Finding Support Beyond CATS (Edinburgh)
Edinburgh signposting hubs
These are places you can use to search for support and self-refer.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger
Call 999 or go to A&E.
If you need urgent mental health support
NHS 24: call 111
Samaritans: call 116 123 (24/7)
SHOUT: text 85258 (24/7)
Sometimes therapy is only one part of what helps
If you’re dealing with something that needs specialist support, practical help, or more immediate care, Edinburgh has a strong network of services you can access directly, often without needing a GP referral.
You don’t need to read all of this at once. You can scroll, pause, or come back later.
CATS is not a crisis service. If you need urgent support, please use the options below.
You can explore a wider range of support options through the iThrive Edinburgh directory, including Crisis Support and Helplines
Resources for Support
Below are examples of where people often start. Many of these services accept self-referrals.
A note on what CATS can and can’t offer
Want help finding the right next step?
If you are a CATS client, you can bring this into your session and we can look at options together.
CATS can help you explore what you are experiencing through therapy and support you to think about what other help might be useful.
We are not able to provide:
crisis or emergency response
emergency accommodation
medical treatment
statutory safeguarding interventions