Stroke survivors feel "abandoned" after leaving care

The lack of psychological support for stroke survivors in Ireland means that many feel “abandoned” after leaving full-time care, the Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) has said.

It was responding to the results of a new European study which found that one in eight stroke survivors have suicidal thoughts after leaving full-time care, while around one-third become clinically depressed in the years following a stroke.

The study by Stroke Alliance for Europe also found that stroke survivors are often discharged from care “without follow-up or specialised stroke support…and have to quickly gain an understanding of their needs and the practicalities of life after stroke”. As a result of this, many report “feelings of inadequacy and uncertainty related to stroke, medical care and life as a persistent problem”.

According to the IHF’s director of advocacy, Chris Macey, these findings mirror the experiences of many stroke survivors in Ireland.

“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, with a large number essentially feeling abandoned after leaving full-time care,” he explained.

He called on the Government to increase the level of specialist support available to stroke patients in hospital and the community. He said that it is vital that recommendations in the HSE’s National Stroke Strategy to significantly increase clinical psychology posts are now met.

“After consulting with stroke survivors on the findings of this research, we have been told we should communicate the full extent of the psychological impact of stroke in terms of widespread experience of suicidal feelings, depression and anxiety because it’s an issue that desperately needs to be addressed,” Mr Macey added.

The European report also found that there was a severe lack of information and training for stroke survivors and carers, while the provision of community-based rehabilitation therapies and support is falling far short of people’s needs.

“Many survivors only feel that impact after they return home and realise the extent to which their lives have been changed, so the need for high-grade psychological services in the community is crucial,” Mr Macey noted.

However, the IHF emphasised that there is hope when support is available.

Stroke survivor, Mick O’Donnell, who is 35 years old, said counselling helped him get his life back to normal after he collapsed in front of his heavily pregnant wife in August 2021.

“Not long after my stroke, 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,” he recalls.

The father of two from Bettystown in Meath was later offered counselling to aid his recovery. 

“The counselling was fantastic because I was able to involve my wife. She was going through it as well. She was the backbone of it all; she helped me through everything,” he said.

The European study was released to coincide with European Stroke Awareness Day (May 9).