SAMH opens The Nook in Glasgow
23rd October 2025
SAMH has opened The Nook in Glasgow, the first of a national network of walk-in mental health hubs – providing immediate support for tens of thousands of people experiencing mental health problems.
The Nook from SAMH provides barrier-free access to mental health support, with no need to book an appointment, no referrals, and no waiting lists. Anyone looking for help can walk through the door whenever they need to, seven days a week.
Opening today in Glasgow, followed by Nooks in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Inverclyde and Lanarkshire over the next three years, the national network of hubs is SAMH’s response to Scotland’s mental health crisis.
The Nook will be accompanied by an extensive outreach programme which will extend support to surrounding communities, helping even more people to access support.
SAMH Chief Executive Billy Watson said: “SAMH Chief Executive Billy Watson said: “This is a hugely significant day for community mental health provision in Glasgow and Scotland and a proud day for SAMH.
“The Nook offers anyone experiencing mental health problems accessible support, and our skilled and compassionate team is ready to welcome visitors.
“There will be no waiting list, there will be no rejection and no stigma – we’re cutting through the red tape to make it as easy as possible for people to get the help they need.
“We know it’s hard enough to ask for help when someone is at their lowest. It takes courage to reach out. And when people do so, they should be able to ask once and get help fast. That’s what The Nook is all about.
“The Nook is the most ambitious thing we’ve ever done. This is SAMH standing up, taking action, and creating change with a solution that will transform community mental health support.”
Elizabeth Olowe, 22, from Glasgow, is a member of SAMH's Young People's Panel. Elizabeth has experienced CPTSD (complex post-traumatic stress disorder) and thoughts of suicide, and struggled to access consistent support from mental health services. Living with selective mutism and autism also made it challenging to communicate with professionals and get the help she needed.
She said: “The Nook would have been a great help to me in my time of need. It would have given me a way to express myself safely, without feeling pressured or afraid.
“I think The Nook is an inclusive space that can support young people from all walks of life, including those with disabilities and neurodivergent conditions.”
Lucy Main, 20, from Paisley, who is also a member of SAMH's Young People's Panel, shares how a place like The Nook would have helped her when she was younger.
Lucy said: "When I was 10, I was given a mental health diagnosis based on assumptions because I was a young female. That label stuck and because of it, my physical symptoms - which were not caused by my mental health - were often ignored.
"For a long time, I felt like no one was really listening to me. Thankfully my family stood by me and fought to make sure my voice was heard but I know not everyone is so fortunate.
“That’s why breaking the stigma around mental health, especially for young people, is so crucial. We need better education, earlier awareness and more safe, welcoming spaces like The Nook, where people can speak openly, ask for help and be taken seriously.
“Sometimes simply being heard can change everything."
Shona Littlejohn, Chair of SAMH, said: “Scotland is in a mental health crisis, and The Nook is our bold and innovative response.
“For far too long, people have been sitting on waiting lists, alone, and unable to access to support they need. This is for them and the tens of thousands of others across Scotland in need of help.
“We believe The Nook will truly revolutionise mental health support in Scotland by both delivering walk in support and inspiring collective action to change the system in the longer term.”
The Nook is supported by SAMH’s first ever major appeal, with a target of £10m to fund the hubs for three years. SAMH has made its own significant financial contribution, and further donations can be made on their website.
Based in SAMH’s headquarters at Brunswick House, 51 Wilson Street, Glasgow, The Nook is open seven days a week, between 10am and 4pm.
To find out more about The Nook, visit samh.org.uk/the-nook.
