HanoiThe male patient with schizophrenia often held an umbrella and sat motionless, refusing to eat or drink. Nurse Thanh Huyen thought long and hard and decided to sit with him holding an umbrella.
Nurse Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen, 41 years old, 18 years working at Mai Huong Day Psychiatric Hospital, directly takes care of a 55-year-old man. He was hospitalized in March two years ago, suffering from schizophrenia, having auditory hallucinations, constantly hearing voices in his head, often holding an umbrella and squatting in a corner, crossing his arms and knees, living alone in this world. inner world.
In addition to giving the patient medication and treatment, nurse Huyen tries to stay by his side to observe and talk to understand the patient better. After a period of time holding an umbrella and sitting with the patient, she convinced him to walk and eat in the umbrella, and gradually he began to recover.
“I want to enter the patient’s inner world and share with them like a true friend,” Ms. Huyen said.
Nurse Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen. Image: Phuong Thao
Theo Elevate Psychiatry, empathy, the ability to understand and share feelings with the patient play a key role in treatment. Mental patients are often tormented with emotions, thoughts and struggles. Physicians can alleviate this burden by creating a safe, nonjudgmental space where patients feel listened to and supported.
Empathy is also a catalyst for effective communication and treatment. By understanding the patient’s inner feelings, doctors and nurses will create a treatment regimen that suits their unique needs and experiences. A personalized approach enhances treatment results.
The Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) curriculum believes that empathy is always putting yourself in the patient’s position to understand and share. Not only does this help the patient’s health, but it can also provide health benefits for the caregiver themselves. By showing empathy, psychiatric medical staff can handle stressful or emotionally challenging situations, thereby helping to manage their own stress more effectively and care for others. disease better.
Ms. Huyen believes that for patients with schizophrenia, the voice that is always present in their heads acts like a radio, constantly scanning the environment for feedback signals. This sometimes leads to oppositional behavior, thereby easily suffering discrimination and scorn from society.
“Patients feel hurt and lonely. The pain is even greater when they lose respect and sympathy from those around them, have difficulty finding a job, and have difficulty maintaining relationships. Therefore, it is important It’s important that they feel listened to,” Huyen said.
The hospital is treating more than 100 patients with a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, epilepsy, and developmental delays. Ms. Huyen’s daily task is to take care of a few dozen patients, personally monitoring each one.
This job is very challenging, especially when the patient is uncooperative, not mentally clear, and needs a lot of time for psychological support. For example, an agitated patient rushed into the hospital, holding two knives, threatening the doctors. It took Huyen 15 minutes to choose her words before the patient calmed her down, saying that she had a headache, had many strange and scary images appearing in her brain, and felt that people intended to harm her, so she held a knife for defense. When the patient put the knife on the table, the nurse quickly put it away, then the team treated it with injections.
Or, an elderly patient with severe memory loss often exhibits unusual and dangerous behaviors. Initially, the patient was aggressive, making it difficult for doctors and nurses to approach him. Then, thanks to non-verbal communication skills such as facial expressions and gestures, female nurses and colleagues gradually create a safe and friendly environment, helping patients reduce anxiety.
“Medical staff in the psychiatric department must always exercise utmost restraint, in all situations must maintain a calm attitude, and control their own emotions,” she said, adding that “no matter the circumstances, we should respect Respect people with mental illness”.
Female nurse dispensing medicine to patients. Image: Phuong Thao
Taking care of normal patients is difficult, taking care of mentally ill patients is even more difficult. Early in her career, Huyen struggled to deal with negative emotions and found ways to relieve her emotions.
“Mental patients have their own reasons,” the nurse said, adding that she always tries her best to understand patients and make the best use of the conditions available to treat them. In return, Huyen received a lot of love from the patient. A young male patient, a university graduate, wrote Huyen a sealed piece of paper with the words wishing her peace in life. Huyen also takes care of a patient who is a doctor and loves to draw. When he was healthy enough to leave the hospital, he drew a work of art and gave it to the nurse.
“Those small actions warm my heart,” Huyen said. “I hope people will always recognize mentally ill people with empathy and respect.”