Advertisement
#Open journalism No news is bad news

Your contributions will help us continue to deliver the stories that are important to you

Support The Journal
Contribute : Support us now
Dublin: 0°C Sunday 7 March 2021

Thursday 10 September, 2020

Opinion: 'I tried to take my own life more than once and felt the compassion of staff begin to fade'
# World Suicide Prevention Day
# World Suicide Prevention Day

Opinion: 'I tried to take my own life more than once and felt the compassion of staff begin to fade'

Sep 10th 2020, 7:00 AM 36,568 Views 23 Comments

On World Suicide Prevention Day our reader details her struggles and experience of the Irish mental health services.

Tuesday 25 August, 2020

The long wait for autism assessment: 'From cautiously optimistic to desperately worried'
# Assessing Autism
# Assessing Autism

The long wait for autism assessment: 'From cautiously optimistic to desperately worried'

Aug 25th 2020, 7:30 PM 16,962 Views 17 Comments

‘Starting primary school was always going to be difficult but now I am concerned that it will be deeply traumatic and damaging.’

Saturday 18 July, 2020

My food addiction: How group therapy helped me overcome years of bingeing and purging
# Addiction
# Addiction

My food addiction: How group therapy helped me overcome years of bingeing and purging

Jul 18th 2020, 6:00 PM 23,687 Views 10 Comments

The following account is written by a member of Addictive Eaters Anonymous, who shares her experience of sobriety from addictive eating.

Thursday 14 May, 2020

'The scariest part was there was no remorse': One survivor on her experience of domestic abuse
# Domestic Abuse
# Domestic Abuse

'The scariest part was there was no remorse': One survivor on her experience of domestic abuse

May 14th 2020, 7:25 AM 20,848 Views 6 Comments

Our reader has survived an abusive relationship and has advice for anyone else trapped in one.

Wednesday 29 January, 2020

Opinion: Examined in the toilet, protesting in a chair for a bed - my battle for comfort in hospital
# Health Crisis
# Health Crisis

Opinion: Examined in the toilet, protesting in a chair for a bed - my battle for comfort in hospital

Jan 29th 2020, 7:00 AM 51,575 Views 22 Comments

Jess was given a makeshift bed behind a doorway when battling infection following a mastectomy.

Saturday 26 May, 2018

'I’m tired of all the feel-good campaigns when there's no real debate around entry into mental health services'
# Opinion
# Opinion

'I’m tired of all the feel-good campaigns when there's no real debate around entry into mental health services'

May 26th 2018, 7:30 PM 54,813 Views 41 Comments

A sibling writes about their brother’s experience of being suicidal and needing access to treatment.

Friday 18 May, 2018

'I'm not amoral, not stupid, and not promiscuous. I took every precaution. I still got pregnant'
# Column
# Column

'I'm not amoral, not stupid, and not promiscuous. I took every precaution. I still got pregnant'

May 18th 2018, 7:00 AM 61,310 Views 241 Comments

“Am I selfish for taking control of my own fate rather than simply letting life happen to me? I do not see it that way.”

Thursday 10 May, 2018

'I was nine weeks pregnant when I took an abortion pill - after staring at it for hours'
# The Eighth Debate
# The Eighth Debate

'I was nine weeks pregnant when I took an abortion pill - after staring at it for hours'

May 10th 2018, 7:00 AM 158,933 Views 292 Comments

“I was in a very bad situation where continuing a pregnancy just wasn’t possible, health wise or financially.”

Friday 4 May, 2018

'The nurses asked how we planned to keep him cold. This wasn't something we were prepared for'
# 17 Weeks
# 17 Weeks

'The nurses asked how we planned to keep him cold. This wasn't something we were prepared for'

May 4th 2018, 7:00 AM 133,334 Views 184 Comments

Things need to change in Ireland though; I don’t want any other people to have to go through what we did.

Saturday 3 March, 2018

Candid recordings of female doctor from field hospital in East Ghouta
# Column
# Column

Candid recordings of female doctor from field hospital in East Ghouta

Mar 3rd 2018, 9:15 AM 21,367 Views 31 Comments

“As I’m talking, there are rockets falling on Ghouta.”

