Funny women Jo Brand, Jenny Eclair and Joanna Neary are joining forces this weekend to raise money for Threshold, a women's mental health initiative under threat of closure.

Jo Brand is patron of the Brighton-based charity which offers a lifeline to women experiencing poor mental health and emotional distress such as chronic depression and anxiety, thoughts of suicide, self-harm and borderline personality disorder.

"These kind of independent, women-only services are crucial as many women feel more comfortable coming to a service which is specifically tailored to their needs," Jo says.

"It's a wonderful, friendly place," adds Joanna Neary, whose madcap, character-based comedy routine will be a fine contrast on the night to the devilish, dry wit of Jo and Jenny Eclair.

"I'm inspired by people I meet or overhear," says Joanna, whose current favourite persona is a deliciously deluded schoolteacher. "They are all based on reality," she adds. "I just get a kick out of making them more ridiculous."

Threshold services include counselling, dropins and creches for local women, as well as a national freephone service, the Women's Mental Health Infoline, which provides information and support for women across the UK.

The services, which are targeted at particularly vulnerable women such as those who are isolated, on low incomes, single mothers, carers or women with a history of abuse, are low-cost and take place in a safe, "women-only" environment with free childcare alongside.

At the end of March the women-only drop-ins, activities and complementary therapies will have to close. And, unless the extra funds can be found soon, the local counselling, creches, National Women's Mental Health Infoline and training programmes may also have to be axed later in the year.

Katharine Williams, Threshold Director, says: "Last summer we lost funding for our East Brighton services (EB4u), which we were forced to close in June 2005. We also had to scale down some of our other services and now need to raise £50,000 as soon as possible, or these may also be threatened."

The good news is the three comediennes have already raised £10,000 in ticket sales.

Starts 8pm. Tickets cost £15-£17.50. Call 08700 606650. Women's Mental Health Infoline: 0808 808 6000. Threshold: www.thresholdwomen.org.uk