PEOPLE who used a vital mental health support service which saved lives only to be axed by North Ayrshire Council have attacked the decision.

The 'Positive Steps' programme proved a lifeline for individuals in Largs and three of the local people who benefited from it have bravely told the News about the difference it made to them, as they issued a plea for a u-turn.

They say the service, which was based in Stevenston, has been partially replaced with college classes, branding that an 'insult'.

Launched by charity Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) in 2015, the scheme gave people with mental health issues access to support to help them lead fulfilling lives.

The service was supported by North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership to help people self-manage their mental health through one-to-one support.

However, it is now being replaced with North Ayrshire Wellbeing and Recovery College, as part of a pilot project which will provide classes, plus craft and writing workshops.

Stephen Davidson, 46, says this is a huge mistake.

He told the News: "I truly believe I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for the great work done by Positive Steps.

"My doctor referred me through to SAMH and they got me involved. I've said to SAMH that I truly believe that North Ayrshire Council are making a dreadful mistake because we are losing such an important support structure."

Largs woman Laura Rae, 53, added: "When we received a letter that Positive Steps was ending and we would be transferring to this new programme, I found the minutes of meetings of North Ayrshire Council, and I found it was all done because of budget cuts.

"Positive Steps have a programme that was established. They provide one on one support, find out what has happened and how you got to this point, how you function now, and how you can improve.

"To have it replaced with college classes involving basket weaving, and form-filling is very condescending.

Gillian Andrews, 36, says Positive Steps was an 'amazing help' to her.

She added: "I have tried many different treatments and this new college class service is not what I expected at all. Positive Steps has helped push me forward with the excellent one-to-one tuition. I went from doing nothing to volunteering, looking at going to college and perhaps on to university, and they just pushed me on. It is like having someone always there behind me encouraging me every part of the way, and now that is being lost."

Despite this praise, North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership insist that service users had indicated that a different model of care was required.

Labour councillor Alex Gallagher has also defended the decision to end the Positive Steps service.

He said: "My understanding is that there was a number of these types of fragmented services, and we have been having a problem in terms of budgeting for them. In every case they were replaced by something similar or better in-house, or through the social and health partnership

"We will not cut anyone off, that is rule one, and if it is necessary, we will find alternatives if the new system is not suitable."

A spokesperson for North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership said: “Consultation with people who use community-based mental health services, including Positive Steps programme, revealed that a different model of care was needed.

“Engagement with adults who have mental health problems has highlighted the significance of formal peer support. A newly-commissioned service offering peer support will be in place in July 2018."

The local authority also said that individual employability support will continue as before and said service users are helping to design and facilitate the courses included in the college pilot.

They added: “People with mental health problems highlighted that a programme of support, such as a Wellbeing and Recovery College approach, would promote recovery and aid self-management.

“We are receiving positive and encouraging feedback from people with mental health problems.

"The pilot is being evaluated and will continue to be adapted in response to feedback from people who use services.

“We are working in partnership with people who use our services to ensure we provide services that are effective, safe and person-centred, and support people to meet their personal goals and improve their wellbeing."