A MENTAL health practitioner whose parents both committed suicide has written a novel to highlight the need for addiction support services amid 'controversial' spending cuts.

Mollie Bach, a mother of three from Hay-on-Wye, lost both her parents when she was child before training as a practitioner and working in addiction centres across London.

She said: "It is interesting that society is very much against cannabis which is illegal, where as alcohol is completely legal and you can buy it in supermarkets cheaper than water.

"Alcohol has destroyed so many lives so I thought I would write a story about people who rely on alcohol and mental health support units. Due to the recent reductions in government budgets these are being closed to save money which is having a disastrous affects.

"I am shouting for these addicts as these help centres are important to people."

Mrs Bach's whose mother was an alcoholic has worked with both rich and poor addicts during her career.

This work inspired her to write the book titled 'Paradise Lost'- which took six years to finish.

She added: "The story is about a women whose mother is an alcoholic and the affects of that on her family.

"It highlights how damaging the closure of addiction and mental health units can be on them.

"A lot of my clients lived on the streets in London's 'cardboard city' and a huge number were alcoholics. So I have experienced the consequences of drink not just on the person but their whole family.

"It is the poor people who need more support and I will fight for addiction units."

Last week Mrs Bach held a book launch at 'Booth's Bookshop' in Hay-on-Wye.

'Paradise Lost' is available on Amazon priced at £19.99 for a hardback copy.