Council told to rethink mental health charity cut

A COUNCIL is to review controversial cuts to mental health services after hearing evidence from a threatened charity.

At a specially convened Glasgow City Council scrutiny committee, members voted to ask the council’s executive committee to review its decision to slash the funding of Glasgow Association for Mental Health by 40 per cent. The measure, passed in December, was opposed by a campaign group led by the union Unison and GAMH service users and staff.

The £800,000 reduction in funding for GAMH is part of a reconfiguration of mental health services in the city which social care director David Williams says will help focus on recovery and ensure people do not continue to need social work support for lengthy periods.

However it is forcing the charity to make up to 30 people redundant and halve the amount of support on offer to those affected by mental health problems.

A separate item, calling for the committee to send a planned shake up of sheltered housing back for reconsideration, was defeated.

Committee chair, SNP councillor David McDonald, said: “The two items considered today are in their own way of vital importance to some of our city’s most vulnerable citizens. I am disappointed that we saw one of the papers pushed through by Labour, in the face of powerful testimony from Housing Associations, wardens and residents.

“However, I am content that we have managed to force the Labour administration to rethink their clouded thinking over budget allocations to Glasgow Association for Mental Health (GAMH).”