By Ross MCKINNON The Glaswegian
A COMMUNITY mental health centre is facing closure in an area of the city with high rates of attempted suicide.
Creative Community Crafts, in Govanhill, ran out of funding in March and has until August to source new money or be shut down.
The drop-in centre, run by a board of directors from the community, has more than 200 members with 40 regular clients who have mental health problems.
Jean Sechauz, 48, founded Creative Community Crafts five years ago after developing symptoms of ME.
"This is a unique grassroots group that's run by people with mental health problems for people with mental health problems," said Jean.
"Our £49,000 grant from the national lottery ran out in March and we seem to be hitting brick walls in applying for new funding.
"At the moment we're barely operating on break even - that's with all our staff as unpaid volunteers who themselves have mental health problems."In August, when our lease runs out, we will have to close if we can't find funding.
Creative Community Crafts covers the south east of the city - Govanhill, Toryglen and Polmadie. In these areas, according to an NHS Health Scotland report last year, up to 29.8 per cent of the adult working population were unable to work through illness or disability -181 per cent above the Scottish average. In addition, Govanhill's rate for first hospital admissions for psychiatric care was 78 per cent above the national average, while in Polmadie and Toryglen the rate of hospital admissions for attempted suicide was 64 per cent above the Scottish average.
Yusuf Prasaad, 39, was studying law at college when his girlfriend committed suicide. He went on a downward spiral of drink and drugs. "I would be in an off-licence or looking for a drug dealer if I wasn't attending Creative Community Crafts," said Yusuf.
"If this place closes there will be no drop-in centre in Govanhill.
"When I feel suicidal I go to a doctor and am given five minutes of their time. "Here I can meet people with similar problems to me and we help each other. "Other mental health services are over-subscribed and can't offer the same dedication you get here."
For more information or to help Creative Community Crafts tel: 423 8125 or visit www.cc-crafts.co.uk