7 answers
Amaya
Student
Rochester, Minnesota
5
Questions
Asked
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When you first entered the mental health care field, what was the most shocking thing you experienced ?
I'm doing a research project on a job I'm interested in and what to know what to expect .
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7 answers
Jamie Hogan, MA, LPC, NCC, C-DBT
DBT Therapist
5
Answers
Reading, Pennsylvania
Updated
Jamie’s Answer
When I entered the field over 15 years ago I went into community mental health. The most shocking for me was the lack of resources for clients. Government funded programs and insurance are broken systems that leave so many struggling to not be able to afford services or to be able to even receive services. To this day, even after moving to private practice, the hoops people need to jump through at times for insurance is ridiculous. We all deserve better.
Thank you, this is really helpful.
Amaya
Sean Alexander
Retired
18
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Sean’s Answer
Hello,
As a retired police officer, I may not be the best source for advice. However, I wholeheartedly support the importance of mental health!
Wishing you all the best,
Sean
As a retired police officer, I may not be the best source for advice. However, I wholeheartedly support the importance of mental health!
Wishing you all the best,
Sean
Perry Zuckerman
Psychiatrist
18
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Perry’s Answer
Hello Amaya,
You will be dealing with is the ***stigma*** of mental conditions. Some in the medical world, and the whole world beyond, may not see ***mental*** conditions as being ***medical*** conditions needing medical treatment. They simply may not see the biological basis of mental health spectra. For [just] one example, they may not see Depression as being a medical condition every bit as much as Diabetes is. Again, that's one example in the whole set. This has had tremendous negative consequences for patients and their world on an individual and system basis.
There are those who still think, even say, "Why can't you just get over it? Why can't you talk yourself out of this?". Some still see the patient as having a mental condition because they are "weak", it's "their fault", it's "their parents' fault", it's [still] something to be ashamed of and hide. Again, with horrendous consequences for the sufferers and their world. Unfortunately of course, patients themselves have bought into this their whole lives. They could not have known any better.
However, the great news, the significant news, is that this situation has vastly improved over the last few decades. Human reality, human movements, and especially science are succeeding in bringing the inescapable truth about the biomedical nature of mental condition spectra into more minds everyday. It is the side of the battle that I have seen slowly but unstoppably winning over my 40 years of practice.
***Stigma*** against mental health conditions. You will be dealing with it and combatting it. Don't shy away from the battle. With patients, their world, and everyone else. The good news is that the task is getting easier and easier. The opposition is shrinking and will continue to do so.
But it's not completely gone.
You will be dealing with is the ***stigma*** of mental conditions. Some in the medical world, and the whole world beyond, may not see ***mental*** conditions as being ***medical*** conditions needing medical treatment. They simply may not see the biological basis of mental health spectra. For [just] one example, they may not see Depression as being a medical condition every bit as much as Diabetes is. Again, that's one example in the whole set. This has had tremendous negative consequences for patients and their world on an individual and system basis.
There are those who still think, even say, "Why can't you just get over it? Why can't you talk yourself out of this?". Some still see the patient as having a mental condition because they are "weak", it's "their fault", it's "their parents' fault", it's [still] something to be ashamed of and hide. Again, with horrendous consequences for the sufferers and their world. Unfortunately of course, patients themselves have bought into this their whole lives. They could not have known any better.
However, the great news, the significant news, is that this situation has vastly improved over the last few decades. Human reality, human movements, and especially science are succeeding in bringing the inescapable truth about the biomedical nature of mental condition spectra into more minds everyday. It is the side of the battle that I have seen slowly but unstoppably winning over my 40 years of practice.
***Stigma*** against mental health conditions. You will be dealing with it and combatting it. Don't shy away from the battle. With patients, their world, and everyone else. The good news is that the task is getting easier and easier. The opposition is shrinking and will continue to do so.
But it's not completely gone.
Gregory Barclay, M.D., DLFAPA, FASAP
Psychiatrist
27
Answers
Wilmington, Delaware
Updated
Gregory’s Answer
Amaya, thank you for your question. You are obviously bright and curious! Unfortunately, my answer may upset you so I will warn you in advance, but it is true. The most shocking experience for me occurred in the first year of my residency training program in psychiatry, when one of the patients under my care jumped off a balcony to his death, 4 floors below, in a courtyard where many staff were eating their lunch. It was a horrific experience for everyone, and occurred not only because he was very sick and unstable, but also because of a combination of mistakes and oversights made by the staff and me in the hospital unit where we were assigned to monitor his care. He was only 28 years old at the time. I learned a lot as a result of this - certainly I learned to listen more carefully to my patients, to read the subtext of what they were saying, read their body language better, and to not put my own needs ahead of the patient's needs, ever.
Suicide is an inevitable consequence any professional who works with mentally troubled individuals. It is something we can and should work very diligently to prevent, yet it still happens. I have always told students and residents that if they are not shocked and troubled when and if this happens, they should not be in this profession. To be effective, we must feel the pain our patients are feeling, and not diminish it or invalidate their experience of it.
Thanks for writing and good luck in your research!
Suicide is an inevitable consequence any professional who works with mentally troubled individuals. It is something we can and should work very diligently to prevent, yet it still happens. I have always told students and residents that if they are not shocked and troubled when and if this happens, they should not be in this profession. To be effective, we must feel the pain our patients are feeling, and not diminish it or invalidate their experience of it.
Thanks for writing and good luck in your research!
