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I’m Haunted by the Man Who Set Himself on Fire
I began my career as a mental health worker with high hopes, but the system doesn’t set up anyone for success
If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him… We need not wait to see what others do. —Mahatma Gandhi
“Never wear shoes you can’t run in,” a case manager offered as a welcome tip on my first day at a state-funded mental health clinic. “You never know when you’ll be chased or need to chase someone.” I learned that lesson firsthand later the same day.
My master’s program in violence and abuse prevention required a specific number of internship hours, so I felt fortunate to snatch up the paid gig working on an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team for $11 an hour. I was young and fueled with vigor. I was going to change the world. I was going to make it a safer place. I was going to change lives, have a positive impact on the community, and be a voice for those unable to speak for themselves. I was every person who has ever begun a career in the mental health profession, full…
