If school is hard right now

What can help, who's actually there for you, and what you're allowed to ask for.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999. If you need to talk to someone urgently, call NHS 24 on 111.

On this page

  • Link

  • Link

  • Link

  • Link

Someone to talk to at school

Most secondary schools have a free, confidential counsellor. You can ask for this yourself. You don't need a teacher to arrange it for you, though a lot of people get there because a teacher noticed something first.

You can say: "Can I speak to the school counsellor, please?"

You don't need to know exactly what's wrong to ask.

"I'm not doing okay" is enough.

You can also ask for your guidance teacher, or find out who your Named Person is. In Scotland, every pupil is generally offered one as a point of contact, and saying yes to that support is up to you.

Getting extra support if you're struggling

If things at school are hard because of your mental health, or anything else, you can ask the school to look at extra support.

This is called "additional support needs" in Scotland. It might mean extra time, a different way of doing work, or a plan built around you.

What you can do:

  1. Tell your guidance teacher, or a teacher you trust

  1. Ask what support is available

  2. If nothing changes, ask in writing for a proper assessment

Who can ask for the assessment

  • If you are 16 or over: you can ask for it yourself, in writing.

  • If you are 12 to 15: you can also ask yourself, if the council agrees it will not cause you difficulty.

  • If you are under 12: a parent or carer asks on your behalf.

You're allowed to ask more than once if the first conversation doesn't go anywhere.