Reducing emergency room and crisis costs is one of the topics Mr. Tell suggested last month. We looked briefly at the importance of designing housing approaches that consider potential challenges posed by those dealing with trauma and other mental health conditions. Essentially, housing for many requires some client-centered considerations. For instance, someone abused during childhood will have a different set of triggers than those traumatized as adolescents or young adults.
With our office above a longtime friend of Doc’s, Gina was worried about a client losing touch with reality. She operates a health and nutrition club, Pick Yourself Up, located on Central Street downstairs from the ARMOR Program’s office, now closed. The guy, around Doc’s age, was experiencing an episode of PTSD, acquired during wartime military service. He smelled profusely of alcohol (not on her menu) and why she called. Doc arrived in minutes. After consoling him a bit, they coaxed him into Doc’s van anticipating a ride to emergency. After more calming conversation, the man remembered and began practicing his learned grounding techniques. Things were soon stabilized and he became healthy minded enough to avoid Saints.
Our intention behind sharing this is two-fold. It helps us convey the importance of understanding those we’re called to serve (client-centered) and how simply reducing the threat of harm is consoling (harm-reduction) for one. Now, staffing someone to be on call 24/7 qualified to handle difficult mental health challenges may be a little pricey. When a good rapport is developed with individuals being housed though, detecting cautionary signs are easily recognized. Staff can better prepare for crisis interventions, reduce emergency vehicle transport, and possibly circumvent overwhelming situations from escalating. And two, it was collaboration between Gena and Doc, the magic, that helped guide this gentleman back to his feeling safe zone. Love you, Gina! And many thanks for all the love, respect, and nutritional herbal drinks you so generously shared with our many struggling clients.
Sound Off – Meditation On
I have never taken even a single sleeping pill.
In the past, alcohol eventually caused me to be still.
But then, several times during the night I’d awake.
It took some many years to realize my mistake.
Books before my face, were once for reading.
Now, Facebook is for friends I miss seeing.
At the age of four, I had so much Zen.
But it is Now, and that was Then.
Now I need to floss and brush my teeth.
Then find new pathways to let me sleep.
Smartphones, TV’s and computers.
I need an exorcist to silence these intruders.
Blue-rays at night, a constant fight.
Blue skies by day, and I’m okay.
Companies create more destress devices.
But I can’t afford the outrageous prices.
In this moment, I’ve constructed a blue ray shield.
Meditation before sleep, is a beautiful open field.
Or sometimes, a peaceful float up into the clouds.
A place where outside interferences are not aloud.
Commemorating All Hallows’ Day
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