http://blonde-doctor.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] blonde-doctor.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2006-07-18 10:38 am
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First Aid II, Danger Shop, Tuesday Morning, July 18

Elliot seemed more serious than usual as she stood in front of the assembled students.

"Hi. We did a lot with physical first aid last session, and we'll get back to it next week, but for today I'd like to talk about psychiatric first aid, or emergency psychiatry. Psychiatry is a clinical medical discipline that involve the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental and behavioral disorders such as clinical depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and anxiety disorders. I've heard Dr. Pevensie at the clinic is a psychiatrist; it's not my specialty, but it's something I respect a whole lot.

Psychiatric, or psychological, illnesses aren't as obvious as physical ones. It's not like people who are depressed start sprouting green fur, or people with anxiety disorders turn purple -- though sometimes it might be easier if they did. But it is possible that within your lives, you'll come across someone -- maybe even a loved one. Maybe yourselves (about one in six adult americans has a mental illness, though most go untreated) who is having issues.

With some mental illnesses, you aren't going to be able to do anything as a first responder. For example, if you believe someone has delusions, about all you can do is protect them and get them to a clinic as soon as possible.

But the more likely situations that you would encounter would be a panic attack or someone having suicidal feelings. People who are contemplating suicide don't usually walk up to everyone and say, 'Hi, I'm Elliot, I'm going to kill myself Tuesday at noon, how ya doing.' But there are some signs you can watch for, and some resources you can point them toward. Or get them to go to any hospital or physician's office.

And if you or someone you care about is suicidal, please don't think it's crazy, or unique. A 1995 survey found that 24 percent of students had seriously thought about suicide and 8 percent had attempted it -- 3 percent in a way that required medical attention. Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among young people ages 15 to 24. In 2001, 3,971 suicides were reported in that age group. And for whatever reasons, 86 percent of that group were male and 14 percent were female."

Elliot paused and looked around the room. "So. This stuff is big, and it's real, and I hope you understand why it's as important a health risk as sunburn or a skinned knee. There's a simulation on helping someone through a panic attack set up in that corner over there. Once you've done that, I've set out a bunch of psychiatric self-diagnosis tests that can help spot a psychiatric emergency. Work alone or in pairs or small groups; if you work together, remember that anything you find out does not leave this room, and I am five hundred percent serious about that. It's a detention if you discuss something about someone else and I find out."

"That's it for today."

[OOC: OCD is up. SP from me after 1:30 EST as usual.]

Re: Sign in, First Aid, 7/18

[personal profile] smartestone 2006-07-18 03:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Hermione Granger

Re: Sign in, First Aid, 7/18

[identity profile] once-a-king.livejournal.com 2006-07-18 03:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Peter Pevensie.

Re: Sign in, First Aid, 7/18

[identity profile] mparkerceo.livejournal.com 2006-07-18 04:15 pm (UTC)(link)
M. Parker

Re: Sign in, First Aid, 7/18

[identity profile] greenmagebriar.livejournal.com 2006-07-18 04:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Briar Moss.
multiplez: (Default)

Re: Sign in, First Aid, 7/18

[personal profile] multiplez 2006-07-18 07:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Z Delgado

Re: Sign in, First Aid, 7/18

[identity profile] union-jane.livejournal.com 2006-07-18 08:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Seras Victoria

Re: Sign in, First Aid, 7/18

[identity profile] lovelylana.livejournal.com 2006-07-19 01:44 am (UTC)(link)
Lana Lang

Re: Lecture & general class stuff, First Aid, 7/18

[personal profile] smartestone 2006-07-18 03:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Hermione spends her time taking detailed notes, looking a little alarmed while doing so.

Re: Lecture & general class stuff, First Aid, 7/18

[identity profile] once-a-king.livejournal.com 2006-07-18 03:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Peter listened carefully and took notes. It was really the first time he'd thought about what his sister did. Seemed like a good time to learn.

Re: Lecture & general class stuff, First Aid, 7/18

[identity profile] mparkerceo.livejournal.com 2006-07-18 04:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Parker kept her eyes down during the lecture, but looked abruptly interested when the simulation was mentioned.

Re: Lecture & general class stuff, First Aid, 7/18

[identity profile] greenmagebriar.livejournal.com 2006-07-18 04:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Briar didn't realize that you can take notes during a lecture. He simply memorized everything vaguely important Elliot said.

Re: Panic Attacks

[identity profile] mparkerceo.livejournal.com 2006-07-18 04:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Parker watched the woman on the park bench complain of heart palpitations and an inability to breathe, and bit her lip. "I have no idea what I'm supposed to do here. Call her therapist? Or an ambulance?"

Re: Panic Attacks

[identity profile] mparkerceo.livejournal.com 2006-07-18 04:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Parker nodded carefully, and tried to suggest some breathing techniques. Wrong.

