It’s normal for young people to face emotional challenges growing up, and their mental health is as important as their general physical health and wellbeing.
If you are a young person in the Western Isles struggling with your mental health, we encourage that you sign up to Kooth. Once registered, you will have immediate access to the mental health platform - there are no waiting lists or thresholds to meet.
Kooth is a free, safe, online platform offering mental health and emotional wellbeing support to anyone aged 11 - 25 yrs living in the Western Isles. Kooth has lots of different features on the platform, including a Kooth magazine, discussion boards, mini self-care activities and an online journal - all to help support better emotional and mental health and wellbeing for our young people.
This service also offers direct text chat with qualified counsellors 365 days of the year from 12noon - 10pm on weekdays and 6pm - 10pm at weekends. All chat forums are moderated before comments are posted. Young people can sign up on any device on the Kooth website.
Wellbeing Service
We are also pleased to offer a Wellbeing Service throughout the islands via our partners at Action for Children. Wellbeing Practitioners offer drop-ins, weekly or fortnightly 1-2-1s and lunchtime clubs in our Secondary Schools.
- Charlotte is the Wellbeing Practitioner based in Castlebay, she works Mondays and Thursdays.
- Grace is the Wellbeing Practitioner in Sir E Scott on a Monday; The Nicolson Institute on Thursday and Fridays.
- Donna is the Wellbeing Practitioner in The Nicolson Institute on a Wednesday.
We are currently recruiting for the Wellbeing Practitioner in Uist.
If you want someone to talk to then speak to a Wellbeing Practitioner during a drop-in session, or speak to your guidance teacher to make an appointment.
Counselling and Family Mediation (CFM)
Counselling provides a safe, confidential space to explore thoughts, feelings, and challenges. It helps improve mental well-being, develop coping strategies, and build resilience. Whether, for example, facing stress, anxiety, relationship issues, or personal growth struggles, counselling offers support, guidance, and clarity, empowering individuals to navigate life’s difficulties with confidence and self-awareness.
Counselling and Family Mediation provide free counselling to young people throughout the Hebrides, whether in secondary schools or within our premises. Should you feel counselling would be of benefit, referrals can be made via a young person’s guidance teacher or parent. Additional information is available via email at schools@cfmwesternisles.org.