SAMH

What SAMH does

SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health) is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee, founded in 1923, that operates as Scotland's national mental health charity. It delivers a portfolio of more than 70 services across Scotland employing approximately 550 staff, providing one million-plus hours of support annually and reaching millions of beneficiaries. Its core offer spans barrier-free walk-in mental health support via The Nook hub network, virtual wellbeing services (Time for You, Qwell), community-based peer support (Sam's Cafe, Expeerience Counts), therapeutic horticulture (Chrysalis, Evergreen, Redhall Walled Garden), employability programmes, physical activity and sport initiatives, suicide prevention campaigns, and digital self-help tools including a WEMWBS-based Wellbeing Assessment Tool. All services are free at point of use, with no appointment, referral, or waiting list required at the walk-in hubs.

The underlying technology stack is light and non-proprietary: a public website (samh.org.uk), digital self-help and e-learning platforms such as Conversations in the Community, online moderated forums via Qwell, and standardised outcome measurement using the validated Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale. SAMH does not develop proprietary AI/ML, APIs, or software products, and positions its digital tools as delivery channels rather than technology businesses. The organisation holds a WAI 'A' accessibility rating and is accredited as a Living Wage Employer and Good Fundraising Scotland certified.

Revenue is generated through four streams: individual donations, community and event-based fundraising, statutory contracts with local authorities and the NHS (including independent advocacy under the Mental Health Act), and B2B workplace mental health training for employers. The business is not a commercial enterprise: there is no equity ownership, no pricing for end-user services, and growth is measured in social reach and service volume rather than revenue. Strategic direction is set by a £10m three-year fundraising appeal launched to fund the national rollout of The Nook network, targeting five walk-in hubs across Scotland by 2028.

Name

SAMH

Legal name

Scottish Action for Mental Health

Website

https://samh.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

SAMH is Scotland's national mental health charity, operating 70+ free services including walk-in hubs, peer support, therapy, and digital self-help tools, serving the Scottish public, employers, and schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Housing Services (62422), Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (621330)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Outpatient Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Programs (HLAFABAD)

Keywords

• Mental health charity
• Community mental health
• Peer support services
• Suicide prevention
• Workplace wellbeing

Headquarters

HQ city

Glasgow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: SAMH relies heavily on public donations from individuals. The website features prominent donate buttons and they conduct regular donation appeals including their major Nook appeal targeting £10 million over three years.
2. Fundraising Events: SAMH organizes and participates in fundraising events including Kiltwalk, marathons, running events, cycling challenges, virtual fundraisers, and community events. Their fundraising journey began in 2011.
3. Workplace Training Services: SAMH delivers expert training to organizations' staff and managers to build mentally healthy workplaces, generating revenue through professional services.
4. Statutory Funding: As a charity providing social care and mental health services, SAMH receives funding from local authorities and NHS under the Mental Health Act for independent advocacy services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

SAMH is Scotland's national mental health charity operating over 70 services across Scotland, providing barrier-free mental health support including walk-in hubs (The Nook), virtual wellbeing support (Time for You), peer support, horticultural therapy, employability services, workplace training, and suicide prevention programmes. All direct services are delivered free to users with no appointment, referral, or waiting list required.

Product overview

SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health) is Scotland's national mental health charity operating over 70 services in communities across Scotland. The organization offers a diverse portfolio of mental health services including The Nook (national network of walk-in mental health hubs), Time for You (virtual wellbeing support), and various community-based services. Key offerings include peer support programs (Sam's Cafe, Expeerience Counts), horticultural therapy (Redhall Walled Garden, Chrysalis, Evergreen), employability services (Step Up), physical activity programs (Achieving Active Lives, The Changing Room), and digital tools (Wellbeing Assessment Tool, Conversations in the Community elearning, Digital Self-Care Plan, Qwell). The organization also runs national campaigns including Show Up/Wee Pink Dot and suicide prevention initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Nook: Scotland's first national network of free walk-in mental health support hubs offering barrier-free mental health support without appointments or waiting lists.
• Conversations in the Community

