Stalking Irish Madness

Kara Rota follows Patrick Tracey on his genealogical exploration of schizophrenia in Ireland.

Along with the HVN, the Mad Pride movement has also emerged from within the schizophrenia community. "They call themselves the last barricade of the civil rights movement," explains Tracey. "And they demand to be heard and they don't want to be forced to take medicine. They're willing to take medicine, many of them want to take medicine, but they don't want to be forced...these are very progressive people and they're the people that are leading this movement. It is a movement."

As anyone who has gone to Ireland to search for their genealogical roots can tell you, the journey can be filled with dead ends and frustration. The process becomes even more difficult when the focus of the search is schizophrenia. "Well, I mean, in Ireland [genealogy] is an industry and they'll welcome you with open arms," says Tracey.

"But the word schizophrenia-it's a country no one wants to visit... So I knew I had to step very lightly, I had to tread lightly. Because this is the most severe form of mental illness, and it scares the s*** out of people. So you just don't go poking around in the back lanes of Roscommon asking about this."

Along the way, Tracey does encounter refusals to discuss what is often seen as a private family matter. When I ask how he approached the subject with the Irish with whom he spoke, he replies, "I did tiptoe, I didn't knock hard, I didn't kick down doors, because it's just the beginning of the conversation. I hope [the book] opens up a conversation with the Irish, between Ireland and America, in families afflicted, and that we begin to talk more about it."

Transforming generations of shame and suffering into an open dialogue between schizophrenics, those who love them, and the medical community in both Ireland and America is an ongoing process, and Tracey's book is indeed a great contribution.

"Stalking Irish Madness" has already garnered critical attention, and has been chosen by the American Booksellers Association for their Indie Next List and featured on indiebound.org.

"I'm really happy about that, it's very positive," says Tracey. "Oh, and they sent me a t-shirt, and then I went and had my man Arturo snap a photo of me in the t-shirt and I sent that to the guys in sales, whoever they are. But just the fact that there are people in my life who are called the guys in sales! It means things are on the rise."

Patrick Tracey, a former contributing writer for the Washington City Paper and Regardie's in Washington, D.C., has also written for Ms. magazine and the Washington Post. Tracey now lives with his sisters in Boston, Massachusetts.

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