Sunday 25 February, 2018

'We've fostered 15 children, in the beginning I thought we were going to save the world'
# Opinion
# Opinion

'We've fostered 15 children, in the beginning I thought we were going to save the world'

Feb 25th 2018, 8:00 PM 35,628 Views 21 Comments

“The most rewarding thing about fostering is seeing the potential in children that was sometimes overlooked when they were younger.”

Tuesday 6 February, 2018

Broadband in rural Ireland: 'If I disconnect, I don't get paid - I fear for my job'
# Column
# Column

Broadband in rural Ireland: 'If I disconnect, I don't get paid - I fear for my job'

Feb 6th 2018, 7:00 AM 25,812 Views 72 Comments

“I feel like the people of rural Ireland have been let down, with broken promise after broken promise.”

Sunday 26 November, 2017

Sexual abuse: 'Did I consent? I was just a little girl, but yes, I let it happen'
# Irish Justice System
# Irish Justice System

Sexual abuse: 'Did I consent? I was just a little girl, but yes, I let it happen'

Nov 26th 2017, 7:30 PM 113,490 Views 43 Comments

This is the story of a woman who did speak up about her abuse. But she wasn’t believed.

Sunday 22 October, 2017

#MeToo: 'I have been drugged twice by men I knew'
# Read Me
# Read Me

#MeToo: 'I have been drugged twice by men I knew'

Oct 22nd 2017, 7:30 PM 26,611 Views 181 Comments

#MeToo was spawned by the Harvey Weinstein revelations and is where women are detailing incidences of sexual assault and harassment online.

Saturday 7 October, 2017

'My doctor insisted I leave the job, and signed me off on stress leave'
# Workplace Stress
# Workplace Stress

'My doctor insisted I leave the job, and signed me off on stress leave'

Oct 7th 2017, 8:30 PM 165,561 Views 63 Comments

We’re not entitled to be unhappy with how we are being treated in the workplace. You are seen as a malcontent, someone who doesn’t respect authority, or that you didn’t want to do the hard work.

Sunday 9 July, 2017

'I am not ashamed of losing my home. But people's judgemental attitudes make it harder'
# Read Me
# Read Me

'I am not ashamed of losing my home. But people's judgemental attitudes make it harder'

Jul 9th 2017, 7:30 PM 8,298 Views 75 Comments

Believe me, no one deliberately sets out to rip apart the foundations of their home by simply not making mortgage repayments.

Monday 29 May, 2017

'We were even questioning the future of our marriage': One couple share their fertility story
# Sponsored By Vhi
# Sponsored By Vhi

'We were even questioning the future of our marriage': One couple share their fertility story

May 29th 2017, 5:17 PM 16,180 Views 3 Comments

A sense of isolation can be one effect of infertility – so seeking support is essential.

Saturday 27 May, 2017

My abortion: 'I don't want to be eternally attached to someone I do not love'
# Reproductive Rights
# Reproductive Rights

My abortion: 'I don't want to be eternally attached to someone I do not love'

May 27th 2017, 7:30 PM 43,990 Views 323 Comments

I feel like a woman and for the first time I feel like a responsible adult who made a very painful decision for all the right reasons.

Saturday 18 March, 2017

My boyfriend's gambling: 'I loved two people. One was a compulsive liar and emotionally unavailable'
# Addiction
# Addiction

My boyfriend's gambling: 'I loved two people. One was a compulsive liar and emotionally unavailable'

Mar 18th 2017, 7:30 PM 18,190 Views 33 Comments

My whole life used to be consumed by my ex boyfriend’s gambling addiction.

Tuesday 10 January, 2017

An Irish nurse: 'I began to hate my job. I questioned my career. There were days when I came home crying'
# Column
# Column

An Irish nurse: 'I began to hate my job. I questioned my career. There were days when I came home crying'

Jan 10th 2017, 6:45 AM 16,135 Views 102 Comments

A former public sector nurse highlights the challenging working conditions she and her colleagues endured as they cared for patients.

