The mental health outreach service run by Epsom’s Citizens’ Advice Bureau (CAB) could close unless more cash is found to keep it running.

The service which has 235 clients with mental health problems on its books is a vital source of help and support for people struggling in the community.

But its Big Lottery funding is coming to an end and the future of the service is uncertain unless another organisation steps in with more sponsorship.

Epsom CAB manager Nigel Dear said: “It is a difficult time. We are in discussions but we can’t say anything at the moment.”

In the last year, the CAB mental health outreach team helped its clients deal with debts of more than £425,000, but obtained more than £150,000 in payments for them.

Over the year, the team has had more than 1,950 client contacts including face to face contact in the bureau, by phone, visiting clients at home or in hospital and representing them at tribunals.

The team has also dealt with 748 new issues, more than 40 per cent relating to benefits and more than 30 per cent involving debt in the past 12 months. The recession is having a huge impact on the CAB’s work.

The advisers based at Epsom County Court have seen an 18 per cent increase in their work helping people about to lose their homes and achieved an 84 per cent success rate in preventing immediate eviction or repossession.

The pressure on the CAB meant it became essential to appoint a specialist debt adviser and another is about to start work to deal with the number of requests for help.

More than 55 per cent of all inquiries concern benefits, debt and employment.

Mr Dear wrote in the CAB’s annual report: “In 2008/09, we saw increasing pressure on our services as the economy headed towards a recession and unemployment figures began to rise dramatically.

“For many people their greatest asset, their home, was a major concern as we saw property prices tumble and houses failing to attract buyers as mortgages became more difficult to obtain.”

During the year, the CAB advisers helped its clients deal with debts and insurance claims, claim charitable payments, road tax exemption and compensation for mortgage mis-selling.