed her degree, she has paid tribute to ENU staff members past and present who supported her, including Dr Ciarán McFadden-Young, Dr Janice McMillan, and Professor Gerri Matthews-Smith – as well as Professor Alison McCleery, who sadly passed away last year.
“It was difficult going back to the doctorate, but my research supervisors helped me settle,” Sophie added. “They were patient with me and not judgemental. They were respectful and they gave me space.
“I can’t find the words to thank them – they held my hand. I never felt alone, I never felt unsafe. I had them all behind me.”
Sophia has graduated alongside fellow students from Edinburgh Napier University’s Business School today.
ENU’s autumn graduation ceremonies were held at the Usher Hall between 29 – 31 October.
As the clocks went back this past weekend, many people are noticing an early start to their mornings. Naplabs, a leader in sleep wellness, has partnered with a top sleep expert to explain why the recent time change could be responsible for these pre-dawn awakenings and how to adjust.
According to sleep experts Naplab, the main reason for this shift is “the body’s natural circadian rhythm, which becomes temporarily out of sync during time changes.” The extra hour gained over the weekend has thrown internal body clocks slightly out of balance, causing people to wake up earlier as their bodies adjust.
“Whenever clocks change, it can take about a week for our internal clocks to readjust,” explains Naplab. “For some, the shift to waking up earlier is amplified by stress, screen exposure, and modern lifestyle demands.”
Here are five expert tips from our expertsto help you adjust to the recent clock change and get back on track with restful sleep:
Ease into Evening Relaxation: Spend 30 minutes before bed winding down with a calming activity, like reading or meditating, to help your body recognise it’s time to sleep. This supports your circadian rhythm in adjusting to the new time.
Get Natural Morning Light: Expose yourself to natural light soon after waking to signal to your body that it’s morning. This helps reset your internal clock, particularly during the shorter autumn days.
Avoid Screens Before Bed: Limit screen exposure at least an hour before bedtime. The blue light from devices can suppress melatonin, the hormone that promotes sleep, making it harder to drift off.
Gradually Adjust Bedtime: Go to bed 10-15 minutes later each night if you find you’re waking up too early. This gradual shift will help your body adjust to the time change more smoothly than a drastic schedule alteration.
Stick to a Consistent Routine: Aim to wake up and go to bed at the same time each day, even on weekends. This consistency helps your internal clock stabilise, leading to more refreshing, uninterrupted sleep.
In addition to the recent time change, factors like exposure to evening light from screens and high-stress levels can contribute to early wakefulness. Naplabs recommends a few tips for resetting your sleep schedule, such as limiting evening screen time, using blackout curtains to prevent early light exposure, and practicing relaxation techniques before bed.
“The seasonal clock change provides a great opportunity to fine-tune our sleep habits. By making small adjustments, we can support a more balanced internal rhythm and enjoy the benefits of restorative sleep.”
More than 3,000 Communicating Indecently with a Child offences have been recorded by Police Scotland during the past five years
NSPCC urges Ofcom to significantly strengthen its approach to child sexual abuse and for the UK Government to ensure the regulator can tackle grooming in private messaging
Over 3,000 online grooming crimes across Scotland have been recorded by Police Scotland during the past five years, new data compiled by the NSPCC has revealed.
The figures provided by Police Scotland show 3,234 Communicating Indecently with a Child offences were recorded since 2019, with 672 offences recorded last year (2023/24) – an increase of 13% from the previous year.
The NSPCC has issued these findings a year on from the Online Safety Act being passed.
The charity is urging Ofcom to significantly strengthen the rules social media platforms must follow to tackle child sexual abuse on their products.
They say the regulator currently puts too much focus on acting after harm has taken place rather than being proactive to ensure the design features of social media apps are not contributing to abuse.
The NSPCC is also calling on the Government to strengthen legislation to ensure child sexual abuse is disrupted in private messages such as on Snapchat and WhatsApp.
The charity’s Voice of Online Youth young people’s group were not surprised at the prevalence of Snapchat in offences.
Liidia, 13 from Glasgow, said: “Snapchat has disappearing messages, and that makes it easier for people to hide things they shouldn’t be doing.
“Another problem is that Snapchat has this feature where you can show your location to everyone. If you’re not careful, you might end up showing where you are to people you don’t know, which is super risky.
