MF Scotland

The following services are provided by MF Scotland:

• Holistic assessment, initially over 3 to 5 appointments to help survivors identify their needs and access appropriate support
• A counselling and psychotherapy service for individual survivors age 18 and over
• A systemic family therapy service, offering ongoing psychotherapy to children, young people and adults who identify themselves as a family.
• A programme of group therapy for survivors of torture
• A medico-legal report (MLR) writing service. This service offers forensic reports, psychiatric reports and psychological reports.
• Training for local agencies working with survivors
• Supervision for local mental health practitioners working with survivors
• Therapeutic massage service

The Medical Foundation Scotland covers the whole of Scotland.

Who can be referred to Medical Foundation Scotland?

We accept referrals to our counselling and psychotherapy services on behalf of survivors of torture and organised violence living in Scotland who are aged 18 or over.  We also accept referrals of children with their families.   We consider referrals from people who are affected by their experiences of torture and as a result, are psychologically and physically vulnerable. Due to the high volume of referrals and out limited capacity, we are unable to offer appointments to every person referred.  We prioritise working with survivors who have additional unmet complex needs and would have difficulty accessing other appropriate services, and are not successfully engaged elsewhere.  We accept referrals to our MLR service for both adults and young people under the age of 18.

How do I refer to Medical Foundation Scotland?

Referrals for any of our counselling and psychotherapy services can be made using our referral form. To refer for an MLR, lawyers must write direct to the MLR Team at Medical Foundation London.

About our work

Throughout 2009, 198 people received ongoing treatment and care through our counselling and psychotherapy service. In addition, another 58 people attended MF Scotland for the purposes of obtaining an MLR, to document evidence of their experiences of torture.

We worked with people from 34 countries across the world in 2009, foremost among which were Iran, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.  To read about a survivor supported by MF Scotland, see Ahmed's story in our Survivors’ Stories section.