Man claims charity bullied his brother to death

May 4 2008 By Raymond Hainey

Exclusive Family's Claim After Boss Row

SCOTLAND'S leading mental health charity have been accused of driving one of their own workers to suicide.

Daniel Thomson, 27, was found hanged days after filing a complaint about a boss at the Scottish Association for Mental Health.

His brother John has slammed the charity for their "disgraceful"

treatment of staff.

He hit out after the Sunday Mail revealed how another SAMH worker won compensation after claiming they strained her mental health.

We can also reveal that:

A colleague of Daniel killed herself four months after his suicide when bosses refused to pay her off on mental health grounds.

Former chief executive Shona Neil was quit the charity last year and relocated to Goa.

In the last 14 months the SAMH have shelled out compensation to at least two workers who took them to an employment tribunal.

Another former worker, Jackie Kay, has taken the charity to a tribunal, claiming racism.

John, 45, claims Pollok-based community worker Daniel committed suicide in February last year because he was being bullied by his boss.

He said: "Daniel's job contributed to his death - I have no doubt. He said he was under incredible pressure, even though he loved his job.

"He had sent a letter to senior managers which made it clear he was being bullied - he wrote it a few days before his death.

"The manager who was the subject of the complaint found out about the letter.

"They had a confrontation on the Thursday and the following Saturday Daniel killed himself.

"I find it disgraceful that a charity supposed to help people with mental health problems left Daniel feeling the way he did."

After he found his brother's body, he told SAMH managers about the suicide note.

John, of Shaw lands, Glasgow, said: "I have not spoken out until now because it has been so hard but it's only right proper questions should be asked of this charity."

It is not believed there is any link between Daniel's death and his colleague's suicide.

After a spell of stress-related sick leave, bosses refused to pay her off on mental health grounds despite a request by union Unite.

But Glasgow-based SAMH paid out two other workers who took them to a tribunal.

Last month mental health worker Marion Mitchell, 49, won a £2000 payout after she was forced to quit due to a row about expenses.

Marion, of Tollcross, Glasgow, said: "SAMH are a mental health charity, yet they strained mine."

Last year another unnamed employee won a payout after he was fired for leaving work early.

And former worker Jackie's racism claim comes after she was investigated by bosses over a baseless bullying allegation.

Chairman David Denton said: "SAMH extend our deepest sympathies to Daniel's family.

"A full investigation was undertaken into this matter.

There was no evidence to suggest Danny's death was caused by bullying within SAMH."

He added that Ms Neil had left the charity to pursue a new lifestyle.

MAILFILE

SAMH were founded in 1923 to offer support to the wide network of local associations for mental health. They now provide direct services for more than 3000 Scots, support the homeless and addicts and campaign to improve care services.

SUNDAY EMAIL

r.hainey@sundaymail.co.uk