A patient using the Dr Julian Platform in The Nook (Credit: Scottish Action for Mental Health)
A digital care platform developed by NHS clinical entrepreneur and GP Dr Julian Nesbitt is supporting Scotland’s first national network of walk-in mental health hubs as the charity rolls out community-based mental health services.
Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH) has deployed the Dr Julian platform across its newly launched Nook hubs in Aberdeen and Glasgow, with further locations planned for next year as the charity expands the programme.
The Nook offers walk-in mental health support for young people, adults and families seven days a week, without the need for an NHS referral, appointment or waiting list. The model aims to improve access to early support while reducing barriers to care.
The digital platform underpins the service by providing an online portal through which people can access support, book appointments if they prefer not to walk in, and receive tailored support through secure digital dashboards.
According to Dr Nesbitt, the platform has already been used to support the delivery of more than one million therapy sessions across NHS, independent and community mental health services.
Dr Julian Nesbitt said: “Too often, people struggle to access mental health support due to long waits and complex referral pathways. The Nook is changing that with a simple, community-based model where people can access compassionate support when they need it.
“We’re proud to support SAMH with technology that supports more accessible, personalised and continuous support across Scotland.”
Users can access tailored wellbeing tools, self-help resources, psychoeducation materials and personalised support plans before and after face-to-face appointments, allowing people to continue accessing resources between appointments.
The technology also supports operational management across the hubs, including appointment scheduling, workforce capacity and service access, while collecting data on service use and engagement.
Ciaran Barbour, head of digital and information systems at SAMH, said: “We needed a platform that could support public access to services while remaining simple and accessible for people who may be digitally excluded or less confident in using technology.
“The Dr Julian team worked closely with us to adapt the platform around our vision for The Nook, helping us create a service that is adaptable to meet local need but can be rolled out to future Nooks across the country.”
The partnership comes as health systems increasingly explore ways of combining digital tools with face-to-face services to improve access to community mental health care.
Demand for mental health services continues to rise across the UK, with health systems increasingly exploring hybrid models of care that use digital technology to complement face-to-face support.
SAMH says the model is intended to support earlier intervention while reducing pressure on referral-based services.