Learnings Learnings

Thank God for my profession. In it I have the opportunity to look at my shortcommings and "hopefully" make improvements for the better.

Yesterday we had an incident on the unit in which a client escallated to the point of taking an overdose of medication. As a result, today we as a staff have sat down, made adjustments in our procedures, all in the hopes of preventing a similar or worse situation.

I enjoy meeting with other clinicians. So often I get swept into the feelings of clients who are placed on 5150 holds. When you are forced into a psychiatric hospital against your will, it may feel like the worst possible situation. To many clinicians they view this as something positive! Especially those who work in hospital settings where people on holds are sent.

This may sound bizarre. How on earth can a hospitalization be viewed as a positive? Well if voices are telling you to harm yourself and you feel driven to take your own life, in hospitals, medication is adjusted, people talk with you, give you a plan of action, become supportive, and praise your positive actions. Regardless of your social/economic situation, your gender, your race, or your age. There are programs set up in the City of Los Angeles where this service is for free!

Life can be a hellish experience to people who experience acute mental and/or emotional illness. Unfortunately this type of person fights even harder to keep the needed assistance away! Then you are plopped in front of me and by law I have to take reasonable action steps to keep you and others that surround you safe. Yes at times I am the first line of defense - or offense in the case of hospitalizing somebody.

So with the new protocols being established, I pray that the situation from the day before becomes a distant memory and a spring board to swifter and safer action.

Peace!