Contact us:
The Self Help Service
Department of Psychological Services & Research
Mental Health Directorate
Mountainhall Treatment Centre
Bankend road
Dumfries
DG1 4AP
Tel. 01387 244495
Open Monday to Friday, 8.30am-5pm, for enquiries.
Appointments for the service are held throughout Dumfries and Galloway.
Who we are
The Self Help Service consists of five Self Help workers, two Senior Self Help workers and is managed by a Clinical Psychologist.
The Self Help workers are attached to five areas in the region:
- Annandale and Eskdale
- Dumfries
- Nithsdale
- Stewartry
- Wigtownshire
Staff are mainly based within GP practices across Dumfries & Galloway or within the Department of Psychological Services at Mountainhall Treatment Centre, Dumfries.
What We Do
The Self Help Service (SH):
- Provides a brief one to one guided self help intervention for adults with recent onset mild to moderate psychological concerns.
- This may include people with anxiety, low mood, stress, panic, depression and loss.
- Age range from 16 years and over.
- Consists of up to three one hour appointments, spread over several weeks.
- Self help workers are trained in cognitive behavioural techniques.
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is an evidence based approach to help people change the way they think, feel and behave.
What happens in a session?
- Self Help worker will help you to identify what your main concerns are and what may be causing them.
- Support you to learn coping strategies so you can better manage your symptoms.
- Help you to develop a toolkit of strategies to draw upon in the future so you can manage your psychological wellbeing.
- Support you to set goals and make positive changes.
Referral Information
Who is suitable for Self Help:
- If you have been experiencing difficulties (fairly recent onset) with your psychological wellbeing.
- If you are motivated to work on making changes such as different ways of thinking or doing things.
- If you can commit to attending three appointments and to completing tasks in between sessions.
How do I get referred?
If you think you would benefit from guided self help please speak to your GP. Or primary Care Mental Health Nurse attached to your surgery
The service will consider referrals from:
- GP’s
- Health Visitors
- Practice Nurses
- Psychology Service
- Community Mental Health Nursing team
- Primary Care Mental Health Nurses
We aim to see people within four weeks of being referred.
What happens when you are referred:
- A Self Help worker will contact you via letter, email or by phone to arrange your first appointment.
- An appointment will be arranged for either NHS Near me (video call) face to face at an NHS site or telephone.
Useful Resources
Living Life – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) telephone service
Living Life is a free telephone service available to anyone over the age of 16 who is suffering from low mood, mild to moderate depression and/or anxiety.
How can I access Living Life?
You can access Living Life either by:
- GP referral
- Phoning our free, confidential phone line on 0800 328 9655 (Mon-Fri 1pm to 9pm). You will be asked to provide some details and then an assessment appointment will be arranged to discuss the service and how help can be provided to you.