“And honestly, not all the rules in Snapchat are strict, so some people take advantage of that to do bad things. Apps should have better ways for us to report bad things, and they should always get updated to protect us better with the latest security tech.”
Sir Peter Wanless, NSPCC Chief Executive, said:“One year since the Online Safety Act became law and we are still waiting for tech companies to make their platforms safe for children.
“We need ambitious regulation by Ofcom who must significantly strengthen their current approach to make companies address how their products are being exploited by offenders.
“It is clear that much of this abuse is taking place in private messaging which is why we also need the UK Government to strengthen the Online Safety Act to give Ofcom more legal certainty to tackle child sexual abuse on the likes of Snapchat and WhatsApp.”
National Police Chief’s Council Lead for Child Protection and Abuse Investigations (CPAI) Becky Riggs said: “The numbers in this NSPCC data are shocking and policing joins partners in urging tech companies and Ofcom to fulfil their legal and moral obligations to keep children safe from harm within the online communities they have created.
“A year on from the Online Safety Act being passed, it is imperative that the responsibility of safeguarding children online is placed with the companies who create spaces for them, and the regulator strengthens rules that social media platforms must follow.
“Policing will not stop in its fight against those who commit these horrific crimes. We cannot do this alone, so while we continue to pursue and prosecute those who abuse and exploit children, we repeat our call for more to be done by companies in this space.”
Kids Operating Room and Smile Train successfully install solar surgery systems in 23 hospitals across Nigeria
The Solar Surgery system ensures reliable power for medical equipment during surgeries, addressing frequent power cuts
Initiative boosts patient safety and surgical outcomes, and reduces carbon emissions
Partnership aims to upgrade more than 30 paediatric theatres across Africa by 2025
Kids Operating Room (KidsOR), the Scottish charity dedicated to ensuring every child has access to safe surgery in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft-focused charity, announce the successful implementation of the Solar Surgery system in 23 hospitals across Nigeria.
In their groundbreaking partnership, the two organisations are taking significant strides to enhance surgical care in Nigeria through the creation of new surgical facilities, training of local surgical teams, and now the deployment of solar powered operating theatres to ensure every child has access to a safe operation, free from the risks of power outages.
Solar panels have been installed on the roofs of the operating facilities in Nigeria, charging smart battery units that power vital medical equipment in an operating room. This innovative approach combats the frequent power cuts experienced in many African hospitals, ensuring uninterrupted care and better outcomes for patients.
The system monitors what power is needed by the surgical team and provides that directly from the panels, meaning children across Nigeria are now having operations powered entirely by the sun. However, the system can seamlessly switch to a blend of solar and battery power on cloudy days and can go on to provide 8-hours of continuous use into the night. Only when there is no sunlight, and the reserve is being depleted will the system start to pull power from the local grid.
The partnership between KidsOR and Smile Train promises to deliver reliable power to Nigerian hospitals, improving patient safety and improving surgical results while also reducing the carbon emissions of the facilities – setting a sustainable standard for medical treatment across Africa.
Globally, one in 700 babies are born with a cleft lip and/or palate. Sadly, many of these children miss out on the vital reconstructive surgery they need, which can lead to challenges in eating, breathing, and speaking. Smile Train is the world’s leading charity focused on transforming the lives of these children and recently announced supporting their 2 millionth cleft surgery.
Nkeiruka OBI, Vice-President and Regional Director, Africa of Smile Train, commented:“Erratic power supply is a norm in Nigeria, like most developing countries. Interruption of power during a surgical procedure could jeopardise the life of the patient. It is not a desirable experience.
“By harnessing clean and renewable solar energy, which by the way we have in abundance in this part of the world, surgical teams can confidently operate critical medical equipment and ensure that children with clefts can receive safe, timely surgeries regardless of power outages.
“The solar-powered theatre is a game changer, in transforming healthcare delivery across Africa, especially in areas where unreliable power limits access to safe surgical care.
“With each solar-powered theatre, we take a step closer to universal access to safe surgery, amplifying the impact on children, families, and entire communities. Smile Train and KidsOR’s partnership truly serves as a model on how meaningful collaboration and innovation can overcome healthcare challenges and drive sustainable change across the continent.”
David Cunningham, CEO of KidsOR, commented: “Our partnership with Smile Train is making a life changing difference to children in developing countries across the globe. In Nigeria, and across Africa, we are working with Smile Train to pave the way for a future where no child has to fear a power outage as a significant risk to their life during an operation.
