Closure of mental health charity 'a sad day'

JRC had been helping people since 2017 and focused on raising awareness through mental health education sessions

The closure of a mental health charity in Jersey has been declared "a sad day" by businesses and users.

Directors at the Jersey Recovery College (JRC) said it been forced to close due to increased demands on services, growing costs and a reduction in income and donations.

JRC had been helping people since 2017 and focused on raising awareness through mental health education sessions.

Robert Surcouf, from the Association of Jersey Charities, said the charity had been a "phenomenal team" helping individuals and businesses to "better understand mental health".

He said: "It's a terrible loss and at this point in time concerning.

"We know that the team there were doing everything they could to come up with a solution and they've had to take a very difficult decision.

"It's a wake up call to our whole community, not just our government... we are very lucky in this island - we have some phenomenal charities and a lot of people volunteer and donate but that isn't guaranteed."

'A real shame'

Mind Jersey said the news was "a sad day for the community and voluntary sector in Jersey".

It said: "We need a number of different approaches to manage the complexity of distress associated with mental illness.

"It is vital that we continue to provide community based social and educational approaches to reduce stigma and reach people who are alienated from communities for no other reason than from having a mental illness."

Emily Jayne Smith, a supporter of the charity through another organisation, said it came as a shock.

"I think a lot of people in the island are really going to miss it - everything from courses about anxiety to sea swimming... I think people are going to miss that," she said.

JRC advised people affected by the news to seek support from other organisations like Mind Jersey, Samaritans or Liberate.