Pioneer changing the mindset towards treating mental illness

JOAN Hamilton feared her daughter would end up trapped in a cycle of what she calls the “revolving door” of psychiatric services.

She felt there had to be another way to treat people with a mental illness — something that was not so isolating and negative as a hospital stay. Not finding it anywhere, she took matters into her own hands and set up Slí Eile, supported community living where people can recover from their illness and re-learn life skills at their own pace.

“For every four people discharged from psychiatric hospital this week, three will be re-admitted,” Joan says.