(June 11, 2018 at 8:40 am)mh.brewer Wrote:(June 11, 2018 at 3:09 am)Little lunch Wrote: CIJS, I'm used to being around tough nuts from my youth and I can out stare most big dudes who eyeball me, but some of my mental health clients can be intimidating in a way I'm just not used to.
I'm learning to do things without turning my back on them.
Call them on it. Even the mentally unstable need to be told when their behavior is inappropriate. If they do it to a stranger they might just end up getting an knuckle sammich.
Yes, you're absolutely right, but easier said then done, especially when they've forgotten to take their antipsychotics the day before and you're waiting for the new ones to kick in and they're just watching you intently.
I have been worried for some clients around strangers and I try to make it obvious that I'm their carer.
I'm not sure how far my duty of care extends as I'm fairly sure I have to look out for myself first.
There used to be a large psychiatric hospital here that has been partially closed down in the last few years.
Some of my clients had been institutionalised for many years coming straight from jail where they also spent many years.
So they're not really used to normal society.