A patient using the Dr Julian Platform on The Nook (Credit: Scottish Mental Health Action)
A digital care platform developed by clinical entrepreneur and NHS GP Dr Julian Nesbitt supports Scotland’s first national network of walk-in mental health centers as the charity rolls out community mental health services.
Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH) has rolled out the Dr Julian platform at its recently opened Nook centers in Aberdeen and Glasgow, with more locations planned for next year as the charity expands the programme.
The corner 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 supports the service by providing an online portal through which people can access support, book appointments if they prefer not to show up, and receive personalized support through secure digital panels.
According to Dr Nesbitt, the platform has already been used to support the delivery of over 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 are proud to support SAMH with technology that supports more accessible, personalized and seamless support across Scotland.”
Users can access personalized wellness tools, self-help resources, psychoeducation materials, and personalized support plans before and after in-person appointments, allowing people to continue accessing resources between appointments.
The technology also supports operational management across all sites, including appointment scheduling, workforce capacity and access to services, while collecting data on service usage 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.
“Dr Julian’s team worked closely with us to tailor the platform to our vision for The Nook, helping us create a service that is tailored to local needs but can be rolled out to future Nooks across the country.”
The partnership comes as health systems increasingly explore ways to combine digital tools with in-person 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.
