Joan Freeman (née Lowe; born 2 April 1958) is an Irish psychologist, mental health activist and an independent politician who served as a Senator from 2016 to 2020, after being nominated by the then Taoiseach, Enda Kenny.

Since 2006, Pieta House has established twelve additional centres across Ireland with almost 270 therapists and administration staff, providing free therapeutic services to over 30,000 people.

She is a former member of the Council for Justice and Peace of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference,[10] at one time speaking to raise awareness on suicide prevention training programmes provided by Pieta House.

[13][14][15] Her sister, Theresa Lowe, and her niece, Maria Steen, argued for a No vote in the referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment on televised debates on RTÉ and TV3.

[16][17] Freeman had said that although she voted No in the referendum, she "would be happy to carry the voice of the people and sign resulting legislation into law as president" and noted her daughter's involvement in the Yes campaign.

[18] Independent TD Mattie McGrath will support Freeman if she runs, stating that "a good Catholic president would be refreshing".

[20] During the campaign, the Irish Independent reported on a speech by Freeman in which she claimed that her eczema had been miraculously cured following a visit to Knock Shrine when she was a teenager.

[21] During her 2018 presidential bid, Freeman received a €120,000 loan from Des Walsh, a former boyfriend and then-president of Herbalife Nutrition.

Her acceptance of this loan raised questions, particularly given Herbalife's past controversies, including allegations of operating as a pyramid scheme.