Man who was homeless and tried taking own life now 'quite happy' in Kilkenny

A man in 60s who became homeless after suffering a mental health crisis has turned his life around and is now "quite happy." 

Steven Cooper, who is 69, moved to Ireland from London in 1994 after falling in love with "a good woman." 

They settled in Kilkenny after their children were diagnosed with Autism, according to a post on Facebook by the Good Shepherd Centre Kilkenny. 

Steven says the diagnosis came as quite a shock and put a lot of pressure on his marriage.

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Behind the scenes, he was struggling with depression and was "living two lives." 

"I was 'happy Steve' who made everybody laugh; but deep down inside, I wasn’t happy," he admitted. 

Steven then had a manic depressive episode and tried to take his own life.

He was admitted to the Department of Psychiatry in St. Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny, but couldn't return home once he was discharged.

"My life had just crumbled around me, and at the age of 62 I suddenly found that I didn’t have a family home," he said.

"I was always hard-working, never had any problems with drink, drugs, gambling… I had, I suppose, a ‘normal’ life. My mental health let me down in the end. I just couldn’t cope. I felt broken," Steven added.

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Steven was placed in Greenbanks Crisis House, which is a rehabilitative mental health facility in Carlow, after leaving the hospital.

In 2018, he was referred to The Good Shepherd Centre in Kilkenny.

He was allocated a room and was provided with help to apply for social welfare payments and get mental health supports.

A few months later, Steven was offered a house share, and the following year, he was offered his own place in Kells.

Although life seemed like it was on the up, another curveball was thrown his way.

Steven was diagnosed with blood cancer, but is now in remission and recently moved to an apartment in Kilkenny City to make it easier to attend medical appointments.

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As 70 edges closer for Steven, he is more grateful than ever to have a roof over his head. 

"You can’t afford the rents that are on the market, I couldn’t afford to put a deposit on a house, no one is going to give me a mortgage at my age," he says.

Now on the other side of his mental health crisis, Steven has expressed how he is content with his life.

"I was ready to take my own life, didn’t have a future, didn’t see anything on my horizon at all; and now I’m quite happy, I’ve got my own little roof," he explained.

Steven's advice to anyone struggling with their mental health is to "seek out that help." 

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal ideation, support is available from the Samaritans 24 hours a day by freephoning 116 123.