JohnBarleycorn wrote:Mine was a classic psychopath, but scarily, she worked in mental health with vulnerable people. I think thats quite terrifying.
Unfortunately, it is very, very common.
I could tell you some horror stories from my own line of work, but I'll spare you the upsetting details. Animal rights activists who claim that humans live free from abuse while animals are exploited are very wrong.
EDIT: Actually, I will reveal some details. Stop reading if you're easily upset. The following have been revealed to me over the last few months through the personal anecdotes of whistle-blowing staff (in care homes and psychiatric hospitals), disciplinary records, hidden footage and sadly, complaints that never got followed up:
* A woman who wet her bed was marched into the garden, stripped naked and hosed down with cold water.
* A nurse who regularly texted friends and talked loudly in a pub about the amusing exploits of those in her care, describing them as "nutters" and "fruit-loops". She is still in the job.
* A disabled woman with severe learning difficulties was shut in a room for 5 years with no visitors, no conversation from staff and only a TV for company. As a result, she became very aggressive and was put on anti-psychotic drugs, which cause mood swings and make her very confused. (She now gets out and about in a wheelchair, thank fuck)
* Staff helping themselves to drugs for recreational highs and recording them as being dispensed to patients
* A man sexually abused by several male staff
* A man sexually harassed constantly by a fellow patient (who kept getting into his bed and touching him), who was told he must be imagining it because he was psychotic and attention-seeking
* A man with no history of violence, self-harm or criminal activities being held down by four staff, stripped and injected in the bottom, because he asked for help but didn't want to go to hospital
* A vegan being refused vegan food on the grounds that he had "unreasonable and deluded beliefs"
etc.