The closure of a mental health charity in Jersey has been described as a “sad day” by businesses and users.

The directors of the Jersey Recovery College (JRC) said it was forced to close Due to increased demands on services, rising costs and declining income and donations.

JRC has been helping people since 2017 and focuses on raising awareness through mental health education events.

Robert Surcouf of the Association of Jersey Charities said the charity had been a “phenomenal team” in helping individuals and businesses “better understand mental health”.

He said: “It is a terrible loss and worrying at this time.

“We know that the team there did everything they could to find a solution and that they had to make a very difficult decision.

“This is a wake-up call for our entire community, not just our government… we are very lucky on this island – we have some phenomenal charities and a lot of people volunteer and donate, but it’s not guaranteed.”

Mind Jersey said the news was “a sad day for the community and voluntary sector in Jersey”.

It states: “We need a range of different approaches to address the complexity of the burdens associated with mental illness.”

“It is critical that we continue to provide community-based social and educational approaches to reduce stigma and reach people who are alienated from the community for no reason other than mental illness.”

Emily Jayne Smith, who supports the charity through another organisation, said it was a shock.

“I think a lot of people on the island are really going to miss this – everything from classes to anxiety to swimming in the sea… I think people are going to miss this,” she said.

JRC advised people affected by the news to seek support from other organisations such as Mind Jersey, Samaritans or Liberate.