A foodbank has had to enlist the services of a mental health charity because people are coming to them suicidal.

More than 100 people a week are supported by the charity sometimes double that as demand for help increases.

Drumchapel Foodbank said it has noted a variety of people coming and more and more affected by benefit changes like universal credit.

Liz Atkinson, foodbank manager, said people are in serious despair and are suicidal.

The foodbanks has enlisted the service of Cope Scotland a specialist mental health support service.

She said: “We have had to get Cope in because so many people are talking about taking their own life.

“There are heartbreaking stories every week form people coming though.”

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She told of the diverse range of people needing help.

She added: “There are people sleeping outside.

“One man asked if we had anything he could cook on an open fire.

“I was worried his electricity was cut off and he was going to light a fire inside.

“But he was sleeping outside and cooking on a camp fire.”

Ms Atkinson said the community is trying it’s best to help those in need.

She added: “It is horrific We refer people to Money Advice for benefits checks.

“We have had people who we have been supporting for a year or more because of sanctions and benefit delays. We will provide support until it is sorted.

“We are seeing school refer to use when teachers notice problems with the children.”

In the four years the foodbank has been open she has noticed a change.

She added: “It is mostly families now, whereas before it was mainly single men with benefits issues.” READ MORE: Glasgow city council agrees final funding deal to cover equal pay settlement

Ryan McGeady, co-ordinator added: “We get around 65 people when we open for the weekly drop in. On a busy day it can be double that, the numbers fluctuate.”

Labour leader Richard Leonard was visiting the foodbank with Patricia Ferguson, the party’s election candidate for Glasgow North West.

Ms Ferguson, a former Labour Maryhill and Springburn MSP, said communities were stepping in to support those most in need.

She said: “People are ashamed and angry that foodbanks exist in their communities.

“There are increasing issues with the benefit system, with people experiencing long delays. People here are doing their best to try to provide.”

She added: “People are conscious of Brexit and have views on Brexit but most people understand the issues like poverty are all too prevalent in their communities.”

Mr Leonard said that foodbanks are a sign of failure.

He said: “It is a reminder of our failure as a society to tackle poverty. Not just the shame of poverty but the rise of in-work poverty that is a fact of our age.”