The article recounts a disturbing encounter experienced by a medical intern in the emergency department, highlighting a young womanâs alarming self-harm. When asked about her situation, the patient revealed the words 'HELP ME' carved into her skin, claiming dissociation from the act itself. The encounter left a lasting impact on the intern, emphasizing the complexities of mental health crises and the urgent need for understanding and empathy in clinical settings. The instance serves as a powerful reminder of the struggles faced by individuals battling internal pain or trauma.
I was a very new intern, working in the ED. I got asked to see a young woman patient and the diagnosis put beside her name by triage staff said 'SELF HARM.'
She lifted up her shirt to show me the words 'HELP ME' carved into her abdomen. The cuts individually were very thin...but each letter had been gone over many times.
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