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Con Keogh was born in 1921 in Victoria, Australia.

In 1954 he suffer a mental breakdown and was certified as insane. He was hospitalised for several months and was incapable of working for almost a year.

Following his discharge from hospital, he sought help and rehabilitation, but at that time there was incredible stigma around mental illness and community services that focused on recovery from mental illness did not exist.

Con found help by attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, though not an alcoholic himself. Along with a small number of others whom he met at these meetings, the idea was born of a special group to work specifically on problems related to recover from mental illness. He was thus a member of the first Grow Mental Health group which met at Hurstville, Sydney, on April 27 1957.

The wisdom they gained in helping each other to overcome life's challenges and recover from mental illness was carefully recorded and forms the basis of the unique Grow Program. The model they developed was exceptionally innovative, supporting personal power, control and self-determination of people with a mental illness at a time when the notion of recovery from mental illness was rejected by most.

Grow Mental Health came to Ireland in 1969 through Sean O Hanlon, a priest who had returned from Missionary work in Tasmania. It began in the small parish of Athea, Co. Limerick. Today Grow Mental Health has over 130 groups that meet each week in Ireland, both face to face and online.

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Those who donate to Grow can be assured that their donation will be directed to one of the following core areas of Grows' service:-

Recovery, Support and Education

Grow's Recovery Programme supports members as they progress on their journey of recovery. This is achieved through weekly community groups which are free to attend.

Grow Mental Health curr

Grow Mental Health Mid West Region

Created by Joan Diffley

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