A funding boost of £500,000 to improve mental health services has been announced by the Scottish Government to coincide with World Mental Health Day on 10 October.

NHS24, Scotland’s health information and self care advice service, will use the development funding to improve the services it offers to people experiencing low mood, depression and anxiety, supporting those who need unscheduled care but do not require emergency services.

The funding increase comes after it was revealed that the number of people contacting NHS24’s dedicated mental health line, Breathing Space, has more than doubled over the last decade from 38,000 in 2006 to 87,000 in 2016.

Scotland’s mental health minister Maureen Watt said: “Building on the plans laid out in our Mental Health Strategy, this £500,000 funding package will help NHS24 to improve their mental health services, whether online or via telephone. This is a key part of our work to intervene early, which we know can help prevent problems from worsening.”