‘My mental health suffered because I wasn’t allowed to hold my baby’

A Meath stroke survivor has said counselling helped him get his life back to normal, two years after he collapsed in front of his heavily pregnant wife.

Bettystown man, Mick O’Donnell (35), was speaking as new European research revealed that one in eight stroke patients experience suicidal thoughts when they leave full-time care.

The study by King's College in London, published this week, also noted that around a third of survivors across the continent become clinically depressed in the years following what is known as a ‘brain attack’ and up to a quarter suffer ongoing anxiety.

It also found that a survivor’s risk of death by suicide is around twice that of the general population.

“I was 33 when I had the stroke, and never knew what to expect,” said Mick.

“Not long after, our daughter Emma was born, but I was no help. My balance was gone and my wife was nearly looking after two children.

“My mental health suffered because I wasn’t allowed to hold my baby. Sometimes I wasn’t even allowed to be on my own in case I had a fall.”

Mick said he believed he was having a migraine when he woke up with a massive headache in August 2021.

“It was as if someone was plunging something into my head,” he said.

Moments after walking downstairs, the father of two blacked out.

An MRI revealed Mick had suffered a cerebellar stroke, which occurs when the blood supply to the back of the brain is blocked, and he was admitted to the stroke unit at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

Although he was discharged after two weeks, a second spell in hospital, at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, followed seven days later where he was treated for dizzy spells.

His counselling sessions began shortly after staff at Connolly referred him to the Irish Heart Foundation.

“When the Irish Heart Foundation got in touch, I knew I wasn’t alone. The counselling was fantastic because I was able to involve my wife, Maryjane. She was going through it as well. She was the backbone of it all, she helped me through everything.”

The IHF’s Director of Advocacy, Chris Macey, has called on the Government to increase the level of specialist support available to stroke patients both in hospital and the community.

“There are fewer than the equivalent of three full-time clinical psychology posts in the whole country to meet the needs of around 6,000 people hospitalised due to stroke every year.

“This means only one in 20 receive a service,” he said.

Now back working part-time as a printer, Mick said that the one thing all stroke survivors should know is recovery takes time.

“Always listen to your body. If something is wrong, get it checked and never take ‘no’ for an answer – because if I didn't stand my ground on that unfortunate day, God know if I’d be alive today.”