[Text] Mental Health Questions Backdated to Yesterday

[firstbump]

((OOC Content Warning: Right now no real warnings, but Ardbert's from a world without mental health asking how to learn more about it, although he knows enough for various reasons to be sensitive about the subject. I'll add warnings to individual threads if things come up.))

[[ Now that both Era and Emet-Selch are unconscious, Ardbert feels free to ask this question. It's in text, as to not make anyone feel like they have to answer with video or voice. Also, because it lets him work with the wording. This is... sensitive. He needs be careful about his responses. ]]

How can I learn more about mental health? The natives haven't schools and their books and videos speak naught of it. My world's healers only know how to treat bodies not minds.

I know the basics of basics. I will never be qualified to treat people but I want to be absolutely certain that the impact of my actions and words are positive not negative.

Do we have any psychiatrists, psychologists, sociologists, books, anything? Much of what I've already learned is through ways that others in worlds like mine can't experience. Isn't that a dangerous thing in a world that needs love to survive? Shouldn't that be fixed?

[[ EDITED TO ADD. After getting information from Noct and Tony, Ardbert adds this to his message, along with the relevant info that goes with it: ]]

There are some resources. I didn't know where to look. There are therapists and the like, as well as a number to call if you need it. Don't be afraid to reach out. There's nothing wrong in needing help.

Comments

text; private

[carbungle]

theres mental health ppl in town. i gave era a contact # so ill pass it on to u, too

[Insert a network hotline-type contact that should give him a good place to start.]

theres therapists & stuff... if u need to talk to someone, or get advice or w/e. ive been, it um

it helps

text; private - I blame Noct for how he switches to texting proper here

[firstbump]

[[ A series of rapid-fire texts: ]]

we have therapists?? i looked at all those books and videos and we had therapists the entire godsdamned time! was barking up the wrong tree i was!

could use some help because being a spirit muddled my head up. dunno how yet but it did

probably best to leave it at that. gods i need to tell someone the shite i saw, but it'd only hurt you lot. i'd just make more people feel bad than just me.

[[ More thoughtful text added shortly after: ]]

Thank you, Noct. Can I tell the others? I won't say it's from you

he's such a terrible influence on people

[carbungle]

lol

i get u tho. theres stuff all of us are carting around that we cant share i think. ive seen some shit i dont want 2 bother ppl with... we r all kinda fucked up

i dont um

i dont think theres anything wrong w/ talking about it with ur friends. ppl can support u in their own way. but theres perks to telling a pro, u know?

u can share w/ others, i dont mind. not like i own the number

he really is.

[firstbump]

It's less I don't want to bother people. People will listen. But it's worse than most can imagine.

Being an insubstantial spirit for over a hundred years in a world without hope... You see some of the worst of it with all the other ordinary moments. All without a word or look spared your way.

No normal person is equipped to talk to me about all of that. Seeing an Echo of just one instance hurt Era. I don't want to hurt anyone else.

Thank you. I'll share it.

[carbungle]

shit yeah that sounds p intense. im sorry

i do mean what i said that like... we're all a collective hot mess, we've seen some bad stuff too. not exactly like that but being isolated & shit... dont worry 2 the point of hurting urself if u need to talk through it anyway with ppl u trust

if it helps tho uhhh

robots who've been living thru a hopeless apocalypse for gods know how long & have lost their bodies & cant rly touch anything? theyd probably get it in some ways better than the rest of us

[firstbump]

Helped I couldn't feel it properly without a real body. But not by much. It wasn't just the isolation but 100 years of shite. Can't dump that on a person just because I trust them.

You're right. They'd get it better. And they're older, like me. They've seen a lot, like me, even if it's been different. They been through a hopeless apocalypse, like me.

Thank you, Noct. I'm much less worried about hurting them now by talking to them. It's hard to forget what they've been through sometimes with the way they act.

[carbungle]

worth thinking about at least

i hope it helps, whatever u end up doing. we're here for u too

[firstbump]

It is.

Thanks. I've had a lot of time to think with Era and Emet not able to constantly occupy my time.

[carbungle]

if u need to get some air and talk 2 ppl we can take shifts u know, u dont have to do this vigil thing on ur own

[firstbump]

[[ The response is immediate. ]]

You wouldn't mind?

