An actor, a broadcaster, politicians and human rights activists yesterday highlighted the impact of a lack of services on homeless people experiencing mental health problems.
As part of a campaign by Amnesty International to focus on the rights of homeless people with mental illness, actor Mick Lally, broadcaster Ray D'Arcy, Independent senator Dr Mary Henry and Labour TD Mr Joe Costello were among the participants in an event at the top of Grafton Street, Dublin, to describe life for vulnerable, homeless people whom the Simon Community has assisted.
Some 5,500 people were listed as homeless last year, of whom one-third are homeless mainly because of mental illness.
A further 42 per cent are considered to have mental health problems as a result of their homelessness.
Amnesty's policy officer Ms Fiona Crowley said while Dublin had a well-developed plan for a multi-disciplinary outreach support, whereby medical teams would go to hostels or onto the street, "it hasn't happened".
Mick Lally told 40-year-old Pat's story. "He cannot remember exactly how long he has been homeless, but it is a long time." He has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, and sleeps rough most of the time.
"Pat does not accept that he has a mental illness, which is a common experience for many people who are homeless with mental ill health. He believes his problems are mainly due to his family - he once saw his brother trying to commit suicide - and his life experiences. He had a very hard life after he left the Army."
Pat drinks, and tablets for his mental illness do not mix with alcohol so very often he does not take them.
Dr Henry told the story of Mary (42) who is also schizophrenic, and " behaves in a very paranoid manner and has a particular fear of men. She once attacked and stabbed a stranger in the neck because she thought he was a former partner who was abusive to her."
The main problem for Mary is the lack of mental health services for women during the day, which is a common experience of many women who are homeless with mental ill health.
