30,525 Moments of Support: A Milestone for Distress Brief Intervention
At Penumbra Mental Health, we believe no one should face distress alone. That’s why we’re proud to share an important milestone: since we began delivering Distress Brief Intervention (DBI) services in 2017, we’ve now supported 30,525 referrals across Scotland.
Behind every one of those numbers is a person – someone who reached out or was referred at a moment of crisis, and who found rapid, compassionate support from our dedicated DBI Practitioners.
What is DBI?
DBI is a short-term, person-centred support service designed for people experiencing distress. It’s about being there quickly, listening, and helping people manage their situation while connecting them with longer-term resources if needed.
Here’s how it works: frontline staff – such as NHS 24, the Scottish Ambulance Service, GP practices, or Police Scotland – can make a referral when someone presents in distress. One of our DBI Practitioners then makes contact, offering up to 14 days of compassionate, practical support.
DBI was first launched by the Scottish Government in 2016. We started delivering DBI in 2017 with a pilot programme in Aberdeen, and it quickly became clear this approach made a difference. Since then, our services have expanded across Scotland, including Dundee and Orkney, in partnership with local and national frontline organisations.
30,525 is not just a statistic, it represents real people, each with their own story, at a time when they are in distress.
A Growing Impact
Reflecting on the milestone, Rachel Middleton, our DBI Programme Manager, shared:
“When we first began delivering DBI in 2017, the immediate feedback from those we supported made it clear that this approach was making a real difference. What started as a single pilot has grown into a Scotland-wide service, touching tens of thousands of lives.
30,525 is not just a statistic – it represents real people, each with their own story, each at a time of need. Our incredible DBI colleagues have walked alongside every one of them, offering rapid, compassionate support.”
Our Practitioners often describe their work as a privilege:
“To be trusted at a time when someone feels vulnerable is something we take very seriously. We never take for granted the impact of our support.”
Voices of Support
It’s not just our team who see the value of DBI. A representative from Police Scotland told us:
“Penumbra’s DBI services provide meaningful support that people can engage with and, most importantly, access in a timely manner.”
And most powerfully, people we’ve supported continue to share the difference DBI made in their lives. One person reflected:
“I’m glad I was referred to DBI. The rapid response and amazing 24-hour support from my Practitioner has been invaluable. It really helped to have someone who could empathise and relate to what I was going through.”
Looking Ahead
This milestone is a moment of pride, but also a reminder of why we do what we do. Every referral represents someone who needed to be heard, supported, and helped to take the next step forward.
As we look ahead, we remain committed to expanding and enhancing DBI across Scotland, ensuring that more people can access support when they need it most. Because everyone deserves timely, compassionate care – and no one should face crisis alone.
Huge thanks to our DBI Programme Manager, Rachel Middleton for her support and pride in sharing this important news with us. Well done to her and the entire DBI team for their incredible work.
Inspired? Visit Penumbra’s career page: penumbra.org.uk/careers
