Coworker Attacked

In eight years at the crisis center I've dodged a bullet. It is accurate to state that when you work in a mental health facility there is the likelihood of being attacked by psychotic clients. So was the case today when a paranoid client who was hearing voices in their head to attack did. Thank God the target was a coworker standing right next to me.

There is a rule for mental health workers that if a client attacks you, you can not attack back. These clients aren't in their right minds and attacking them is viewed upon as abuse. Unfortunately I have seen coworkers fight back in their own anger and hurt. Today however was a doozie!!! Chairs were flying blood being poured and a room of awaiting clients were in a tizzy!

About four years ago I had my only incident. A large man the size of the guy from the "Green Mile" complained that he had slept through his lunch and wanted it! In fact he demanded it!! I placed two dinners in front of him to replace whatever he missed out but this was not acceptable. He stood up as if to sit down to eat and from six feet away slugged me in the jaw! I stood there dumbfounded. How could somebody so far away from me do that? My taking his best punch got him riled, so he picked up a chair and went after me. I did the only thing I could - I hid behind a couch as he thrashed the chair at my barrier for five minutes. The clients scattered, my workmates were nowhere in sight and I was trying to perserve my life. Luckily the door opened, it distracted him and I was out like a flash. I was lucky.

Work place injuries do happen in the mental health industry as my coworker today can contest to. This person had to go to the hospital to get checked out. The client obviously connected with a number of blows and the tumble to the ground also didn't help.

I just want to help people - bottom line. I am not the only person who feels this way in this industry. We all know the risks. So do firefighters, the police, and even people in the clergy. When you try to help people, some people get aggressive and go on the assault.

As a staff we have to go through self defense training but it is in slow motion and only once a year. In a crisis do you think we remember the right thing to do? Learning Karate in which we can block punches and subdo somebody would be more practical. In doing this we don't attack but block. Unfortunately even if my coworker did know martial arts the blow came out of nowhere and anybody would have suffered the same effect.

What a way to end the week. Lots of clients, a slow pace by our psychiatrist, a psychotic person hearing voices to harm set up something ugly into motion.

Be safe and for those who have psychosis - please stay on your medication.

Peace.