People with mental illness often need specialized neuropsychiatric care during the acute phase of their condition. But for many, recovery does not end there. Serious disturbances persist, return, or worsen—making independent living, family relationships, and work difficult or impossible. We call this chronic illness.
We set out to see for ourselves where and how these people live.
We all know, from meeting them on the streets and in homes, that many live in difficult—sometimes devastating—circumstances. But what of the others?
The two facilities we present here offer a superficial glimpse into two very different realities we visited. In almost every way, they stand in stark contrast to each other.
We hope—with all our hearts—that far more will be done to transform the painful and desperate reality of our brothers and sisters living with mental illness.
Villa S. Giovanni di Dio by Nicole Schulthes
Therapeutic Community of Primavalle by Sergio Sciascia