We are delighted to be able to expand our mental health individual advocacy service to children and young people (age 12-17) in Midlothian from 1st September.
Children and young people with mental health issues have the same right to access independent advocacy as adults do. Advocacy can be an important support for a young person, helping them to exercise their rights and have their views and wishes heard.
Our advocacy workers can be by your side to help you:
- understand what’s happening and what your rights are
- ask questions and find out more
- tell others how you feel and what you want
- take part in meetings about you
We can work together to support you to take part in lots of things, such as:
- meetings about your mental health care and treatment
- Mental Health Tribunals
- meetings with social work
- speaking to your school or education provider
- helping you make a complaint if something goes wrong
Our advocacy workers are there to be on your side – you are the boss!
This is a pilot service and will be open to referrals from 1st September 2026 – 31 March 2027.
To find out more or refer yourself or someone else click here or call 0131 273 5236.
These are some of the things that young people have said about working with an advocacy worker:
[my advocacy worker] is so kind and helps me to put my thoughts into words
She helped me understand stuff, that I really didn’t understand.
She was very good at listening, she didn’t try to make what you said into what she wanted, she just listened to me.