Products and services

• The Nook Scotland's first national network of free, walk-in mental health support hubs offering drop-in, barrier-free, non-clinical support in safe, stigma-free environments with no appointment or referral required. Open seven days a week. Intended for anyone in Scotland experiencing or at risk of mental health problems.
• Time for You Virtual mental health and wellbeing support service providing a safe space for one-to-one help, wellbeing coaching, counselling, digital resources, and moderated community forums for anyone aged 16+ in Scotland.
• Qwell Safe online space providing access to support from qualified professionals and peer support, available as part of cost-of-living support services for mental health assistance.
• Sam's Cafe Peer-led drop-in service in Fife providing mental health support, crisis support, and challenging thoughts assistance with no appointment or referral required.
• Chrysalis Therapeutic horticultural garden in Dundee offering practical work experience opportunities for people affected by mental health problems. Open Monday to Thursday, 9am-4pm.
• Evergreen Horticultural wellbeing support service in Kirkcaldy helping people build new skills and confidence through nature-based activities. Open Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm.
• Expeerience Counts Peer support service in North Lanarkshire where peer support workers with personal experience of mental ill health are trained and employed to help others experiencing or recovering from mental health problems.
• Redhall Walled Garden 18th century walled garden in Edinburgh offering voluntary work placements and training in horticulture, conservation, IT, administration, and mental health awareness. Open Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm.
• Going Forth One-to-one support combined with small group workshops helping individuals explore and develop coping strategies to manage mental health and wellbeing.
• The Changing Room Sport-based mental health support programme delivered in partnership with football clubs, providing safe spaces for men to discuss mental health at football grounds.
• Achieving Active Lives Physical activity programme designed to improve mental health through exercise and sports engagement.
• Employability Services (Step Up) Employment support services including the Step Up programme helping people with mental health problems return to or maintain employment.
• Wellbeing on Wheels Mobile mental health and wellbeing support service bringing assistance directly to communities across Scotland.
• Well-Informed Information Service Resource centre in North Lanarkshire, delivered in partnership with NHS Lanarkshire and North Lanarkshire Council, helping people find mental health information and services.
• SAMH Information Service Information and support service available 10am-4pm Monday to Friday via email ([email protected]) and telephone, providing guidance on mental health topics, resources, and support options.
• Workplace Mental Health Training Expert training delivered to organisations' staff and managers to build mentally healthy workplaces, including mental health first aid and reasonable adjustments guidance, with content co-produced via See Me partnerships.
• Conversations in the Community Free online e-learning course, co-produced with people with lived experience of mental health problems with support from the Co-op National Charity Partnership, taking approximately 90 minutes to complete and helping users practice talking about mental health.
• Wellbeing Assessment Tool Online assessment using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) methodology to measure and monitor mental wellbeing over time through 14 scored questions.
• Digital Self-Care Plan Online self-care planning tool for young people featuring videos, mood trackers, and personalised resources to support mental health management.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Nook Glasgow supported 3,000+ people in first 6 months
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• SeeMeflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSee Me is the national programme to end mental health discrimination in Scotland. SAMH partners with See Me as part of their national programme work in anti-stigma and discrimination.
• RespectMecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRespectMe is Scotland's anti-bullying service. SAMH works with RespectMe as part of their national programme work.
• Co-op National Charity PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAMH developed their Conversations in the Community e-learning course with support from the Co-op National Charity Partnership. The course was co-produced with people with lived experience of mental health problems.
• SportscotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSportscotland partnership as part of SAMH's physical activity and sport programme work, including The Changing Room initiative at football grounds.
• JogscotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJogscotland partnership providing group finder for jogging groups as part of SAMH's physical activity recommendations in their Five Ways to Better Mental Health programme.
• See Me (Workplace)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSee Me provides materials for display in workplaces as part of SAMH's workplace wellbeing programme to create mentally healthy workplaces.
• MINDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIND is referenced in SAMH's privacy policy as one of their partnerships where they may share anonymised information for programme purposes.
• Scottish AthleticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScottish Athletics partnership as part of SAMH's physical activity and sport programme work.
• VSAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVSA is the North East of Scotland's leading social care charity. SAMH has been supporting mental health in the North East for many years, and The Nook builds on these existing services. Both organizations serve the Aberdeen area.
• Mental Health Charter PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOrganizations and clubs signing up to SAMH's Mental Health Charter for Sport, committing to promoting mental health in sporting environments. Includes both organization-level and community/club-level sign-ups.
• Dog Haus Creative / MadeBraveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCreative agencies that supported the Wee Pink Dot campaign, providing design and creative services for the anti-stigma campaign.
• Glasgow Science CentreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered with SAMH for the Wee Pink Dot campaign launch, providing venue and support for campaign activities.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mind: Mind is the largest mental health charity in England and Wales, providing information, support, community services, and campaigning on mental health; directly comparable to SAMH as a national mental health charity offering helplines, community programmes, workplace training, and policy advocacy across the UK.
• YoungMinds: YoungMinds is the UK's leading charity championing children and young people's mental health, offering information, helplines, training, and campaigning; comparable to SAMH's children and young people segment, including the Digital Self-Care Plan and school link worker programmes.
• Mental Health Foundation: The Mental Health Foundation is a UK-wide charity focused on prevention, public mental health research, and anti-stigma campaigns; comparable to SAMH through national programme work (anti-stigma), public-facing campaigns, and workplace/education mental health initiatives.
• Richmond Fellowship: Richmond Fellowship is a UK mental health charity providing recovery-focused services including supported housing, employment support, and community programmes; comparable to SAMH's employability, supported accommodation, and community-based recovery services.
• Together for Mental Wellbeing: Together for Mental Wellbeing is a UK charity providing community mental health services, supported housing, and advocacy; closely comparable to SAMH's community-based services, supported accommodation, and one-to-one support offerings.
• Rethink Mental Illness: Rethink Mental Illness is a UK charity providing support groups, services, information, and campaigning for people affected by mental illness; comparable to SAMH through its mix of community-based services, supported housing, peer support, and national policy work.
• Health in Mind: Health in Mind is a Scottish mental health charity offering counselling, peer support, and training across Scotland; a direct regional peer to SAMH with overlapping therapy, training, and community mental health service offerings in the Scottish market.

Others

• See Me (Scotland's anti-stigma programme): See Me is Scotland's national programme to end mental health discrimination, hosted within SAMH's national programme portfolio and listed as a flagship partner; adjacent rather than competing, it operates as a SAMH-led initiative for anti-stigma campaigning.

Emerging players

• Anxiety UK: Anxiety UK is a UK charity providing support, information, and therapy services specifically for people with anxiety, stress, and anxiety-based depression; comparable to SAMH's talking therapies and online self-help offerings, though narrower in condition focus.

Regional players

• Penumbra Mental Health: Penumbra Mental Health is a Scottish mental health charity providing supported living, community outreach, and self-harm services; directly comparable to SAMH as a Scotland-focused mental health charity with personal-support and accommodation services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SAMHScotland
• Xx.com/samhtweets
• TikToktiktok.com/@samhscotland
• Instagraminstagram.com/samhscotland
• YouTubeyoutube.com/samhscotland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/samh-scotland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SAMH