Matthew Meskill

Voices From the Fourth Floor Matthew Meskill

I worked in the mental health field for 20 years. In that time, I grew to understand and develop great sympathy for those struggling with mental illness. Part of dealing with mental illness, and of working to help those who suffer from mental illness, is to look, at times, for a humorous outlet. A humor which can often be quite black and cynical perhaps, but which serves a function. For surely, being able to laugh at the situations we all find ourselves in from time to time is one way to navigate through the stressors of daily life. In that spirit, I share with the reader these little tidbits of humanity, these little insights, these small bits of humor that I hope will bring a smile to your face, maybe a tear to your eye, and just might open your heart to those dealing with mental health issues. All of these expressions are composites of things I have heard or said over those twenty years. None of these expressions represent an actual person in more than a coincidental way. I have indicated some were things said by patients, and some by staff, only to provide context. Most have no such indication and I leave it to the reader to ponder the true source.