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
579
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hello Amaya,
Great question! When I first entered the mental health care field, one of the most shocking things I experienced was "how much pain people often carry in silence". Many patients I met had been struggling for years without seeking help because they feared judgment or didn’t know where to turn. It made me realize how critical it is to create safe and supportive environments where people feel comfortable opening up.
Another surprising aspect was the "emotional toll of the work". Hearing about trauma, loss, and struggles day after day was heavier than I expected, and it took time to learn how to set boundaries and practice self-care to avoid burnout.
Lastly, I was shocked by the "systemic barriers in mental health care"—things like long wait times, limited resources, and the lack of accessibility for underserved populations. It was frustrating but also motivated me to advocate for change.
Despite the challenges, I’ve found this field incredibly rewarding. Watching someone regain hope or make progress, even in small ways, makes every tough moment worthwhile.
Best wishes!
Great question! When I first entered the mental health care field, one of the most shocking things I experienced was "how much pain people often carry in silence". Many patients I met had been struggling for years without seeking help because they feared judgment or didn’t know where to turn. It made me realize how critical it is to create safe and supportive environments where people feel comfortable opening up.
Another surprising aspect was the "emotional toll of the work". Hearing about trauma, loss, and struggles day after day was heavier than I expected, and it took time to learn how to set boundaries and practice self-care to avoid burnout.
Lastly, I was shocked by the "systemic barriers in mental health care"—things like long wait times, limited resources, and the lack of accessibility for underserved populations. It was frustrating but also motivated me to advocate for change.
Despite the challenges, I’ve found this field incredibly rewarding. Watching someone regain hope or make progress, even in small ways, makes every tough moment worthwhile.
Best wishes!
I'm excited to put your great advice to good use!
Amaya
Kathleen Rezek
Laboratory and compliance
63
Answers
Stanwood, Michigan
Updated
Kathleen’s Answer
Hi, Amaya.
This is an interesting question. As a laboratory scientist, for over 40 years, there wasn't too much that I'd consider shocking. But one thing does come to mind and I don't think I'll ever forget it. I was employed by a large, prestigious hospital and one evening when I got to the lab and my station, which happened to be the coagulation testing area, I noted a paper on the message board with photocopied bar codes and the words
" use these" . I asked about it and was told that our coagulation reagents were expired so the instrument would not accept them. The only way to run any testing was to use the bar codes from the next, unexpired batch until the current ones were used up. I was shocked at that! Most all diagnoses and treatment decisions are based on lab results and inaccurate coagulation results could cause deaths and end us up on the news and with stiff penalties. I refused and requested a different station or I would leave. I was assigned a different area, which I worked for the evening. As my previous job had been inspecting labs for just such issues, I reported them to their accreditation agency and quit the next day.
In all my years working in and inspecting labs, that was the most shocking and dangerous thing I encountered. It’s also fairly rare and I am happy to report that no great harm was done and that lab straightened out right away. I don't know the specifics but they did have an all staff meeting and address the issue.
This is an interesting question. As a laboratory scientist, for over 40 years, there wasn't too much that I'd consider shocking. But one thing does come to mind and I don't think I'll ever forget it. I was employed by a large, prestigious hospital and one evening when I got to the lab and my station, which happened to be the coagulation testing area, I noted a paper on the message board with photocopied bar codes and the words
" use these" . I asked about it and was told that our coagulation reagents were expired so the instrument would not accept them. The only way to run any testing was to use the bar codes from the next, unexpired batch until the current ones were used up. I was shocked at that! Most all diagnoses and treatment decisions are based on lab results and inaccurate coagulation results could cause deaths and end us up on the news and with stiff penalties. I refused and requested a different station or I would leave. I was assigned a different area, which I worked for the evening. As my previous job had been inspecting labs for just such issues, I reported them to their accreditation agency and quit the next day.
In all my years working in and inspecting labs, that was the most shocking and dangerous thing I encountered. It’s also fairly rare and I am happy to report that no great harm was done and that lab straightened out right away. I don't know the specifics but they did have an all staff meeting and address the issue.
Thank you so much, Kathleen!
Amaya
Kira Labinger
Mental Health/Peer Counselor
7
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Kira’s Answer
Hi Amaya,
Thank you for your question. It made me think about and process my own experience. When I first entered the mental health care field, the most shocking thing I experienced was how little trauma was considered and addressed in treatment. I remember a general perspective that patients/recipients were fundamentally different beings than doctors/providers, rather than similar beings with different life experiences.
I saw how the label of defective often exacerbated mental health symptoms and how little credit was given to patients for having endured and survived mistreatment in their lives. I feel shocked now thinking about the lack of trauma-focused therapies employed at the time.
I think that mental health providers have, in general, done great work under challenging circumstances and that treatment standards are increasingly focused on addressing trauma.
I also think that it is these types of questions that help advance systems.
Thank you for your question. It made me think about and process my own experience. When I first entered the mental health care field, the most shocking thing I experienced was how little trauma was considered and addressed in treatment. I remember a general perspective that patients/recipients were fundamentally different beings than doctors/providers, rather than similar beings with different life experiences.
I saw how the label of defective often exacerbated mental health symptoms and how little credit was given to patients for having endured and survived mistreatment in their lives. I feel shocked now thinking about the lack of trauma-focused therapies employed at the time.
I think that mental health providers have, in general, done great work under challenging circumstances and that treatment standards are increasingly focused on addressing trauma.
I also think that it is these types of questions that help advance systems.