East Dunbartonshire Compassionate Distress Response Service (CDRS)

SERVICE USER GROUP (S):
Young people aged between 16 - 25 (26 if care experienced) years old, who are experiencing acute emotional distress, but do not require medical or specialist support.

LOCATION:
East Dunbartonshire.

OPERATING TIMES & RESPONSE:
The East Dunbartonshire CDRS service will provide an immediate response within 24 hours from point of referral. The service will run 3pm - 10pm Monday to Friday, with out of hour referrals recorded and contacted the following day.

BACKGROUND:
The Scottish Government Children and Young People’s Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework supports the establishment of early intervention approaches, aimed at preventing issues around mental health as soon as possible to prevent the need for more specialist services such as CAMHS. The service is operated by Glasgow Association for Mental Health (GAMH) on behalf of East Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP).

SERVICE DESCRIPTION:
The service will provide an effective short-term intervention to alleviate distress. Follow up support will be provided for up to a period of 4 weeks involving techniques such as; compassionate listening, validating YPs concerns, providing a range of coping strategies, with signposting to any additional services where appropriate. The intensity and duration of the support is dependent on the levels of distress and issue that the young person is presenting. Common presenting issues may include:

• Isolation and loneliness
• Low self-esteem
• Self-harm
• Mental health issues
• Education pressure
• Identity issues
• Anxiety
• Panic Attacks
• Eating Disorder
• Autism
• Trauma
• Sexual Abuse/Assault
• Intrusive Thoughts
• Bereavement
• Suicidal Ideation
• Addictions
• Overdose
• Housing, money and debt
• Family/relationships,
• Physical Health conditions, which may be exacerbating feelings of distress.

Each young person must give consent and have capacity to engage with the service. Referrers will be expected to be transparent about risks so the right support can be offered. CDRS is not a suicide prevention service.

SERVICE ACCESS:
The referring agency will complete the East Dunbartonshire CDRS referral form either by using the CDRS telephone number provided or, by completing the referral form and emailing this to CDRS.

0141 406 0650 or email: edcdrs@gamh.org.uk

It is anticipated that the following statutory services are the most likely to refer however the list is not exhaustive:

• GP’s and multi-disciplinary teams
• Secondary Schools
• Further Education Establishments
• Social Work Services staff
• Community Nurses
• Police Scotland
• CAMHS
• Accident and Emergency
• Third Sector

*No self-referrals will be accepted from any other individuals including families and carers.

The service will run as a Test for change over a period of 12 Months.

Services Offered

Counselling
Emotional Distress

CDRS will be available for referrals Monday to Friday 3pm – 10pm via a designated telephone linked directly to East Dunbartonshire CDRS (0141 406 0650) and email: edcdrs@gamh.org.uk

Weblink: https://www.gamh.org.uk/project/cdrs/