“In Nigeria, we will shortly have moved 30 operating rooms onto the exciting Solar Surgery system, which means surgical facilities across the country will be able to operate at full capacity and are no longer restricted by frequent power outages.”
An awareness campaign is underway to ensure people know the best place to access healthcare this winter.
Right Care Right Place helps the public decide the most appropriate service for their healthcare needs – whether they should contact their GP or pharmacy, call NHS 24 on 111 or use self-help guides on the NHS Inform website. Hospital emergency departments should only be visited for critical emergencies.
The campaign features targeted advertising on television, radio and online and aims to help alleviate pressures on the NHS and social care ahead of an expected seasonal increase in demand.
Health Secretary Neil Gray visited East Lothian Community Hospital to hear about work being undertaken to address delayed discharges. The hospital supports patients leaving acute hospitals who require intermediate care before returning home.
Mr Gray said: “We have been working closely with colleagues across the NHS and social care to make sure we are as prepared as possible ahead of winter.
“Public information and awareness of the treatment options and how to access them when needed is key to ensuring services are directed where they are most needed.
“This will help everyone to get the right care, in the right place as quickly as possible while helping alleviate pressures on the rest of the NHS. People can also help by making sure they receive their Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Covid-19 and flu vaccinations if eligible.”
Self-help guides can be found on NHS inform and include advice on the most common winter illnesses.
‘We have detected a single confirmed human case of Clade Ib mpox. This is the first detection of this Clade of mpox in the UK, the wider risk to the UK population remains low’.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has detected a single confirmed human case of Clade Ib mpox. The risk to the UK population remains low.
This is the first detection of this Clade of mpox in the UK. It is different from mpox Clade II that has been circulating at low levels in the UK since 2022, primarily among gay, bisexual and other men-who-have-sex-with-men (GBMSM).
UKHSA, the NHS and partner organisations have well tested capabilities to detect, contain and treat novel infectious diseases, and while this is the first confirmed case of mpox Clade Ib in the UK, there has been extensive planning underway to ensure healthcare professionals are equipped and prepared to respond to any confirmed cases.
The case was detected in London and the individual has been transferred to the Royal Free Hospital High Consequence Infectious Diseases unit. They had recently travelled to countries in Africa that are seeing community cases of Clade Ib mpox. The UKHSA and NHS will not be disclosing any further details about the individual.
Close contacts of the case are being followed up by UKHSA and partner organisations. Any contacts will be offered testing and vaccination as needed and advised on any necessary further care if they have symptoms or test positive.
UKHSA is working closely with the NHS and academic partners to determine the characteristics of the pathogen and further assess the risk to human health.
While the existing evidence suggests mpox Clade Ib causes more severe disease than Clade II, we will continue to monitor and learn more about the severity, transmission and control measures. We will initially manage Clade Ib as a high consequence infectious disease (HCID) whilst we are learning more about the virus.
Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said: “It is thanks to our surveillance that we have been able to detect this virus. This is the first time we have detected this Clade of mpox in the UK, though other cases have been confirmed abroad.
“The risk to the UK population remains low, and we are working rapidly to trace close contacts and reduce the risk of any potential spread. In accordance with established protocols, investigations are underway to learn how the individual acquired the infection and to assess whether there are any further associated cases.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting, said: “I am extremely grateful to the healthcare professionals who are carrying out incredible work to support and care for the patient affected.
“The overall risk to the UK population currently remains low and the government is working alongside UKHSA and the NHS to protect the public and prevent transmission.
“This includes securing vaccines and equipping healthcare professionals with the guidance and tools they need to respond to cases safely.
“We are also working with our international partners to support affected countries to prevent further outbreaks.”
Steve Russell, NHS national director for vaccination and screening, said: “The NHS is fully prepared to respond to the first confirmed case of this clade of mpox.
“Since mpox first became present in England, local services have pulled out all the stops to vaccinate those eligible, with tens of thousands in priority groups having already come forward to get protected, and while the risk of catching mpox in the UK remains low, if required the NHS has plans in place to expand the roll out of vaccines quickly in line with supply.”
Clade Ib mpox has been widely circulating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in recent months and there have been cases reported in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Sweden, India and Germany.
Clade Ib mpox was detected by UKHSA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.
Common symptoms of mpox include a skin rash or pus-filled lesions which can last 2 to 4 weeks. It can also cause fever, headaches, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.
