Journalist Reframes Stories on Schizophrenia

In Ireland, young people experiencing psychosis or schizophrenia often lack access to services, which can prevent their ability to recover and lead full lives, journalist Órla Ryan discovered while writing a series of stories called “Falling Through the Cracks.”

Ryan received a Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism from The Carter Center, awarded to members of the press in the U.S. and select countries who report on topics of mental health. Ryan is a correspondent for Irish news site TheJournal.ie.

“Very often if a person is experiencing psychosis but is also autistic or maybe has cognitive issues or other health issues, they’re often passed from one team to another,” Ryan said. “Early intervention is so important, but when they’re passed from team to team, access to care is delayed.”

One of Ryan’s goals was to change how people think about psychosis and schizophrenia. Instead of the diseases being mentioned in relation to crime, she wanted to show how access to timely care leads to recovery.

“It’s been a real honor to be involved in the fellowship,” she said. “I know for me, personally, this was not a one-year thing. I will keep writing mental health stories.”