Mental Health and Wellbeing Supports in the local area for young people in high school

North East

Leith Wellbeing Services

Leith Wellbeing Services is a partnership between The Junction, Citadel Youth Centre, Multicultural Family Base, Pilmeny Development Project, YMCA and the Ripple Project.

They work together to support better access to mental health support in Leith and the surrounding area for young people and their families.  Most young people will attend schools in the Leith, Drummond and Trinity clusters. 

We offer a range of support across the different projects.

Individual support

  • The Junction - Up to 20 sessions of counselling for young people aged 12 to 21 years.
  • Citadel - For young people aged 12 to 19 years, including one to one support and a wellbeing group work programme.
  • Multicultural Family Base (MCFB) - Targeted mental health support for BAME young people aged 12 to 16 years. Those accessing the weekly evening group can access additional one to one support as required.
  • Pilmeny Development Project and YMCA Edinburgh – One to one support and access to mentoring spaces are available for girls who are anxious about attending the group or in need of additional support (see group information below).
  • Pilmeny Development Project - One-to-one support to children aged 12 to 16 years and their families in the Leith Walk area, who are experiencing mental health and wellbeing issues. 

Group activities and support

  • Multicultural Family Base (MCFB) - Targeted mental health support for BAME young people aged 12 to 16 years. This includes a weekly evening group.
  • Pilmeny Development Project and YMCA Edinburgh - A Girls Emotional Health and Wellbeing Group for girls who are 12 to 16 years. The group is a supportive and safe space to build friendship and take part in sessions focusing on emotional and physical health and well-being.
  • The Ripple - A wellbeing group work programme for young people aged 10 to 15 years. Parents/carers are offered a place on the adult course at the same time as you attend.

More information and requests for support can be made to any of the projects visit the

Edinburgh Leisure - Be Strong, Be You 

Be Strong, Be You works with young people aged 12 to 18 years living in the Castlebrae and Portobello High school catchments, including those attending Holyrood. It supports young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and stress, using the power of physical activity and sports to help them improve their physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.

Be Strong, Be You gives you support for your mental health and wellbeing before you reach a crisis point. Specialist Wellbeing Instructors work with you to overcome physical, mental and emotional challenges to build strong mental health, develop resilience and feel better equipped to cope with the challenges life throws at you. 

The project provides

  • An initial consultation with a Specialist Health Instructor and a Pupil Support Teacher within the school setting
  • One-to-one motivational support to be active from a Specialist Health Instructor for 16 weeks, followed by regular follow-ups
  • One-to-one physical activity sessions
  • Group physical activity sessions
  • A free one-year youth membership to Edinburgh Leisure facilities

For further information please speak to pupil support in your school.

The Junction – Young people, health and wellbeing

Providing health & wellbeing services for young people aged 12 to 21 years who live, work or are in education in the North East Edinburgh area. Services include:

  • Counselling – You can receive up to 20 sessions of counselling, provided by qualified counsellors and counsellors in training.
  • One-to-One Support is provided by workers using an informal coaching approach. Staff are also trained in LIAM ‘Let's Introduce Anxiety Management’, and BA Brief Behavioural Activation, which focuses on low mood and depression.
  • Drug and alcohol support – One-to-one support if you are affected by substance use, this includes those affected by substance use within families or amongst their peers.
  • Mosaic Project - Promotes the mental wellbeing of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) young people. The group is co-facilitated by the Multi-Cultural Family Base and is for young people in High School in S2 to S6.
  • Creative Express - Creativity-based workshops and one-to-one support that help you to express emotions. Beneficial for you if you are neurodiverse, have experienced trauma, or you simply want to express yourself creatively.
  • The Wednesday walk-in from 4pm to 7pm is available for you to talk about mental health & wellbeing without the need for an appointment. Where possible, arrive before 5.30pm to ensure you can get a one-to-one chat.
  • The Friday chiller from 12.30pm to 3.30pm is a drop-in/group with free toasties and a chilled atmosphere for young people in North East Edinburgh and beyond. Make friends, find out how to support your wellbeing, and get one-to-one support.
  • Sexual health service – Access to safer sex supplies through: card and/or access to pregnancy and STI testing service. Attend during walk-in and drop-in hours or arrange an appointment to ensure a staff member is available.
  • Outreach service - Providing information on health & wellbeing topics via street work and delivering educational group work in schools and youth groups.

For more information visit the The Junction website. To make an appointment fill in The Junction's referral form or contact

info@the-junction.org

0131 553 0570 or 07758 348 850

Time to Talk

Aims to support and improve mental health and wellbeing across Edinburgh for young people aged from 12 to 25 years and want to talk about anything. If you are a parent or carer, you can refer your child to the service as well as find out about support available for you across the city. 

For more information visit The Junction's website or contact

support@the-junction.org  

0131 553 0570