A TikTok creator who goes by the handle @tiffyb113 used to work at a psychiatric hospital, and she’s sharing a story that highlights the risks and emotional toll that mental health professionals often face behind closed doors.
One of the patients at the psych hospital had an inappropriate relationship with his adoptive mother. Each time she came to visit him, they would engage in inappropriate behavior.
The treatment team was alerted to the behavior and made the difficult decision to cancel her visitation privileges in order to protect everyone at the facility.
A coworker of @tiffyb113’s had to break the news to the patient that he wasn’t going to be able to have visits with his mom anymore.
Then, while the coworker was sitting in the common area, he quietly snuck down the hallway from behind her with a pen in his hand. He stabbed her in the back of the head, and she ended up with multiple stitches.
Thankfully, she had turned her head at the last second, preventing even more severe injury, because the patient had been reportedly aiming for her face.
She eventually recovered and went back to work, but the incident affected her deeply.
Although staff members are trained to manage crises, de-escalate violent situations, and maintain safety, the unpredictable nature of the job can still lead to dangerous outcomes.
TikToker @tiffyb113 pointed out that those who work directly with mentally ill patients often develop their own mental health problems, such as anxiety and post-traumatic stress.
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“I am just wanting to shed a little bit of light on some of the things that happen that people who work in mental health deal with,” she said. “You know, there’s a reason why sometimes people get a little jaded.”
Others who have worked with mental health patients echoed similar experiences and risks in the comments section. The job may come with many hardships, but there are also plenty of meaningful moments.
“Worked at a county-run mental health facility. Patients very unpredictable at times. Due to budgeting, it was always an argument with admin about staff numbers due to safety. There are always those possibilities of things going crazy,” commented one person.
“I used to say we should all write a book! I still have scars from bites and getting my arm slammed in a security room door, etc. We had some really good times, too, though,” shared another.
“My son spent four and a half months, almost two years ago, in the psych ward, and his team and the nurses were so wonderful! Thank you to all who work in that field. Luckily, because of his team and treatment he got for schizophrenia, he is so much better,” added someone else.
By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