Thursday 22 December, 2016

'One of the most horrible experiences of my life': An Irish woman on travelling for an abortion
# Column
# Column

'One of the most horrible experiences of my life': An Irish woman on travelling for an abortion

Dec 22nd 2016, 6:00 PM 1,516 Views 273 Comments

One reader tells us her story about having to travel to the UK for an abortion after her baby was diagnosed with a debilitating illness.

'He confirmed what I had known for hours - there was no heartbeat'
# Column
# Column

'He confirmed what I had known for hours - there was no heartbeat'

Dec 22nd 2016, 6:00 PM 593 Views 36 Comments

One reader tells us her story about having a miscarriage, to encourage others to talk about an issue which ends one in four pregnancies.

Sunday 27 November, 2016

'My Jobseeker's Allowance was cut to €40 a week - I can’t afford to go to interviews'
# Youth Unemployment
# Youth Unemployment

'My Jobseeker's Allowance was cut to €40 a week - I can’t afford to go to interviews'

Nov 27th 2016, 8:30 PM 13,397 Views 142 Comments

I don’t want a free ride. I want the Department of Social Protection to assist me.

Sunday 4 September, 2016

'I walked past people with signs about how I was a murderer': Getting an abortion as a teenager
# Column
# Column

'I walked past people with signs about how I was a murderer': Getting an abortion as a teenager

Sep 4th 2016, 8:30 PM 2,439 Views 351 Comments

One reader tells us her story about having to travel to the UK for an abortion after an unplanned pregnancy at 19.

Monday 18 July, 2016

There is no easy way to escape poverty as a single parent
# Opinion
# Opinion

There is no easy way to escape poverty as a single parent

Jul 18th 2016, 8:00 AM 7,771 Views 82 Comments

A reader explains why education alone is not enough to gain financial security.

Sunday 10 July, 2016

'As a child of an alcoholic, I am damaged'
# Opinion
# Opinion

'As a child of an alcoholic, I am damaged'

Jul 10th 2016, 8:45 PM 3,810 Views 44 Comments

A reader talks about their experiences in the wake of the establishment of a government Group on Alcohol Harm

Monday 2 May, 2016

Supporting my mam through depression: 'We never give up trying to make her feel loved'
# Column
# Column

Supporting my mam through depression: 'We never give up trying to make her feel loved'

May 2nd 2016, 8:00 PM 119 Views 16 Comments

An anonymous contributor writes about the complexities of helping a person who suffers from mental illness.

Sunday 10 April, 2016

Leaving an abusive relationship: He knocked me into a wall when I dared to speak back
# Column
# Column

Leaving an abusive relationship: He knocked me into a wall when I dared to speak back

Apr 10th 2016, 8:30 PM 39,667 Views 64 Comments

A year after leaving her violent partner, one woman is still learning how to cope.

Sunday 21 February, 2016

'I fed myself through looking or smelling, but never eating. I'm not over anorexia; I'm living with it'
# Opinion
# Opinion

'I fed myself through looking or smelling, but never eating. I'm not over anorexia; I'm living with it'

Feb 21st 2016, 6:30 PM 698 Views 7 Comments

When I finally got it, I still didn’t think I deserved help. I checked into hospital still believing I was “too fat”, writes an anonymous contributor.

Wednesday 17 February, 2016

Call me a selfish criminal and a murderer if you want, but having an abortion was right for me
# Opinion
# Opinion

Call me a selfish criminal and a murderer if you want, but having an abortion was right for me

Feb 17th 2016, 5:00 PM 9,302 Views 325 Comments

I made a decision to abort at seven weeks for many reasons, writes an anonymous contributor.

Wednesday 10 February, 2016

'My partner was lovely at first, but things changed after we moved in together'
# Opinion
# Opinion

'My partner was lovely at first, but things changed after we moved in together'

Feb 10th 2016, 9:45 PM 7,773 Views 118 Comments

At the beginning he was nice, making sure I got home safely and on time for curfew, but things changed, writes an anonymous contributor.

Tuesday 8 December, 2015

I chose to put my four children through private secondary school, here's why
# Opinion
# Opinion

I chose to put my four children through private secondary school, here's why

Dec 8th 2015, 8:00 AM 13,770 Views 49 Comments

There may be an air of ambition that one hopes will be contagious. If the friends all have high hopes, ours probably will too.

