Shine News - Psychosis in the news

A number of people have contacted Shine today having heard coverage on RTÉ news of tonight’s RTE Investigates programme about people experiencing psychosis being held in prison because appropriate mental health care was not available.

If you live with psychosis, or support someone who does, news like this can be unsettling. It can stir fear, anger, or worry about what might happen if someone becomes unwell. We want to speak to you directly about that.

First, and most importantly, psychosis is an illness, not a crime. People who experience psychosis need support, care and understanding. They are not defined by moments of crisis, and they are not at fault because they became unwell.

Something else matters just as much, and it is often missing from public conversations. Many people who experience psychosis live ordinary, full lives. They go to work or college. They raise families, volunteer, create, care for others and contribute to their communities in meaningful ways. They are neighbours, colleagues and friends. Their lives are not defined by a diagnosis, and most will never have any involvement with the criminal justice system.

The situations described in today’s reporting are not what should happen when someone experiences acute psychosis. They arise when mental health services are under pressure and when the right supports are not available at the right time. This is a failure of systems, not of individuals or families.

Many people who live with psychosis tell us that the most frightening part of becoming unwell is the uncertainty. Not knowing where they will end up, who will listen, or whether they will be treated with dignity. Families often describe the distress of watching someone they love struggle while trying to access help that feels slow or difficult to reach.

There is another important truth that is rarely said clearly enough. People who experience psychosis are far more likely to be victims of crime than perpetrators of it. They can be particularly vulnerable during periods of illness or when supports are lacking. Framing psychosis as something dangerous or threatening does not reflect reality, and it causes real harm by increasing fear and stigma.

It is also important to talk about recovery. Recovery is possible, and it happens every day. With the right supports, people can manage their mental illness and build lives they value. That can include work, education, relationships, creativity and community involvement. Setbacks can happen, but they do not erase a person’s strengths or potential.

Stories that link psychosis with prison can make people afraid to seek help. Some worry that asking for support could lead to loss of control or dignity. If today’s news has brought up those fears for you, that reaction is understandable. But needing help is not a failure, and reaching out early can make a real difference.

At Shine, we work every day with people who have lived experience of psychosis and with families who support them. What we hear again and again is how important it is to be believed, to be treated as a person first, and to get support before a crisis reaches breaking point.

If you or someone you support is feeling unwell right now, or if today’s coverage has caused distress, please do not carry that alone. Talking to someone you trust can help steady things, even if you are not sure what to say.

This conversation matters. Not because it should make people fearful, but because it reminds us that mental health care must respond with compassion, dignity and proper support when people need it most.

You deserve care. You deserve respect. And you deserve to be treated as a person, not a problem.

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