The infection can be passed on through close person-to-person contact with someone who has the infection or with infected animals and through contact with contaminated materials. Anyone with symptoms should continue to avoid contact with other people while symptoms persist.
The UK has an existing stock of mpox vaccines and last month announced further vaccines are being procured to support a routine immunisation programme to provide additional resilience in the UK. This is in line with more recent independent JCVI advice.
Working alongside international partners, UKHSA has been monitoring Clade Ib mpox closely since the outbreak in DRC first emerged, publishing regular risk assessment updates.
The wider risk to the UK population remains low.
UKHSA has published its first technical briefing on clade I mpox which provides further information on the current situation and UK preparedness and response.
Ensuring Scotland is prepared as mpox cases increase in Central and Eastern Africa
With the World Health Organization declaring a recent rise in mpox cases in Central and Eastern Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, Dr Kirsty Roy and Dr Kate Smith, Consultants in Public Health at PHS, explain more about the current international situation and what is being done to prepare for any cases seen in Scotland:
The recent rise of mpox cases in Central and Eastern Africa is of global concern due to the potential for the virus to spread beyond the affected countries. It’s therefore important that we’re prepared in the event a case is identified in Scotland.
Mpox is an uncommon viral infection compared to viruses like influenza or COVID-19.
It typically causes a blistering rash which can last 2 to 4 weeks and can be accompanied by fever, headaches, muscle and back aches, tiredness and swollen lymph nodes.
There are two main types of mpox – clade 1 and clade 2 that are then further divided into clade 1a, clade 1b and clade 2b. Each type can differ in who they affect, how they spread, and the severity of the outcomes.
Clade 1 mpox is more serious than clade 2, as it can be passed on more easily, can make people more severely ill, and has a higher fatality rate. This is why clade 1 is classified as a high consequence infectious disease (HCID). HCIDs are rare in the UK, and established protocols and guidance are in place to manage these.
What’s the current global situation?
Historically, clade 1 mpox has been associated with Central Africa and linked with more severe disease and higher death rates. Recently, a new type (clade 1b) has emerged and is circulating, particularly in sexual networks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighboring countries.
It was the emergence and rapid spread of clade 1b that prompted the World Health Organization to declare the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in August 2024.
Although most cases are currently confined to Central and Eastern Africa, there is the potential for the virus to spread out with the continent to other countries, as we saw with the global outbreak of mpox clade 2 in 2022.
It’s therefore important to be aware of the above symptoms. Anyone with these should stay at home, avoid close contact with others and get medical help by phone. More information can be found on NHS inform.
How is mpox passed on?
Mpox is not passed on very easily between people. However, you can get it from close contact with an infected person, including during sex or by contact with contaminated materials (for example bedding or towels).
It’s possible that mpox may also be passed on through close and prolonged contact that can include talking, breathing, coughing or sneezing. There is currently limited evidence around this, and information will be updated when new evidence becomes available.
What’s the current situation in Scotland?
Currently, no cases of clade 1 mpox have been confirmed in Scotland. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed it had detected the first case of mpox clade 1b in England on 30 October, however, the risk to the UK population is still considered low.
PHS is working closely with public health partners across the UK, as well as NHS boards, to monitor the situation and prepare for any cases of clade 1 mpox in Scotland.
As part of this, we have rapidly put testing in place to ensure suspected cases can be quickly tested in Scotland at the Edinburgh Specialist Virology Centre (SVC) and the West of Scotland Specialist Virology Centre (WoSSVC) Glasgow.
What’s the travel advice?
Currently the risk to most travellers is small. A list of countries where cases of Clade 1 mpox have been identified can be found on the UK Government website
Anyone travelling to an affected country is encouraged to take precautions, such as minimising physical or sexual contact – especially with individuals showing signs of a rash – to reduce the risk of infection.
Working in partnership with Scottish airports, we have ensured that information about the clade 1b international situation is visible to travellers in Scottish Airports. These signpost to key information on affected countries and how to access healthcare services in Scotland if an individual develops mpox symptoms.
Is there a vaccine to protect against mpox?
Mpox belongs to a family of viruses that includes smallpox and a vaccine that was developed to protect against smallpox is also considered effective against mpox.
This vaccine was used as part of the response to the 2022 outbreak of clade 2 mpox, which mainly affected gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), and Scotland continues to offer mpox vaccination to those at greatest risk.
