JEAN CUMMING
Lifetime Achievement
Started early intervention counselling charity Crisis with just £100, providing support to more than 50,000 families, veterans and children.
After witnessing a lack of support, guidance and counselling during her time working in the NHS, Jean set up Crisis in March 1996. It is an early intervention service with a focus on
preventative care helping people with their mental health before it develops into an emergency.
Today, Crisis has more than 90 volunteer therapists helping people across Scotland, working with children, teenagers and adults to reduce suicide and self-harm, and other risks associated with poor mental health.
Four Weddings and A Funeral star John Hannah, who presented the mum-of-three with her Special Recognition award, said he found meeting Jean “incredibly humbling”. He said: “My achievements pale into insignificance next to hers.
“What she has done really counts and has saved countless lives.
“When Jean set up Crisis, mental health was not something anyone talked about but she recognised the severe need and set out to tackle it head-on. She is an inspiration and true unsung hero.”
Paying tribute to the big-hearted Scot, Take That’s Mark Owen added: “What you have achieved with your counselling charity Crisis is incredible. Well done and thank you. Jean you are kind and caring. Thank
you for being you. We are all so grateful.”
The Erskine-based charity also works with migrants and asylum seekers who have experienced issues adapting to their new home or have suffered acute trauma prior to fleeing to Scotland.
Jean says: “What we do works. We give early intervention and match the therapist to the client, who they can see for as long as required.
“There have been times when it has been hard to keep the door open but I’m proud that we have.”