We had a gentleman coming to our dances for years, who suddenly appeared one night ranting about the police and tasers. He was drooling and showing delusional behavior, and was still dancing. Most dancers didn't think much of it, but some were very upset.
He continued to come to every dance, Contra and English, but when he came to our sweet little Family Dance and was smoking cigarettes on the sidewalk and greeting the children, I started feeling the need for a plan. I talked with the local mental health facility and spoke to other organizers, but you know, what can you do? Well, somewhat accidentally, I had about a half hour conversation at a dance one night with him. We were just chatting, and something magic happened. I got to know him really well. Every time he came to a dance, I talked with him. He began to trust me, and vice versa. I found out that he had been care-taking for his elderly dad, who was living with him. His dad recently passed away while he was away at a dance weekend. He explained that his father's death and his guilt for being gone had triggered his mental issues. I don't know if it helped him to make friends with me, but it sure helped me! I found him to be a really sweet person. I used to dread his presence, and now I look forward to seeing him. He is still coming to dances, which seems to help him. His medications are better adjusted now and he blends in much better and is appropriate on the dance floor, for the most part.
I am sure that this approach won't work for all situations, but why not first try going straight to the problem with accidental love and friendship.
Good luck,
Jill Allen
A Surgeon General report states:
"The current prevalence estimate is that about 20 percent of the U.S.
population are affected by mental disorders during a given year."
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/chapter2/sec2_1.html
What impact do mental health problems have upon callers? Do you have a
personal experience with a specific individual? Do you consider the number
of depressed, paranoid, or otherwise troubled people in the hall--many of
whom have been struggling with stressful life changes?
How do callers approach this issue?
Do you consider this to be beyond your responsibility?
Do you think that this affects your success as a caller? (In the "average"
dance hall there is likely to be at least one individual who is currently
paranoid...to at least some degree. How will they respond to negative
comments from the caller?)
I would be interested in your experience and how you approach this issue.
- Greg McKenzie