On behalf of Scotland, and other devolved nations, the UK Government has procured more mpox vaccine doses to strengthen the UK preparedness against clade 1 mpox. More information about vaccine eligibility can be found on NHS inform.
Scotland has a robust public health intelligence system, is now able to rapidly identify and test potential cases and has a supply of effective vaccines. There is also public health information available to ensure people are prepared if they are visiting an area of higher risk. These should all ensure Scotland is prepared should cases emerge within the country.
Since the launch of Self-Harm Network Scotland’s (SHNS) live chat service on World Mental Health Day 2023 (10th October 2023), the SHNS team has had 1,273 supportive conversations on the webchat, with an average chat lasting around 29 minutes.
The unique live webchat service can be accessed on the SHNS website and is for people aged 12 and over in Scotland in need of support for their self-harm. The service is available between 6pm and 10pm, seven days a week.
People can anonymously chat to one of the SHNS team about their self-harm and get advice and support outside of standard support hours, when those experiencing self-harm may be most in need of someone to speak to.
As well as offering support via the live chat, the SHNS website has free and accessible resources, tools and information for people who self-harm, their loved ones and for professionals who work with people who self-harm.
SHNS’s team of Peer Practitioners can also provide 12 to 15 free one-to-one support sessions for people (aged 12 and over) who self-harm in Scotland, delivered via video, phone calls and text.
The SHNS service is part of charity Penumbra Mental Health, which provides dedicated services for people with mild to enduring mental ill-health.
We work together with the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) in delivering their self-harm strategy and action plan, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the world.
SHNS is funded by the Scottish Government, and we also work with partners who share our goal of providing compassionate and freely accessible support services to people who self-harm.
In the past year, 90% of people who gave feedback after using the webchat said they found it helpful (71% ‘Very Helpful’, 19% ‘Somewhat Helpful’). Here is some feedback from people that were supported by the webchat:
“[The chat] was so lovely and very logical and helped me into a safe and calmer location.”
“Very patient and convinced me to try the local self-harm services.”
“No pressure was put on me regarding my coping techniques. Very good listening.”
Darren Boyd, SHNS Network Manager, said:
“Since the inception of Self-Harm Network Scotland, it has been important to us that people with lived experience guide our delivery of support. Feedback from people with lived experience revealed to us a need for accessible, national support for people who self-harm. We also know there is still a lot of stigma around self-harm and this can be a barrier to people accessing support.”
He continued: “The Live Chat is a place anyone can come to and can remain anonymous should they wish. They can get support from our team at times they are feeling distressed and may not have anyone else to reach out to. The first year of running this new element of support has taught us a lot, and we look forward to continuing to work with people with lived experience to grow and continue this service.”
Julia, who works on SHNS’ live chat, said:
“The webchat is great, and the users have told me that they prefer it to calling somewhere. They appreciate the anonymity of the webchat a lot. A lot of young people feel anxiety about making phone calls. It’s also good for me as I find it easier to think about what I want to say while I am typing.”
Julia added: “Having lived experience of self-harm makes it easier for me to relate to the people I am chatting to. When chatting to someone on the webchat, I have shared tips that have helped me on my recovery journey, and I feel that I can easily pick up when someone needs to be heard most of all instead of looking for advice.”
Maree Todd, Mental Wellbeing Minister, said:
“I am pleased to celebrate the first year of the webchat that we launched together with Penumbra this time last year.
“To have already supported 1,273 people through the webchat is a huge accomplishment and supports our vision for anyone affected by self-harm to receive compassionate, recovery-focused support, without fear of stigma or discrimination, as outlined in our Self-Harm Strategy and Action Plan.
“We greatly value the expertise peer practitioners and trained volunteers are bringing to this service, which is showing positive results in supporting people affected by self-harm right across Scotland. This is why we are continuing to invest £1.5 million to support Self-Harm Network Scotland.”
Paul Kelly, COSLA’s Spokesperson for Health and Social Care, said:
“COSLA welcomes the ongoing development of compassionate support for those experiencing self-harm. Making services such as the webchat available is essential in ensuring those who need it get the right support at the right time. Through the Self Harm Strategy and action plan we continue to work collectively to improve responses and support for self-harm across Scotland.”
Outside of the live chat operating hours, people can self-refer on to the service via the online contact form.
You can access the webchat between 6pm and 10pm over on the SHNS website:
