A MENTAL health charity which has helped thousands of people has been saved from closure after a flood of donations just hours before it was due to run out of money.

Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Mind launched a desperate appeal for £20,000 six weeks ago after funding dried up leaving it unable to pay staff and run the seven major projects which with 60 volunteers provide a lifeline for more than a thousand people a year.

With 24 hours to go the charity still needed £4,000 but at the last minute donations flooded in, taking the total so far to £25,786.

Best selling author GP Taylor, from Whitby, broke his silence about his own battle with mental illness to help the charity, which had helped him as he struggled with severe depression and led him to almost taking his own life.

He said: “The charity is a lifeline for so many people and it was terrifying that it could have closed. Mental illness can affect anyone at any time during their lives and I’m delighted this charity can carry on its life-saving work. Please support them if you can.”

Sophie Hall, head of services, said the charity was now secure until September giving them a chance to get other funding in place, but still desperately needed long term help.

“We’ve been simply overwhelmed and moved to tears by people’s generosity," she said. "All the funds will be used to continue helping change local people’s lives and we are incredibly grateful for every single penny which will all go to directly helping people living in our community.

“Mental health charities are among the least popular choices for donations, despite mental health affecting one in four of us and at a time when there are less and less services for people to access.

“We were in a desperate situation which was very distressing for all the people we work with as well as those who are employed or volunteer for the charity.

“We need to find £250,000 every year to sustain ourselves, employing 17 staff supported by volunteers who work with some of the most vulnerable people in society, people who often have nowhere else to turn , are suicidal and with no hope left,” she added.

Mind runs support groups, a one to one service and a daytime telephone helpline, as well as doing outreach work and taking urgent referrals from other groups. Information is available through the website www.swrmind.org.uk