The Belgian town where families take in people with psychiatric conditions
Photojournalist Ilvy Njiokiktjien was granted rare access to document the lives of boarders and their foster families in Geel, which has a remarkable, centuries-old tradition of altruistic psychiatric care
The city of Geel in Belgium has a foster care system for people dealing with mental health issues. These foster families sometimes host their boarders for decades, making them an integral part of the nuclear family. The families see the care they provide as normal, because many know it from their parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. This system is within the DNA of Geel.
By fostering in this way the families want to normalise the lives of those with mental illness, treating them not as patients with a diagnosis, to be institutionalised, but as individuals deserving of dignity and inclusion. This way of altruistic psychiatric care has been part of Geel since the 13th century. It started when a church was built for Saint Dymphna, who is the patron saint of mental illness. Because of the construction of the church, pilgrims started flocking to the city. About 2,000 boarders were living with local farmers at that time. They helped with daily tasks. This was the beginning of the foster care system and it is still there, now spanning seven centuries.
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