Liz Byrne mounted a nightly vigil by husband’s grave

“I’d go to bed at night, sleep for an hour and get a taxi to the cemetery, just to make sure no one touched anything.”

Liz Byrne would often pick up her phone at 2am to call a taxi.

The destination was always the same the cemetery where husband Sean was buried.

She’d sit by his graveside for ages trying to find a little peace amidst the grief that overwhelmed her.

Grief so strong and depression so deep that suicide seemed the only way out.

But Liz has been helped to get her life back on track by the Orchard Centre.

Now charity Health In Mind hope schemes similar to the Bonnyrigg-based Centre can help boost the mental health of people elsewhere in Scotland.

Former nurse Liz, from Newtongrange, had been married to pub boss Sean for 35 years before his sudden death.

“He was diabetic and wasn’t very good at doing what he was told,” said 65-year-old Liz.

“He was warned he could have a massive heart attack at any time.

“I’d tell him that one of these days the doctor’s words would come true and he’d say: ‘If God wants me, he’ll take me.’

“Then one day his mum came to visit us. I was in the kitchen when she came through and asked me if I’d get him off the floor in the other room as he was messing around again.

“I went through and he was actually black and blue. There was no return for him. I guess that was the start of my depression.”

Following Sean’s death in May 2004, Liz’s own health suffered dramatically.

Despite the support of her family and regular trips to her GP for medication, her depression spiralled out of control.

“I’d go to bed at night, sleep for an hour and get a taxi to the cemetery, just to make sure no one touched anything,” confides Liz.

“The taxi driver knew me and would sit with his lights on so I could see the grave.

“I did that for years. It was the only place I could find peace. I’d sit and speak to him, give him a row, whatever.

“When the weather was better I’d take a flask of tea and sit on the ground beside the grave.

“If anyone looked they must have thought I was mad sitting there but at the time I couldn’t have given two hoots.”

Liz’s depression was so deep she even contemplated suicide.

But a desperate attempt “I obviously hadn’t taken enough tablets” saw her consult her doctor again and he referred her for psychiatric help.

As well as a change of medication he also recommended a visit to the Orchard Centre.

It offers a variety of informal community-based services for people with mental health issues.

Liz at first didn’t think it was her sort of thing. But she persevered and took up art therapy classes.

The more she went the more confident she felt. She started doing a bit of volunteering in the caf, helped run a knitting group and is now involved with various other activities.

“I still have bad days but it’s more manageable now,” adds Liz.

“It’s really turned my life around and I can’t recommend it enough.

“If it hadn’t have been for the centre I’m sure I would have been down in the cemetery myself.

“I think it’d be great for more people to be able to access these things.”

The Orchard Centre has just celebrated its 21st anniversary. Funded by Midlothian Council it has been run by Health In Mind for the past 10 years.

Those attending range from 16 to 80 and there are a wide variety of classes and therapy groups.

They include arts and crafts, walking, photography and football, with a team about to be involved in a new SFA-backed league.

As well as a beautiful area at Bonnyrigg, the gardening group have also created another acclaimed garden at the new Midlothian Community Hospital.

Health In Mind is now hoping to see the model of the Orchard Centre rolled out to other areas of the country.