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Anxious moments Firemen rescuing trapped miners

While such cases may be far and few between for many, there are those whose lives revolves around others’ tragedies. For an ambulance driver or a psychiatrist, each day portends a stranger’s sorrow.

Of all those who face emotionally tough situations everyday, the police, perhaps, get the worst deal, handling everything from petty crimes and dowry harassment cases to suicides, murders and unnatural deaths.

While the Law and Order team is the first to rush to an accident scene, the Traffic Investigation Wing must make trips to the mortuary. C.K. Gandhirajan, IG, Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore, says workshops are held to help inspectors and sub-inspectors de-stress. These could include yoga, and programmes on logical approach.

There are plans to include head constables and constables too under these programmes. “Personnel in the Wing are shifted to another department after a year to bring down the level of stress,” he says.

A system G. Bakthavathsalam, Chairman of KG Hospital (Coimbatore), follows. “Job rotation (shifting a doctor from trauma care to general ward) helps. Also, medical students are provided counselling as part of their course. When they start handling cases, their focus is only on saving lives; nothing else matters.”

Says M.G. Farook, DNB Medicine and Cardiology, of the hospital: “Those in emergency and trauma care occasionally exhibit stress reactions such as sleeplessness, anger and irritability. In such situations, they sit for therapeutic sessions or take off on a holiday with family, and return rejuvenated.”

However, his colleague R. Senthil Kumar, anaesthetist and Emergency Reserve Ambulance in-charge, says that saving a life itself has a positive effect, and relaxes like nothing else does.

A point that many in similar fields agree with. “Saving a life is paramount, and the eventual joy is unparalleled,” says R. Balsami, Deputy Director of Fire and Rescue Services, Western Region.

The basic training, part of the two-year probation for new comers, also prepares them mentally. “From decayed corpses to charred bodies, we have seen them all. But, in my 22 years of service, not once have I seen anyone, from a fireman to an officer, depressed. There has only been pride.”

R. Perumal remembers his first day as an ambulance driver 10 years ago. He removed a corpse from the vehicle, and could not eat for a day. “Today, nothing affects me. My only concern is rushing the victim to hospital.”

Dr. Bakthavathsalam says counselling for ambulance drivers is on the cards.

Objectivity is vital to those in such professions. For instance, a photo journalist. One day they get to hobnob with VIPS, and the next, they rush to a scene of crime or tragedy. Without a drop of blood or a broken limb, a psychiatrist’s day is filled with the most disturbing stories. Schizophrenia, depression, mental disorders, stories of broken marriages and lost love – the tales are diverse. Where do these people, who offer support and solution to many, go for help?

Anuja S. Panicker, Assistant Professor in Clinical Psychology, PSG IMS and R, says that through case studies, students learn to handle different situations.

A psychiatrist helps the patient through empathy, not sympathy; and maintains a professional boundary. “Unlike what one thinks, our day is not filled with anguish. On the contrary, we derive enormous satisfaction from seeing a troubled individual improve.”

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