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NHS Borders Community Adult Mental Health Service:

Who we are:

Huntlyburn

The Borders Adult Community Mental Health Service (BACMHS) offer specialist mental health care, through non-emergency care pathway.

Our service includes assessment and treatment of patients in the community, between the ages 18 to 69, with suspected or known mental illness or disorder.

If you are aged 18 or under then your GP can refer you to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

If you are aged 70 or over then your GP can refer you to Mental Health for Older Adults

Our aim is to make sure that, if you have an acute or enduring mental health problem you are assessed, supported and treated in the right way, to support optimal recovery.

This can include but is not limited to:

  • Provide advice and support to primary care and other professionals about how to manage your care.
  • Provide structured and evidence based clinical interventions based on your current needs. This can include work with one professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist or Community Mental Health Nurse (CMHN) or may include work from multiple professions.
  • Introduce you to other services and organisations, such as third sector/charities in line with your needs.
  • Provide assessment and treatment, if you are experiencing a newly emerging mental illness or disorder.
  • Provide assessment and treatment if you have more complex and enduring needs.
  • Commence, recommend and monitor psychiatric medication.
  • Offer specialist Perinatal Mental Health advise with our Community Perinatal Mental Health Team.
  • Contact with the BACMHS may be in person at BGH, a health centre, community hospital or your home; through telephone consultation, or Near Me (NHS video conference call).

 Our Locality Teams:

  • West – Galashiels, Peebles, Innerleithen, Stow, Lauder, West Linton
  • East – Chirnside, Coldstream, Duns, Earlston, Eyemouth, Greenlaw, Kelso, Melrose, Newtown St Boswells
  • South – Selkirk, Hawick, Newcastleton and Jedburgh

 Borders Map

The Service consists of:

The BACMHS Locality Teams are made up of a multidisciplinary team, who work together to provide the right care for you.

They include:

  • Administration staff
  • Consultant Psychiatrists and Specialty Doctors
  • Resident Doctors
  • Team Managers
  • Community Mental Health Nurses (CMHN)
  • Specialist Psychological Nurse Therapist
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Community Health Care Support Workers (HCSW)
  • Peer Support Workers
  • Social Workers
  • Occupational Therapists or other allied health professionals such as Physiotherapists
  • Clinical Psychologists
  • Mental Health Pharmacist

 

Those who may benefit from BACMHS input:

  • Individuals who are felt to have a moderate or severe mental illness.
  • Individuals who have had a number of contacts with primary care mental health services (such as Renew) which have not improved their difficulties.
  • Individuals who require specialist assessment and evidence based mental health interventions.
  • Individuals whose needs are not felt to be adequately met in a primary setting (such as GP or Renew).
  • Individuals who require multi-disciplinary care and treatment.
  • Individuals in the above categories who have disorders requiring skilled or intensive treatments provided within secondary care.

For more information about the Psychology Service click here

 

We are unable to support with the following:

  • Assess or treat individuals with a suspicion of ADHD or Autism without mental health co-morbidity or severe functional impairment.
  • Provide support with housing, benefits or finances.

 

NHS Borders Position in Relation to Adults Patients (18 years plus) concerned they may have ADHD or ASD

We understand that seeking support for possible ADHD or ASD can feel overwhelming, especially when you are already coping with difficulties in daily life. Our aim is to provide clear and honest information about what help is available in the Scottish Borders and how to access it.

NHS Borders has made the difficult decision not to offer ADHD or ASD assessments for adults (18 years and over) within the Borders Adult Community Mental Health Service (BACMHS). This follows national guidance from a Scottish Government‑commissioned report: NAIT Adult Neurodevelopmental Pathways report - gov.scot

ADHD/ASD diagnostic assessments are not available through BACMHS, the service offers these assessments and treatment for adults with moderate to severe mental illness only.

We continue to provide support for people with an existing NHS ADHD diagnosis and prescription, including prescribing during transition from CAMHS, annual monitoring, and continuation of prescriptions for those moving into the Scottish Borders from another NHS Board.

Unfortunately, we do not currently have an alternative NHS route for assessment or diagnosis for people who think they may have ADHD and/or ASD but do not meet BACMHS criteria. However, there are other sources of local support. These groups are volunteer‑run and not commissioned by NHS Borders, but many people find them helpful:

• Avatar – for autistic adults in the Scottish Borders (www.avatar-borders.co.uk)
• Procrastination Station / ADHD Borders – for people with ADHD (www.procrastination-station.co.uk)

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I am a young adult with ADHD transitioning from CAMHS?
You will continue to receive your medication and annual monitoring.

What if I stopped my ADHD medication and want to restart it?
If you stopped within the last 2 years, your GP can refer you for consideration. If more than 2 years, we are unable to restart treatment.

What if I move into the Borders and already receive ADHD medication from another NHS Health Board?
We will continue your prescription and offer annual monitoring.

What if I have a private diagnosis?
NHS Borders cannot review or accept private ADHD/ASD assessments and cannot prescribe medication initiated privately.

 

How to access:

You cannot self-refer, however you can be referred through your GP. 

Other services you may have worked with or had contact with, may also refer you, such as Renew, A&E, Social Work, Borders Crisis Team, Liaison Psychiatry, Midwife or Health Visitor.

If you currently receive support from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), your care may be transferred to adult services when you turn 18.

If you have been referred to our service, but have not yet been seen, please contact your GP should anything change.

 

We are aware there can be shortages in supply for ADHD medication. We are working with the national guidance to limit the impact this has on your care, and so may be given different brands to usual or a combination of doses to meet your prescribed amount. Please note this is out with our control.

Updated June 2026 – reviewed annually

 

 

Other supports available that you can access yourself

Breathing Space – 0800 83 85 87

Samaritans – 116 123

Shout – Text SHOUT to 85258

 

Local Support:

 

  • Local Area Coordinator

phone: 01896 664155

email: lac@scotborders.gov.uk

 

 

What Matters Hubs:

  • Kelso – Topiary Café, Mayfield Garden Centre, third Wednesday of the month, 10am–12.30pm
  • Galashiels – Asda Café, Currie Road, fourth Wednesday of the month, 10am–12.30pm
  • Hawick – Heart of Hawick, Tower Mill, second Thursday of the month, 10am–12.30pm (starting Thursday 8 August)
  • Peebles – Costa Coffee, High Street, second Wednesday of the month, 10am–12.30pm (starting Wednesday 14 August)

 

Additionally, we would like to highlight some additional services which could be useful in supporting you in the community:

 

Autism and ADHD supports 

 

Bipolar support

 

Self help resources

 

Men’s Mental health

 

Psychosis and Schizophrenia:

 

Benefits and financial support:

Citizens Advice Bureau(CAB) - Central Borders Citizens Advice Bureau | Free, impartial and confidential advice (galashielscab.org.uk)