The most memorable medical posting I had is Psychiatric Posting. It's eye-opening, and if you play your cards right, the most fun. Memorable.
Eye opening. Yes. It during this posting I learnt that everybody can be inflicted by psychiatric illness. Lawyers, Police Officers, Doctors, Teachers, Bus Drivers... and the list goes on. Including yours truly. And most of the stereotypes are wrong. It's all stigma. During my 2 postings in the psychiatric hospital, nobody harmed me.
Those institutionalized patients are friendly. They need somebody to talk to. Ask a man what his tattoos mean, and he'll tell you his story. Ask a religious fanatics where he stands and you'll have a very clear insight.
A middle aged man asked me if I'm a Christian. Apparently, he had doubts about his stand on religion. Born and raised as a Buddhist and converted recently to Christian. He asked me is it sinful to practise some Buddhist rite. He is full of guilt, so my reply was "I don't know if I'm right. To me Buddhism is just a teaching. Adhering to Buddhism doesn't really mean to sin. Buddhism teaches moral values too" Relieved, he thanked me. I'm not sure if I have given the right answer, but to him it's assuring. Do I have to burden him with more guilt by saying it's not right? That's up to God to judge.
It's kinda funny, during my second psychiatric posting, my colleagues are afraid to enter the wards. I entered confidently. One have to be in the same 'frequency' with them. Well it's my kind of 'people like us'. Perhaps the wards itself are intimidating. Iron grilles and huge padlocks. It's not surprising one think it's a jail. I looks like a jail and the 'inmates' wear uniform. Except its green instead of orange.
And one think for sure, nobody likes a patronizing people. So, don't patronize these patients, well all patients. Spend time with them, built rapport and eventually, they'll tell you their story. Mostly colourful stories. The newly admitted are usually shy. I am incline to blame this on stigmas. I've been there, so I know how it feels.
How to stop those stigmas, especially among Asians? Health Education. Yes! Health education to 'normal' populations. Especially family and caretaker. It's sad to see some patient with psychiatric illness were kept in a cage, or locked in a store. I've never witness one, but the nurses and social workers shared their experiences.
Patients with psychiatric illness are human too. Who knows one day you might be one?
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