First, I don't know how shitty or good this really looks because I'm posting from my phone...as per usual these days. But I'm trying out the new HDR landscape filter on the snap seed photo app.
View from my train this morning.
Anyway...
Prior to the work that I'm doing now, I've never had to make a 911 call for an EDP (Emotionally Disturbed Person), never rode in an ambulance, and never visited anyone in the psych ward of any hospital. Nowadays that's a regular part of my work.
There are always shout-outs given to NYC's finest (NYPD) and NYC's Bravest (Firefighters) but hardly ever do I see people giving EMS props.
Not long ago I had to make an EDP 911 call for a patient of mine who, prior to our session, had been in the middle of a busy NYC street just standing there. This person was very symptomatic at the time despite being fully medically compliant and was putting himself and others in danger by standing in the street like that. We managed to get him inside and contain him while we waited for EMS and the cops. EMS came first and we had to wait awhile for cops and backup to come. In the meantime, it was EMS that had to handle him. When the cops came, they (thankfully) did not have to use force to get him in the ambulance.
But while the cops were talking to him, I was able to speak with EMS, giving them all pertinent medical and mental health info. I remember telling the guy that I couldn't do what he did. He said the same about me, oddly enough. But really...I couldn't do what they do. It seems dangerous, scary, physically and emotionally taxing, and generally not an easy time. But it's a vital service to the community.
Anyway...was just thinking about that this morning. Now hoping I don't have to deal with that kind of thing this when I get to work.
But hey...ya never know. At least tomorrow is Friday.
I know exactly what you are talking about. I work in Law Enforcement in my department. I handle a lot of calls that are mental health related. The number of calls that are mental health related are escalating at a high percentage all over San Diego County. Thank you very much for what you do, the only solution is for Law Enforcement and EMS and the Mental Health Community to work together. It is obvious that you, personally are playing a vital role in helping that to happen. Thank you for what you do. As to the photo that you submitted today, I really like it! It has a foreboding look to it. Good Shot!
@thirdjoe glad you like the shot. When I started working in mental health I didn't realize the collaboration I would end up doing with law enforcement.
Ms. T, I gave your capture a fav. I just love the drama that is rolling in that sky. I applaud what you do. For it is not an easy task and you certainly must have some intuitive people skills.My daughter is an RN in a mental health hospital, so I somewhat understand what you are exposed to.
agree with Gayanne .... the image turned out pretty great considering it was done so quickly .. love the processing .. very dramatic .... and must say your narrative makes me really appreciate and thank you and your felllow workers for the work you do.
FAV!! @zenna
@zenna thanks for the fav! I also work with a lot of nurses too and have a lot of respect for what they do.
@friend2303 thanks, Vijay. And thanks for the fav!!
@kylec thanks, Kyle! Yes am 89% done. Not sure if I will continue next year on a strict photo-a-day basis. I'll post when the mood strikes and keep the account to pop in and check out what all the lovely people here are up to. But I'll probably do more posting on my Flickr account. If you or anyone else is on there, i would like to add you as a contact.
First, very nice shot. The contrast and detail are absorbing.
Next, I said it previously and I will reiterate: I envy the emotional strength you have to do your job. What you said about my ilk - "I couldn't do what they do. It seems dangerous, scary, physically and emotionally taxing, and generally not an easy time. But it's a vital service to the community." - can be said by me about you.
Besides, we've got a few perks that you don't, like uniforms (unless you're out of clean underwear, there's no stress about what to wear to work today) and driving around in big rigs. Also, "paramedic" is a one word job description that everybody understands and says, "Oh, I bet that's interesting!" Just a guess here, and one that makes me sad, but that probably hasn't ever happened to you. I honestly feel that is a damned shame because of the importance of what you do.
Quick war story: One of my favorite shifts happened during a sudden cold snap with an unexpected snowfall. We made back-to-back runs to transport two guys to the psychiatric emergency services unit. Both were largely undressed, wandering in and out of traffic downtown, and both were Jesus. When we arrived at PESU the second time, not more than about 20 minutes after we left off Messiah #1 the conversation went something like:
Paul the intake worker: What? You guys again?
Me: Yeah, and it's Him again, too.
@timerskine thanks for sharing, Tim. I like reading stories like this. To be honest, sometimes I don't even know how I do what I do. There are just some days, that if I let it get to me, I'd be crying all day long about the horrible things I hear in sessions. Or when I learn a social history of someone's childhood. That shit can break a heart in a million pieces. People can be soooo fucked up to other people.
At the same time, I've seen and been a part of amazing acts of kindness and love and human spirit and strength. And the biggest reward is when someone thanks you for being a part of "saving" their life, whether actual or metaphorical. Because they really do mean it.
I could stand on my soap box now and talk about mental health and how our society really needs a systemic overhaul to truly address it, but I won't.
