One of our patients had a psychotic break about an hour ago.

[Aristus]

Yelling, screaming, throwing things. She trashed our food pantry, started spitting at people, and using every profanity I've ever heard (and a few that I hadn't).

We called the police, and she is being admitted to an in-patient care facility. Thank God they took her there and not to a 'treat-'em-and-street-'em hospital, or to jail.


Our mental health provider never flinched. She's a treasure.


My staff showed the kind of courage you usually see in TV series starring David Boreanaz.


I made sure the rest of our patients in the waiting room were in no danger, and then evacuated the building.


I think I'm just about ready for the weekend...

[Irish_Dem]

1. Another example of ordinary American citizens showing great courage just doing their jobs.

While Congress rakes in millions and has zero courage.

[Aristus]

2. I'm privileged to be working with such great, motivated people.

Everyone at the homeless clinic is a volunteer; they want to work here. They believe in our mission.

And it's not easy for them. In some ways, my job is relatively easy. I visit with the patients, and provide good medical care.

Having to wrangle the difficult patients, and deal with the free-for-alls that can happen in the waiting room, however, is tough on the staff. But they work through it with smiles for everyone.

[Irish_Dem]

5. Yes mental health professionals have a very difficult and often thankless job.

With relatively low pay considering the education, training and experience required.
But yes very rewarding work.
Never boring.

[juxtaposed]

3. years ago we used to call them clients, so your facility calls them patients, how

strange? unless its a medical hospital

[Aristus]

6. When they're using the hygiene facilities (showers and laundry), they're called 'clients'.

When they're with medical, dental, or mental health, they're patients.

[ailsagirl]

4. Good thing it's Friday, Aristus!!

Sounds as if you're surrounded by extremely capable people-- makes all the difference!

Enjoy your weekend

[Aristus]

7. Thank you. I plan to...

[ailsagirl]

8. We'll expect a full report

[Aristus]

9. I'll pop up with my Friday Night Buzz report once I'm good and buzzed...

[ailsagirl]

12. .....

[Aristus]

13. Oh, that the first drink was right now...

Three and a half hours to go.

And another hour to pick up dinner and then head home...

Soon...

[happy feet]

10. Great Job!!!

Thanks so much for your empathy and quick, effective action.

[Aristus]

11. Thank you. The mental health team did most of the dangerous work of calming her down.

If I hadn't moved the other patients out of the building, I would essentially have been a bystander.

[hunter]

14. I've suffered the 'treat-'em-and-street-'em experience twice in my life.

I bounced back off the street and into the hospital both times, much worse off for it. Treating mentally ill people like that is a false economy.

My grandma, whose illness was more severe than my own, kept it securely in the closet because the social stigma was so great. So did her friends and family. There were times she was much like your patient except she'd hit, kick, and bite too.