On the Brink

Like many other people in this country, I hate my job. I work as a case manager for the severely mentally ill. That basically means that I have a case load of fifty adults that I work with on a continuous basis. I help them with housing, medication, cleaning, food , clothing- pretty much anything they need. I spend most of my days rushing around for one crisis to another trying my best to fix as much as I can. It is depressing and frustrating, not to mention stressful. Due to the fact that most people don't really realise the importance of mental health or care about "crazy" people,my job is pretty terrible. Case managers can play a pivotal role in the life of a person with a mental illness. We are the first people who get called when a client threatens or attempts to hurt themselves or someone else. We are also the people who get blamed if something goes wrong with the client like they lose their housing or social security.

Unfortunately, case managers get little respect or encouragement and even less money. For this reason I have been secretly working to get a union started at my workplace. I have been planning my strategy along with a health care union rep for a little while now. Tomorrow I am bringing this plan to the forefront. I must admit that I am a little nervous. I am not really sure what is going to happen. The union has assured me that legally, I cannot get fired for such actions, but that I will most likely get intimidation for the administration. And possibly from my coworkers. I have been trying to keep my mind focused on how important this is and how much it could improve things for me and my clients and my coworkers. I am still scared though.

Sometimes I think I might be doing something truly amazing. Other times I think i may be in over my head. I guess I'll know for sure tomorrow.