"Great help in my time of need"

In mid-October ’23, I developed severe insomnia resulting in greatly increased anxiety which became debilitating. I was living in the U.S., and for nine months I sought medical/psychiatric help there, but with little success. Medications I was prescribed seemed to make my condition worse. Towards the end of July, I felt I needed to return to Ireland. For the first two to three weeks, I tried to find help at one large public hospital and two private ones in Dublin, but again was met with long waiting lists. I was desperate and needed help quickly.

A relative said she had heard good reports about the Sligo/Leitrim Mental Health Services, so, feeling at the end of my rope, I decided to return home to Leitrim. At my request, my husband brought me to Sligo University Hospital ED where, after waiting for just around two hours, I was seen by Dr. Coada, who spent a long time taking detailed notes and talking to me, and later to my husband and daughter in my presence. He then consulted with Dr. Gethins. Along with prescribing new medication, they referred me to the Crisis Resolution Team, which is headed by Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr. Doyle.

Two members of the Crisis Team, Social Worker Thérèse and Nurse Ilo (? spelling), visited the next day and spent a considerable length of time devising a personal care plan with detailed instructions on how to manage and alleviate my anxiety. Nurse Ilo visited the next two days and on the following day, Dr. Doyle. He spent a great deal of time listening and talking to me before he determined I was ready to be discharged from the Crisis Resolution Team. Two days later, Nurse Nicole came and gave clear discharge instructions, and I was referred to the Community Health Team for follow-up, which I am currently waiting for.

Within a week I went from having incapacitating anxiety and questioning how I could go on, to a new sense of hope and functioning better than I had for months, thanks to the excellent care and treatment I received from first the Emergency Mental Health Team and then the Crisis Resolution Team. My family and I are especially impressed by the amount of time each member of these teams spent with me. I am eternally grateful for each one and have renewed hope.

With gratitude