But my job isn't all tears and heartache and bad stuff. I never have a dull day and some of the stuff I hear or witness is just fucking hilarious! I couldn't make it up if I tried and I so sometimes wish I could share the things I have heard here. Lol.
@timerskine p.s. When people ask me what I do, I get a few reactions. One is: wow I couldn't do that.
A few others include them all of sudden asking me what to do about their problems. Some get weird and think I'm psychoanalyzing them right off the bat. (which I don't always do lol but I am thinking about certain things whenever I meet people for the first time. It's habit now and I can't help it.). But the weirded is when I don't tell random people or strangers what I do, and they end up pouring their hearts out to me. This has happened at Starbucks, shopping in stores lol. If the convo ever gets long enough and I reveal what I do, then I usually get "oh that's why I feel I can talk to you." I'm not sure if it's my demeanor. I don't come off as an extremely friendly or extremely kind person out of the gate. But I actually do listen and ask the right questions and my mind is a steel trap for all those little details about another person, which people seem to appreciate.
The mood here is fantastic. I have visions of Stephen King and "Stand by Me". The HDR effect in color would have been too much here, I think, but your decision to move to black and white was very smart for the shot! Well done!
@thomastoth thanks, Thomas. I love that scene in Stand by Me, the movie, when they're running on the train tracks. Haven't ever read the book but I loved that movie. I was torn about not doing anything at all to the photo but the original color version without any tweaking just looked plain except for the sky which was just awesome that morning.
@fauxtography365 Glad that you can also get war stories from your job. I think the gallows humor is what keeps us sane.
Two non-HIPAA covered conversational tidbits I overheard recently:
#1) At work, walking past the telephone operator section of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, overheard one of them saying, "No, ma'am, you can't fax me a check."
#2) At Costco, passing a father and his 4-ish year old son walking hand-in-hand and Dad says, "What do you mean you're hungry? You have food in your hand."
FAV!!
@zenna
@friend2303 thanks, Vijay. And thanks for the fav!!
@kylec thanks, Kyle! Yes am 89% done. Not sure if I will continue next year on a strict photo-a-day basis. I'll post when the mood strikes and keep the account to pop in and check out what all the lovely people here are up to. But I'll probably do more posting on my Flickr account. If you or anyone else is on there, i would like to add you as a contact.
@clayt thanks for stopping by!
Next, I said it previously and I will reiterate: I envy the emotional strength you have to do your job. What you said about my ilk - "I couldn't do what they do. It seems dangerous, scary, physically and emotionally taxing, and generally not an easy time. But it's a vital service to the community." - can be said by me about you.
Besides, we've got a few perks that you don't, like uniforms (unless you're out of clean underwear, there's no stress about what to wear to work today) and driving around in big rigs. Also, "paramedic" is a one word job description that everybody understands and says, "Oh, I bet that's interesting!" Just a guess here, and one that makes me sad, but that probably hasn't ever happened to you. I honestly feel that is a damned shame because of the importance of what you do.
Quick war story: One of my favorite shifts happened during a sudden cold snap with an unexpected snowfall. We made back-to-back runs to transport two guys to the psychiatric emergency services unit. Both were largely undressed, wandering in and out of traffic downtown, and both were Jesus. When we arrived at PESU the second time, not more than about 20 minutes after we left off Messiah #1 the conversation went something like:
Paul the intake worker: What? You guys again?
Me: Yeah, and it's Him again, too.
At the same time, I've seen and been a part of amazing acts of kindness and love and human spirit and strength. And the biggest reward is when someone thanks you for being a part of "saving" their life, whether actual or metaphorical. Because they really do mean it.
I could stand on my soap box now and talk about mental health and how our society really needs a systemic overhaul to truly address it, but I won't.
But my job isn't all tears and heartache and bad stuff. I never have a dull day and some of the stuff I hear or witness is just fucking hilarious! I couldn't make it up if I tried and I so sometimes wish I could share the things I have heard here. Lol.
A few others include them all of sudden asking me what to do about their problems. Some get weird and think I'm psychoanalyzing them right off the bat. (which I don't always do lol but I am thinking about certain things whenever I meet people for the first time. It's habit now and I can't help it.). But the weirded is when I don't tell random people or strangers what I do, and they end up pouring their hearts out to me. This has happened at Starbucks, shopping in stores lol. If the convo ever gets long enough and I reveal what I do, then I usually get "oh that's why I feel I can talk to you." I'm not sure if it's my demeanor. I don't come off as an extremely friendly or extremely kind person out of the gate. But I actually do listen and ask the right questions and my mind is a steel trap for all those little details about another person, which people seem to appreciate.
Two non-HIPAA covered conversational tidbits I overheard recently:
#1) At work, walking past the telephone operator section of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, overheard one of them saying, "No, ma'am, you can't fax me a check."
#2) At Costco, passing a father and his 4-ish year old son walking hand-in-hand and Dad says, "What do you mean you're hungry? You have food in your hand."