She scowled, and checked the answer, then led the woman away to calm down. The rest of the questions she got right, although she was guessing more about what the test-makers would say was a right answer (thank you, Jarod) than what she really felt.

At the end of it, Parker was feeling as anxious as if *she* were the one in danger of an anxiety attack.

Re: Self-tests, first aid, 7/18

[identity profile] mparkerceo.livejournal.com 2006-07-18 04:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, joy. Mild depressive symptoms. "Am not," Parker muttered under her breath. "Just stressed."
multiplez: (*emoZ*)

Re: Self-tests, first aid, 7/18

[personal profile] multiplez 2006-07-18 07:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Moderately depressed. Well, heck, she probably could have told them that. She wondered if she should talk to Dr. Pevensie.

Re: Self-tests, first aid, 7/18

[identity profile] mparkerceo.livejournal.com 2006-07-19 12:09 am (UTC)(link)
"Any chance its these *tests* that are depressing, and not us?"
multiplez: (Z is a sad panda.)

Re: Self-tests, first aid, 7/18

[personal profile] multiplez 2006-07-19 12:14 am (UTC)(link)
"More like it's my life that's depressing, I think."

Re: Self-tests, first aid, 7/18

[identity profile] mparkerceo.livejournal.com 2006-07-19 12:17 am (UTC)(link)
Parker nodded in agreement, grumbling. "So what if I lose weight? I work out. And I sleep when I need to. That's not depressed, that's just efficien." She scowled. "And if your life was different, you'd feel differently, so... perfectly fair."
multiplez: (Let's be serious.)

Re: Self-tests, first aid, 7/18

[personal profile] multiplez 2006-07-19 12:23 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, and it's too damn quiet in my room back at the dorms--especially since my roommate left again. I'm used to the city! But, I mean, I like it here. Here is so much better."

Re: Self-tests, first aid, 7/18

[identity profile] mparkerceo.livejournal.com 2006-07-19 12:24 am (UTC)(link)
"Right, and I get why." Parker cocked her head. "Your roommate left again? Maybe you can get another one? And at least we're in the cabins right now."
multiplez: (I dunno!)

Re: Self-tests, first aid, 7/18

[personal profile] multiplez 2006-07-19 12:31 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, I dunno. She didn't tell me why. It's not like I ever see her when she's here, anyway--she's got a boyfriend and all." Z shrugged. "It's not like she's a bad roommate. Has really creepy posters, though."

Re: Self-tests, first aid, 7/18

[identity profile] mparkerceo.livejournal.com 2006-07-19 12:40 am (UTC)(link)
"Posters of what? Tempe doesn't do any redecorating in the cabin, at least." Parker scowled at the Manic-Depressive test, and then flicked it off, angry at how many she'd gotten wrong. "This is a good reason to do something fun tonight. Or at least, really damn soon."
multiplez: (Sassy Z)

Re: Self-tests, first aid, 7/18

[personal profile] multiplez 2006-07-19 07:26 pm (UTC)(link)
"Like, skeletons and stuff. I could really use some fun," Z agreed.

Re: Self-tests, first aid, 7/18

[identity profile] mparkerceo.livejournal.com 2006-07-19 07:28 pm (UTC)(link)
"Caritas, or the bowling alley? I don't bowl, but I do play pool," Parker suggested. "Tomorrow, maybe? I've only got one workshop, and then I'll be wandering around taking photos during the afternoon."
multiplez: (Default)

Re: Self-tests, first aid, 7/18

[personal profile] multiplez 2006-07-19 07:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"I've got to stop sending multiples to Astronomy. It's starting to be a habit. And I can't bowl, either, but sure!"

Re: Self-tests, first aid, 7/18

[identity profile] mparkerceo.livejournal.com 2006-07-20 12:05 am (UTC)(link)
Parker laughed. "Night classes, what are you going to do? Right. Tomorrow, Fast Eddie's, anyone we can scare up."

Re: Self-tests, first aid, 7/18

[identity profile] lovelylana.livejournal.com 2006-07-19 01:48 am (UTC)(link)
Moderately depressed. Not much of a shock. But she was certainly doing better than she had been a month ago.

Re: OOC, First Aid, 7/18

[identity profile] dr-snark.livejournal.com 2006-07-18 02:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Awww. No badgers?

Therapist: Tell me about your mother.

Badger: *cute little woodland critter sounds*

Re: OOC, First Aid, 7/18

[identity profile] once-a-king.livejournal.com 2006-07-18 03:15 pm (UTC)(link)
*pictures Susan having to fend off badgers in order to get to her patients.*

Re: OOC, First Aid, 7/18

[identity profile] mparkerceo.livejournal.com 2006-07-18 04:14 pm (UTC)(link)
*snickers*

*imagines her recruiting teal deer and foxes and Smokey the Bear to help*
chasingangela: (teal deer)

Re: OOC, First Aid, 7/18

[personal profile] chasingangela 2006-07-18 04:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Save the teal deer!