Controversial Therapy Helpline Costs Scottish Taxpayers £72,000 for 3 Calls

Concerns Rise Over Conversion Therapy Helpline’s Impact and Cost

With both Westminster and Holyrood governments pushing for legislation against “abusive” conversion therapy practices, questions arise about the true extent of the issue. While it’s already illegal to engage in abusive behavior in therapy settings, the frequency and impact of such practices remain unclear.

A recent Freedom of Information request sheds light on the utilization of a public helpline designed to support individuals who believe they are victims of conversion therapy. The Christian Institute’s inquiry revealed that the Scottish Government allocated nearly £72,000 to the charity LGBT Health and Wellbeing to manage the service. During the last quarter of 2025, the helpline received only three calls, potentially from the same individual.

Although the government could not provide call data for the first three quarters of the year, The Christian Institute suggested that if the last quarter’s pattern continued, the helpline would have received about 16 calls throughout the year, costing taxpayers approximately £4,500 per call.

The Times reported that LGBT Health and Wellbeing facilitated sessions for biological men identifying as women to ‘breastfeed,’ although the charity contested this representation of their activities.

The organization has been actively lobbying in Holyrood for a legal ban on conversion therapy. However, the initiative faces opposition from Christian and free-speech advocates, who worry that the ban could criminalize prayer, pastoral conversations, or open dialogues between parents and children.

Critics argue that parents who do not affirm their child’s gender identity or discourage surgery could face accusations of psychological abuse.

Joanna Timm, Senior Public Affairs Officer at The Christian Institute, commented on the situation: “These figures expose an extraordinary misuse of public money. Scottish taxpayers have funded what may well be the nation’s most expensive helpline. Existing criminal law already deals with abusive and coercive behavior.”

“The kind of law LGBT Health and Wellbeing are demanding would redefine ordinary parenting, pastoral care and prayer as ‘conversion therapy’,” she added.

“Taxpayers should not be forced to bankroll an organization that promotes controversial gender ideology while campaigning for a law that could criminalize ordinary conversations between parents and children, or ministers and members of their congregations.”