A DESPERATE Greenock man released from jail has opened his heart to tell how he was saved from the brink of suicide thanks to a charity’s help.

The former prisoner was referred to Faith in Community (Scotland) after completing a sentence at Gateside, pictured, last year.

Now others from Greenock and elsewhere in Scotland will get similar help, thanks to a £900,000 grant awarded to the charity’s Faith in Throughcare initiative from the Big Lottery Fund Scotland.

Mark, 35, had a 20-year history of offending linked to drug and alcohol addiction and suffers from severe anxiety which prevented him from leaving the house after his release.

He told the Tele: “I would have been dead.

“I really felt like killing myself before Faith in Throughcare started getting me out.

“I feel like I can talk to them and know that they won’t judge what I have done.” Mark, who is living with his sister in the town, is from an area where the prison population is three-and-a-half times higher than the national average.

He has managed to stop drinking and is on a daily methadone and valium prescription.

He was referred to the charity project last year and they concentrated on helping rebuild his confidence in going out.

He opened up to the Tele about how meeting a volunteer with a similar history gave him hope for his own recovery. Mark said: “I enjoy the volunteers getting me out of the house and can have a laugh with them.

“Faith in Throughcare is one of the only things I have in my life that does not make me angry.” The charity said that Mark’s situation improved when he started taking valium as prescribed by doctors, rather than in the self-medicated high doses he felt he needed to give him confidence to get out and meet volunteers.

A spokesperson said: “Another significant milestone was seeing his three-and-a-half year-old daughter, whom he hadn’t had contact with for two years.” The charity says Mark has made ‘tremendous progress’ and not re-offended since receiving support.

Mark said: “It’s really good. I hope they don’t stop helping me because I like going out with them.” The grant of £901,471 will allow the charity to develop their existing service in Inverclyde, North Glasgow, Kilmarnock and extend it to Dundee.

Faith in Community (Scotland) offer support from the prison gate to help find appropriate accommodation and deal with immediate needs.