Inverness' Cairdeas mental health centre could close

NHS Highland also offers support for mental health issues at another centre in Inverness

A drop-in centre for people with mental health problems looks set to close at the end of next month after NHS Highland withdrew £150,000 of funding.

Cairdeas Cottage on Bank Street in Inverness is run by the charity Support in Mind Scotland.

NHS Highland said it had a mental health centre in the city's Bruce Gardens and funding two similar services was unsustainable.

Mental health charity Hug has called for Cairdeas Cottage to be saved.

Graham Morgan, of Hug, said: "We are hugely concerned about the closure of Cairdeas Cottage.

"It is a place that people can feel safe in and looked after.

"It is where they can get a hot meal, it is where they can get support from each other and staff."

'Sufficient capacity'

Mr Morgan added: "The closure of it will mean that many, many people will no longer have that service and in their words will have nowhere else to go."

NHS Highland said it reduced the funding to Support in Mind to provide the drop-in service following a review.

A spokesman said: "NHS Highland had explored the feasibility of merging Bruce Garden's Day Centre services 10 sessions per week and Cairdeas Cottage Day Service's seven sessions per week to form a seven day service for the city of Inverness, with evening options and to deliver savings.

"NHS Highland has been clear from the outset that maintaining two separate services was unsustainable.

"A thorough review of attendance at both services highlighted that there was sufficient capacity to provide the drop-in service in one building, and expand the range of activities suggested by service users."

He added: "The move to seven day opening will also meet a long expressed desire for clients for support over the weekend."