more visible in the Highlands
LGBT Youth Scotland has a text message support service - simply text "info" to 0778 148 17 88 and a trained youth worker will text you back.
Samaritans phoneline
08457 90 90 90
Available 24 hours a day,
7 days a week.
You can also email them.
Breathing Space phoneline
0800 83 85 87
Available 24 hours at weekends (6pm Friday - 6am Monday)
and 6pm - 2am on weekdays (Monday - Thursday).
Hate Free Highland
The Hate Free Highland web site has been developed to allow reporting of non-urgent hate incidents which have occurred in the Highland area. It is supported by the Highland Community Planning Partnership.
There is a very useful leaflet about how to report hate crime - click here to download it (PDF).
All details will be kept confidential and you can choose to report incidents anonymously if you wish.
The partners in this new initiative include Northern Constabulary, NHS Highland, Highland Council and Highlands & Islands Enterprise.
HATE CRIME
New legislation to tackle hate crime came into force on 24 March 2010. The Offences (Aggravation by Prejudice) (Scotland) Act 2009 extends existing statutory aggravations to cover offences motivated by prejudice in relation to disability, sexual orientation and transgender identity. This will give a greater range of aggravations adding to those already in force relating to racial and religious prejudice.
The Halt Hate Crime booklet has been produced by the Equality and Human Rights Commission in partnership with Equality Network and Stonewall Scotland.
SNN
The Scottish Netreach Network (SNN) is a group of agencies in Scotland that work with gay and bisexual men. Workers and volunteers offer online information on a wide range of topics including HIV, sexual health, relationships, safer sex, and coming out. It is not a counselling service. The SNN can also report gay hate crimes to the police on your behalf.
The SNN comprises six partner organisations in Scotland (Healthy Gay Scotland, Gay Men's Health, LGBT Youth Scotland, THT Scotland, ROAM, Open Road).
To contact the SNN online, visit their web site. You can also find them on Gaydar.
GAYDAR
If you use Gaydar and are concerned about safety issues, several police forces in Scotland have online profiles where you can get help:
- Northern Constabulary - www.gaydar.co.uk/policeservice
and gaydargirls.com/policeservice
- Grampian Police Aberdeen - gaydar.co.uk/lgbtgram_police
- Lothian and Borders Police Edinburgh - www.gaydar.co.uk/lgbtlandb
and gaydargirls.com/lgbtlandb
- Strathclyde Police Glasgow - gaydar.co.uk/lgbtstrathclyde
and gaydargirls.com/lgbtstrathclyde
- Tayside Police Dundee - gaydar.co.uk/lgbttaypolice
Useful links include:
Domestic Abuse
Depression
- Breathing Space a free phone-line for people experiencing low mood and depression in Scotland
- Choose Life Highland - helping to prevent suicide
HIV:
- Connected Scotland - a website dedicated to gay and bisexual men living with HIV, their partners, family and friends
- Healthy Gay Scotland - sexual advice for gay and bisexual men - includes the Cocktales comics and free condoms by mail order
- HIV Scotland - the leading national policy and strategic HIV charity
- LGBT Centre for Health and Wellbeing (Edinburgh)
- Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland. The THT Inverness office (01463 711 585) offers free confidential information and advice (on HIV, STI's, safer sex and other related issues), testing and free condoms / lube.