The "Real" Mental Health Worker

I am.  One of the most powerful phrases in the english language.  A declaration to the world of where one stands. I am, an acknowledgement of presence, solid and stable in situations, prepared for whatever comes down the line. I am going to have patience, I am going to be safe, I am going to positively change lives, I am going to be successful. 

And I am, going to work with the mentally ill.

We are contracted by states, non-profits, and rarely, families to work with people with mental illness, and emotional issues.  We work in facilities, on units, in hospitals, and of course in the milieu. The milieu is where it happens; where frustration occurs, where request are made, and needs are met, where arguments appear, and resolution happens.  We are the counselors, mental health workers, mental health clinicians and nurses.

We are always there 24/7/365, we never rest. At times it feels like we disregard and neglect those

closest to us, because of “the job”.  It is tiring and frustrating; hard work with not enough pay, and makes us consider quitting every day. But we don’t, we try to repair our “outside” relationships while maintaining the ones we are paid to care for, along with co-workers.  We are the relationship gurus of the galaxy, juggling emotional support, with patience, and a willingness to do “the heavy lifting”.

We’re on the bottom, at times our opinion doesn’t matter because we’re the ‘worker bee’.  When the concrete of stability (the meds, the therapies, interaction with social workers) is being poured, we’re the wooden slats keeping everything in one place, safe and secure.  We’re knee deep in disaster at all times with the belief that we will help to make it better. 

We do not promise to cure, but we bust our butts to help our patients recover from their acute, mental illness. We understand the power in collaboration, listening to each other, and communicating, to decrease manipulation, and to remain safe in the milieu.    

The average shift is eight hours, ours routinely feels like 12.  We deal with the ridiculous, the repetitive request from unbalanced individuals way past office hours, and we always work when acuity is high.  We have to set the limit, to ensure not only safety, but healthy boundaries, both physical and mental. Being helpful is not hard, but being of service to someone, sometimes feels like being in service to them.  I am not your servant. Tensions seem to always run high. If it’s not the patients or clients, it’s members of the team, not getting along, not communicating correctly, being unprofessional, or creating a hostile workplace.  It’s psychologically draining at times, finding shovels to dig deep enough to finish the shift.

Easy it is to equate our efforts to little or none, we are after all, 

the worker bee.  

The one who holds down the milieu, who sets the structure, who uses the word no, who sets the limit.  The one who works the closest with the patient, or the client. At times we advocate for advancement of our patients, or residents, and it falls on deaf ears. At times we feel like a shoelace, holding everything together, but getting none of the credit for keeping the beauty of the shoe.

We know our clients, our patients; know their quirks, their likes, triggers, and things they despise. They've cursed us out, threatened us, pulled out our hair, broken our glasses, and assaulted us with bodily fluids. But we`ve also joked, and smiled, laughed, and stood up for each other. We’ve played card games, shared stories, and hugged each other in difficult times.  Staff and client, client and staff, it's a kind of relationship that is tolerated at times, appreciated at others, and misunderstood in the middle.

I am because we are. No one heals alone, and we all are worthy of help.  We are worthy of acts of kindness, and acts that keep dignities in tact. When struggle comes who will be the one to lend a hand, or have an uplifting comment--will it be you?  We know belief, understand it, lean on it, and at times breathe it. At times belief is all there is; for patents,

clients, co-workers, and self. 

We believe they will get better, we believe they will discharge, and have an improved life. It is because of this belief that we work in uncertain situations, risking health and healthy relationships, in order to better the lives of our fellow human beings.

I am because we are.  And we are all together in this.  If we are not, then this (whatever “it” is or is not) does not work.

But it works, because cooperation is there, trust is building, and meaningful relationships are the shoes that can walk through hell.

Mental Health Matters.