Question

Based on your prior experience when interviewing patients, when faced with sensitive issues is it difficult to ask questions. How do you prepare yourself?, Which areas do you consider sensitive? Have you had an experience you would like to share?, Will the knowledge learned this week how will you address some of these issues or topics?

Answer 1

I prepare myself by studying their case history and family background. I talk to their family members and try to comfort them. In sensitive cases where the family members are involved and where the patient is not able to speak or not willing to speak, I try to interact with them non-verbally.

Sensitive issues include:

1. Suicide cases

2. Domestic violence

3. Child abuse

4. Intimate partner torture cases

5. Rape

6. Physical abuse by family members

7. Depression

Once there was a suicide case, the girl has attempted suicide for the 2nd time. Family members were very worried as the girl was not speaking anything. I decided to be very calm in front of her. She seemed to be a nice girl in her learly 20s. I comforted her by agreeing with her that what she was trying to do was correct but ger way was wrong. Running away from your problems makes the situation worst. Committing suicide is never an option. What will happen to her sister and parents after she's gone, what will happen to her clothes and makeup? She finally broke up in front of me. It was her teacher who harrrassed her and asked her to shut her mouth or he would destroy her family. I informed about the situation to her family. Later, they changed her school and reported against that particular teacher.

During COVID times, people are already frustrated living inside their houses and not seeing their friends or relatives for a while. Depression is at the top of the list. To die of COVID and not able to say a proper goodbye to their family is a fear they are living with. It is very important that family member needs to do more stuff together and look for the mental health of all the other members, specially elderly and young ones.