LEAFLETS could be put through Haddington letterboxes to promote the work of a mental health cafe.

Keep The Heid Mental Health Cafe opened in November and has regularly welcomed half a dozen people.

Now, Emma Jackson, who is behind the group, is looking to secure funding to see its work continue.

Funding applications have already been submitted to Haddington and Lammermuir Area Partnership (HALAP) and East Lothian Health and Wellbeing Fund.

Emma also attended a meeting of the town’s community council and spoke about the group, which meets in The Trinity Centre each Friday at 7pm.

She said: “If you are an alcoholic, there are numerous Alcoholics Anonymous meetings but nothing for people living with depression.

“I had the idea of setting up the cafe, inspired by Ruby Wax and the work she does with mental health called Frazzled Cafes, which run in England and are available online.

“I felt we needed something a bit more Scottish and we deal with things with a bit of humour and something that reflected that – hence ‘Keep the Heid’.”

READ MORE: Cafe tackling mental health issues to open in Haddington

One in four people experience a mental health problem of some kind each year.

In Scotland in 2019, there were 833 suicides.

Emma, who lives in the town, was pleased to say that the group was making a difference.

She said: “When I started this, I thought if I helped one more then I have achieved our goal.

“Now, it has impacted on the lives of more than a few people.

“They are really enjoying the structure of it and the format.

“We did a survey of those who attend and we are taking on board the feedback of that.”

Each Friday evening cafe can cater for between 12 and 15 people.

Originally, Emma managed to raise £1,500 through Crowdfunding, with a bid now being made to find funding to not only keep the group going but to ensure it is reaching the widest possible audience.

A funding grant of £300 was also received from Haddington Rotary Community Chest, with Emma waiting to hear back on if the other applications had been successful.

Chris McEwan, community council chairman, noted there was a member of the group who had his own printing business and could help create leaflets or flyers.