Supporting visitors & locals: free, walk-in mental health and wellbeing support is on its way
Opening in 2026, The Nook in Marischal Square, Aberdeen.
Free, walk-in mental health and wellbeing support is on its way.
Aberdeenshire locals and visitors alike will soon be able to access free mental health and wellbeing support courtesy of a new walk-in hub from SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health).
Construction work is now well underway at The Nook in Marischal Square, Aberdeen, where anyone will be able to access stigma-free support, seven days a week, in a space specifically designed to feel like home.
The Nook will be set in a colourful, cosy and open-plan space, where a kitchen table replaces a reception desk, confidential chats take place in snugs and family rooms instead of consultation booths, and visitors can relax in the library rather than waiting rooms.
It doesn’t matter where you live or what you’d like to talk about: anyone will be welcome through the door to chat with our friendly, qualified team, or to sit and relax with a cuppa if they aren’t quite ready to chat just yet.
The Nook in Aberdeen will open this summer as the second of five planned Nooks from SAMH, creating Scotland’s first national network of walk-in mental health and wellbeing support hubs.
SAMH's first Nook, in Glasgow, which opened its doors at the end of October last year, has already supported more than 2,000 visitors in its first few months.
In response to the question ‘what was the best thing about The Nook’, here’s what just a few of the visitors to The Nook in Glasgow had to say:
- "Feeling listened to and seen. Being validated for what I'm going through and encouragement for a brighter future."
- “I felt welcome, comfortable, a mental health and wellbeing practitioner listened to me and didn't look down on me and anybody that came in wasn't judged. I felt at home in The Nook. That's why I was able to open up - but I haven't in the past in other counselling environments. I love the colours - it brightens my day.”
- “Just being able to speak to a professional at the point of need is so valuable. No waiting, no referrals, no condition, the immediate support and compassion is so appreciated.”
These messages sum up what makes The Nook so different: it is accessible, friendly, colourful, person-centred and non-clinical.
We will recreate this environment at The Nook in Aberdeen, but done with input from the local community, including people with experience of mental health problems - meaning this hub will receive a fresh, Doric twist.
The Nook in Aberdeen will also be accompanied by an extensive outreach programme, bringing vital support directly into the heart of local communities, and will be tailored to the North East in terms of the physical space, the types of events on offer and the partners SAMH engages with.
SAMH has a long history of supporting people in the North East. Over the past 30 years, we have supported thousands of people, from school pupils and families to adults experiencing mental health problems. But The Nook is their most ambitious project yet, offering free mental health support to anyone who walks through the door, without the need for appointments, referrals, or waiting lists.
Did you know that SAMH provides resources and training for you and your team? Take a look at the resources below to support your workplace wellbeing and mental health.
Five Ways to Better Mental Health - A popular resource which offers 5 key areas to consider when looking at better wellbeing.
Conversations in the Community - A free e-learning course which helps people practice how to talk about mental health and feel more prepared to help others.
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