The family of an Irish woman who died on Boxing Day say she was “failed by the system”.
Joanne Bowman, known also as Joanne Kirk, was found dead at an address in Belfast just after the Christmas celebrations.
Joanne had struggled with a drug addiction as well as mental health issues from the age of 18.
Denise Bowman, Joanne’s sister told the Belfast Live that her 21-year-old sister was “let down by the system” and the family wanted to raise awareness so no one else had to go through this.
“I just feel she was let down,” said Denise.
“Joanne had ADHD and challenging behaviour growing up but her mental health deteriorated and she became angry.
“We took her to places to try and get help but there was nothing, we were met with shut doors. It got to the point she became dependent on drugs and she got that dependent on them we would have to check every day that she was OK.
“They all said she needed counselling but she needed something there and then,” said Denise.
“I took her home and I spoke to her and told her if she wanted this help she needed to calm down, sometimes she did get irate.
“We had more episodes of her trying to hurt herself and we took her back again but they said they could not do anything because she was a drug addict and needed to come off the drugs first.
“But she needed other help to come off the drugs first.”
Denise added: “It is so painful to watch your younger sister go through that.”
Joanne had been living with her sister until social services said she had to leave due to her drug addiction posing a risk to her nephew.
“That was her only support taken away from her,” said Denise.
“She then had to live on the street and in hostels. It is devastating, she was only 21.
“There’s a lot of people who have failed her, even to this day.
“I fought for years for my sister to get help but we were met with shut doors.”My sister was failed and this should never happen to anyone else.”
Denise lovingly added that Joanne was not “just a drug addict”, but a sister, daughter and aunt:
“She was beautiful and she had such a good bond with my son and partner,” she said.
“She was such a loving wee girl and she would have put a smile on anyone’s face with all the silly things she would come off with.
“We would sing and dance in the car together and go on lovely long walks.