Hands off our Services – Leeds

Hands off our Services

Leeds

Dave Younger, Leeds City Socialist Party


Local mental health service users and mental health workers lobbied Labour-controlled Leeds city council against its plans to close mental health day centres across the city without serious consultation with workers and service users. Angry opposition has forced the council to repeatedly push back planned closure dates.

The chairperson of the city-wide Mental Health Service Users’ Involvement Group, Norman Forsythe, said there has already been an increase in reports of attempted suicide and self-harm by service users since the announcement of the council’s plans.


These centres are essential to the well-being of very vulnerable people who attend the centres, build up their confidence and learn new skills, which they can use when seeking jobs. Closing the centres, however, would mean their health could deteriorate and they could end up in hospital or living on benefits.

The long-term cost for the local community, both financially and socially, far out-weigh any savings that could be made. The fight to save the day centres continues.