Lanarkshire hosted distress brief intervention (DBI) is an organisation that is unique in its approach to mental health, not just across Scotland but across the world.
Founded in 2017, the DBI programme, which was previously operating in four pilot areas, now operates across Scotland in partnership with NHS24, Police Scotland, Scottish Ambulance service and a range of third sector partners.
The DBI programme gives people over the age of 16 who are in emotional distress due to Coronavirus (Covid-19) or any other reason, the opportunity to speak to specially trained staff. If someone presents as ‘in distress’ to emergency services or in a primary care setting, the programme can offer them assistance from a trained operator within 24 hours. They will then be provided with up to two weeks of one-to-one support to help address issues which might be contributing to their distress including, for example, money worries and relationship problems.
In April 2020, as part of the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, a new pathway to the DBI service was created through NHS 24’s mental health hub. Anyone who phones the hub in emotional distress, from anywhere in Scotland, and who does not need emergency clinical intervention can, if assessed as appropriate, be referred to the programme for further support.
Last year the Scottish Government committed to extend the DBI programme nationwide for a transitional period to 2024, at which point it is expected to be fully embedded by all NHS health boards.
Programme manager Kevin O’Neill commented: “Since its launch in 2017 over 14,000 individuals have been referred for support in communities across Scotland.”
