A GREENOCK man who has repeatedly tried to take his own life says he wouldn't be alive without a Greenock gardening project.

John Feherty faces a daily battle with depression, anxiety, anger issues, panic attacks and is also undergoing tests for bipolar.

He first went to the doctors for help aged only 15 and tried to kill himself when he was still a teenager.

But after hitting his lowest point he found the Belville Community Garden - and it rescued him.

John, 27, who lives with his partner and carer Jane Short, said: "If I didn't have Belville I wouldn't be around.

"It has saved my life.

"I love volunteering in the garden.

"It is like one big family and I come here most days.

"I have good days and bad days but Belville is the one place that I feel happy.

"I have tried to kill myself a few times, have self harmed and have the scars to prove it.

"I remember when I first tried to take an overdose my partner Jane stopped me, I wouldn't be here without her either.

"I have been on so many medications but they don't work."

John has faced a lifelong battle with his mental health and was referred to the project by Scottish Association for Mental Health.

He said: "I went to the doctor when I was 15 and said I had depression.

"The doctor just said to me 'what's depression?'

"They didn't want to know.

"You cannot explain depression to someone who just doesn't understand.

"People say to me all the time, even doctors, it is just boredom.

"I wish it was.

"I can't work because of the medication I am on, so volunteering makes a difference.

"I was bullied at school which made it worse but my dad had depression and I think it is in the genes."

John thinks that the community garden and projects like it help enormously and should be more widely used.

The project was set up as a legacy on the site of the former high rise flats in Belville Street.

Lottery-funded, it runs classes for the community around cooking, food waste, saving cash and cutting carbon footprints.

Outside the team tend to huge wild gardens, look after planters and work with various groups.

They also offer opportunities for volunteers who feel socially isolated or have mental health issues.

They run garden clubs, lunch drop-ins and also support people with learning disabilities and work with schools.

John told the Tele: "I just like being involved, making planters, getting outside and helping the community.

"I went to SAMH and they put me in touch with Belville.

"I have been here for a year and I couldn't cope without it."

His partner Jane, 29, added: "I come along too and I have even helped out with cooking classes.

"It is a great place to be and it feels like family."