Sunday 6 December, 2015

I love a drink but I don't want to end up like my dad: an alcoholic and alone
# Opinion
# Opinion

I love a drink but I don't want to end up like my dad: an alcoholic and alone

Dec 6th 2015, 8:25 PM 1,965 Views 67 Comments

“Having struggled to deal with my father’s alcoholism my entire life, I wonder just how his ‘fondness for the drink’ has distorted my perception of alcohol.”

Monday 30 November, 2015

No opportunities for non-EU students: I fell in love with Ireland but will soon have to leave
# Opinion
# Opinion

No opportunities for non-EU students: I fell in love with Ireland but will soon have to leave

Nov 30th 2015, 8:00 AM 19,906 Views 48 Comments

The flooded market for HSE placements has become unsustainable, an American medical student studying here writes.

Wednesday 11 November, 2015

'I'll never forget the looks he gave me. I knew he wanted me dead'
# Opinion
# Opinion

'I'll never forget the looks he gave me. I knew he wanted me dead'

Nov 11th 2015, 3:00 PM 172 Views 39 Comments

A woman living in a women’s refuge in Tallaght tells her story and appeals to the government to prevent its closure.

Tuesday 3 November, 2015

'If I don’t have papers I won’t be able to study after the Leaving Cert'
# Human Rights
# Human Rights

'If I don’t have papers I won’t be able to study after the Leaving Cert'

Nov 3rd 2015, 5:20 PM 186 Views 98 Comments

An undocumented teenager says she doesn’t want handouts, just the chance to reach her full potential.

Tuesday 27 October, 2015

I spent five long years studying to be a vet and I'm up against JobBridge ads paying €50 a week
# Opinion
# Opinion

I spent five long years studying to be a vet and I'm up against JobBridge ads paying €50 a week

Oct 27th 2015, 12:00 PM 13,868 Views 141 Comments

Veterinary Ireland has said it has written to the Department of Social Protection to express their concerns about JobBridge vet positions. Here, one graduate tells her story.

Saturday 24 October, 2015

'My failure to conceive makes me feel like I'm not functioning as a woman'
# Opinion
# Opinion

'My failure to conceive makes me feel like I'm not functioning as a woman'

Oct 24th 2015, 7:30 PM 108,275 Views 133 Comments

An anonymous contributor talks about her struggle to conceive and the emotional impact it can have on a person.

Sunday 20 September, 2015

An Irish solution: These are your abortion stories
# Your Voices
# Your Voices

An Irish solution: These are your abortion stories

Sep 20th 2015, 10:00 PM 3,437 Views 244 Comments

On a daily basis women make the journey out of Ireland to have an abortion.

Tuesday 4 August, 2015

Leaving Cert results don't define your future
# Opinion
# Opinion

Leaving Cert results don't define your future

Aug 4th 2015, 10:25 PM 1,634 Views 45 Comments

I only learned to appreciate education after quitting school.

1 2
∞

About Us

Follow Us

Corrections

Policies

Content copyright © Journal Media Ltd. 2021 Registered in Dublin, registration number: 483623. Registered office: 3rd floor, Latin Hall, Golden Lane, Dublin 8.

TheJournal.ie supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, PH: (01) 6489130, Lo-Call 1890 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie
 

Please note that TheJournal.ie uses cookies to improve your experience and to provide services and advertising. For more information on cookies please refer to our cookies policy.

News images provided by Press Association and Photocall Ireland unless otherwise stated. Irish sport images provided by Inpho Photography unless otherwise stated. Wire service provided by Associated Press.

Journal Media does not control and is not responsible for user created content, posts, comments, submissions or preferences. Users are reminded that they are fully responsible for their own created content and their own posts, comments and submissions and fully and effectively warrant and indemnify Journal Media in relation to such content and their ability to make such content, posts, comments and submissions available. Journal Media does not control and is not responsible for the content of external websites.

Switch to Mobile Site

Sites: TheJournal.ie | Noteworthy | The42 | Boards.ie | Adverts.ie | Daft.ie