Mick Finnegan could make an entire podcast series about his life experience to date.
He's been homeless in Dublin and London, struggled for a while to get a handle on his mental health enduring some incredibly dark days that led to suicide attempts.
Mick has also worked on the other side of homeless services with a number of organisations including DePaul, and through a random encounter with an international rugby icon, ended up qualifying as a rugby coach with Saracens. More recently he’s worked with London’s Royal College of Psychiatrists as an advisor with the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health in the UK, helping to shape mental health policy and improve services.
These days Mick is back in Dublin, studying at Trinity College with the goal of becoming a social worker.
Last week he tweeted, "20 years ago I was sleeping rough at the bottom of Grafton Street. Today directly opposite of where I’d wake up most days I passed my first of many years in college."
If you are finding life difficult at the moment, be it because of restrictions related to the pandemic, or other factors, Mick’s story is sure to inspire.
If you, or someone you know, need mental health support, please access helpline information in rte.ie/support
