The Distress Brief Intervention (DBI) programme aims to support individuals in distress who seek help from frontline services in Scotland. Launched in 2017, the DBI programme involves collaboration between the Scottish Government, frontline services including the NHS and Police Scotland, third sector organisations, and the
University of Glasgow. DBI provides two levels of support:
- Level 1 involves an immediate compassionate response from trained staff such as police and healthcare providers. If assessed by Level 1 staff as appropriate for DBI Level 2 they will be offered a referral for Level 2 support.
- Level 2 offers around 14 days of compassionate, community-based, person centred support from third sector organisations working in the mental health and wellbeing field. The support can involve distress management planning and guidance about how the person might be able to tackle the background issues which are causing their distress, as well as signposting to other sources of support which are relevant to the issues causing the distress.
Key findings from the evaluation
- Overall, young people’s distress levels had decreased by the end of Level 2 support and young people felt able to manage their current and future distress.
- The promise of immediate support was valued by young people and referrers. Being able to refer young people to a service which provides immediate support with no waiting list was extremely helpful for school-based Level 1 referrers.
- Young people appreciated flexibility in scheduling and modes of support, though consistency varied. Most young people expressed a preference for in person support, although this was not always offered.
- A positive relationship with DBI practitioners was crucial for engagement, providing a safe space to talk and feel validated.
- Young people valued the coping strategies provided, though some found generic advice less helpful or the use of worksheets to get in the way of talking about the things which were important to them.
- Young people would have preferred longer support durations, feeling the 14 day limit left issues unresolved. Practitioners found the model to be working well but often extended support beyond the standard 14 days due to the longer time taken to build rapport with young people compared with adults and suggested that longer durations of support should be formalised.
- School staff described how DBI had, to an extent, reduced their workload. By having DBI support, staff felt reassured that the young person was supported when their own time is limited.
