Ryan's Weekly Tip for Homeless, Mentally Ill and Addicted Patrons 11-28-17

From Ryan Dowd, 10:10 AM:

There is one type of mental health issue that is worth a little special attention: personality disorders. There are lots of different types of personality disorders (e.g., antisocial, paranoid, narcissistic, borderline, schizoid, schizotypal, etc.), but the basic things you need to know are: Individuals with personality disorders are unable to act in the way that society expects of them. They do things that are “bizarre” by normal standards. Individuals with personality disorders are unable to learn from their mistakes. They repeat the same damaging behavior over and over, and are genuinely shocked every time by the poor outcome. Other people think they are jerks. When someone has a personality disorder, it is not obvious that they have a mental illness. They don’t talk to themselves or stare catatonically. Their disorder is hidden under a layer of rudeness. There is no cure for personality disorders. They can be “managed,” but only with professional help (and even then, not very well). While individuals with personality disorders can be found everywhere, there are two places where the incidence is particularly high: prisons and homeless shelters. I have two pieces of practical advice for library staff: When a patron—especially a homeless patron—is being a jerk, pause and consider that the person might actually have an undiagnosed mental health issue. This doesn’t make their behavior acceptable, but it might help you keep your cool and respond appropriately. This is especially true when a patron keeps making the same mistake over and over, and is unable to learn from the consequences. Be on your guard for “staff splitting.” Many people with personality disorders are very good at getting staff members to fight one another. They treat one staffer as a savior who needs to protect them from someone who is persecuting them. It is very easy to get sucked into this drama. Don’t do it!

Have a great week! Peace, Ryan Ryan Dowd, Atty., MPA The Librarian’s Guide to Homelessness www.homelesslibrary.com