[carbungle]

wouldnt offer if i did

u would too, right?

[firstbump]

Thank you. I'll take you up on it later when Era won't be as self-conscious and would like your company.

Aye, without a second thought.

[carbungle]

well. there u go.

ok ill keep my calendar open

[firstbump]

We'll find a day convenient for you, since it's a favor.

Just remember we'd do the same to help you out.

[carbungle]

sure sure ill cash in 1 day

[firstbump]

You'll have my axe. ... or a hand, if that's what you need.

Thank you, Noct.

[carbungle]

[After a few minutes, attached to Noct's reply is a photo of a small caricature doodle of Ardbert with an axe for one hand, looking very determined.]

np anytime

[firstbump]

[[ A couple of minutes pass as Ardbert breathes quietly and looks at the picture, running a hand over the edge of the picture, just under the axe. It makes him smile. He's going to have to ask Era how to save this picture to his phone when she wakes up, as he's forgotten. ]]

I didn't know you could draw. Thank you, Noctis. Needed that smile.

[carbungle]

no big deal its just a hobby

glad it helps tho, i can send more stupid stuff @ u

[firstbump]

A good hobby.

I can't say no to more "stupid stuff".

[carbungle]

[Rather than a normal response, around 20 minutes later another image arrives, this time a 'chibi' style of Era, drooling and sleeping, buried in a pile of birds.]

[firstbump]

Ha! You've caught her likeness, all right. Could see me doing the same. She looks pretty comfy.

[carbungle]

just be sure 2 take ur axe hand off first

[firstbump]

It's already off. Era doesn't let me take it upstairs.

[carbungle]

lol sounds good. ill add u in

[firstbump]

Let's see who you think drools more: me or her.

[carbungle]

[A little while later a fresh doodle arrives, or rather an altered one; Ardbert has been added to the bird pile, slumped against the side of it. Beneath them is a pool of drool, trickling from both mouths and making it impossible to tell who's the bigger contributor.]

[firstbump]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤

Private: Text

[runs_on_batteries]

[He debated about replying for a couple minutes but someone recently 'paid-it-forward' to him about this sort of thing. He should try and do the same, even if it was technically a second attempt.

He just had to be really careful after how things went down the last time. That middle paragraph struck that guilty memory like a scorpion's tail.]

There should be a zip drive of literature on some areas of mental health conditions already at your house. If it's unavailable to you for any reason, I can send another copy. I don't need to know why.

The natives do have therapists. I'd be reluctant to trust their psychiatrists, but from a psychology standpoint they should be safe.

And yes, I agree this should be fixed.

Private: Text

[firstbump]

[[ Ardbert had only strongly suspected it was Tony, but now he knows for sure.

It takes him a while to reply, having emotions to work through. And while he doesn't know what a zip drive is... ]]

I've seen them. Part of why I know I know nothing. So, thank you.

I probably should speak with them. There are things I should work through.

Aye, it must be fixed. How I've seen people suffer back home, and the way people suffer, even here. It can't go on.

Re: Private: Text

[runs_on_batteries]

[He's aware this might be filling in a few gaps for Ardy but, he's okay with that. It's been long enough and he's learned his lesson.]

You're welcome. Given what I've learned about most people here, signing up for therapy should've been part of the 'welcome to Havenwell' speech. 'Here's your communicator, your priest, and your straightjacket.'

Anything I can do to help?

Private: Text I UH SWORE I REPLIED TO THIS

[firstbump]

Their gods must pick up the ones that need "the healing power of touch" the most.

Honestly... nothing more than time is a help right now.

[[ He also knows that it won't be good for Era to have Tony anywhere near here while they're unconscious. ]]

LOL no worries!

[runs_on_batteries]

Understood.

And Ardy? There's a beer at the bar with your name on it whenever you need it.

[firstbump]

[[ Ardbert looks at his communicator in confusion for a moment and then shakes his head. Gods. He wish he understood how things could have gone so badly between Era and Tony such that it had hurt her so badly. ... how much had it hurt Tony, too?

Still, the thought is appreciated. ]]

Thanks. I'll probably need it eventually, knowing this place.