Mental Health

Posted on Thu Aug 22nd, 2024 @ 6:02pm by Lieutenant Commander Alexander Coleman & Lieutenant JG Amelia Johansen

1,547 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: The Landings
Location: Sickbay

Amelia was sitting at a chair with one arm on the table as she took a slow sip of her hot tea. The MACO teams had just departed, the Unicorn was now officially in the war. The medical personnel could have been on-call from anywhere in the ship really, but something about the anxiety of the situation seemed to cause many of them to gravitate here. Amelia noticed Dr. Coleman in his office, and decided to work through some of her own thoughts by striking up a conversation with him. She got up and crossed the short distance to his doorway.

"I worry about the young men out there. There are the ones who've never seen war. But then there are the ones who have and barely survived and pushed themselves to get back out there. I don't know who has it worse to be honest," she commented, realizing that her words may have seemed out of the blue to the chief medical officer who had likely not expected her to show up in his doorway.

Coleman had been working on several reports, trying to cover several areas of medical after the Unicorn had made their official jump into the Earth-Romulan War, or whatever the Earth government was calling it. Coleman was knocked back into reality when he heard a young lady's voice telling him a story from the doorway to his office. Coleman turned back and looked to see who it was, realizing that it was Amelia.

Coleman put his PADD down and paid attention to what Amelia was telling him about the young men and women going off to war. He was wondering where this might have been coming from and once Amelia was done talking, Coleman pointed towards the chair near the door in his office and said, "Why don't you take a seat and tell me what's going on with everything. I've got some time for a good little chat today."

Amelia smiled at the Doctor, "If you're sure..." she said stepping into his office and taking a seat. "I know you're busy - the paperwork of Starfleet. If it could only be our medical reports and documentation and leave it at that," she chided good-naturedly. "Being a Department Head on top of it all - I am aware of the extra work you have to put in on top of all of that."

"I'm sure that every medical professional in every conflict within Earth's History could have said similar things to what I've said and felt very similarly to me. Most of the times, people don't come to doctors because they're 100%. They come to us for help and guidance, and even doctors have to come to each other once in a while. We just learn how to look at the worst and try and make it better. But, enough about me. How are you feeling about the whole war and our involvement in it? I'm sure that it must've been scary," Coleman offered up as he poured a glass of water for Amelia and handed it over to her.

"I have the easy part. Sometimes the rewarding part. Making a breakthrough with a patient who has been on the brink of giving up, and digging deep to find that thing for that person to cling to... That's what makes me love what I do, Doctor. When I can have one moment like that in one day, it can energize me for the next month, and it's enough to keep me going even as we're processing some of the worst of the worst. Because I know soon another patient is going to need to help them find that for them."

Amelia smiled as she spoke about her job - it was a profession many didn't want to get into, but it gave her purpose, and she truly did love it and it showed in her work and when she talked about it.

"I got to tell you though, Doc, this war. And I know soldiers have been doing this for centuries, but soldiers who are coming back from combat are getting sent out before they are ready. The Psychiatrists are rubber stamping anyone who says they are ready to go. I am blessed to be here - but I'm here, because I was pushing back for more rehab back on Earth. It's not great."

"Yeah, I can understand. I'm sure that you must hear more of what's going on up there on the bridge than I do down here. What have you heard from the rest of the fleet and everything? Hopefully, we haven't lost too many people in the first rounds of the war," Coleman replied, letting Amelia take the conversation where she wanted to go.

"The attack while we were still docked dredged up some things from those who've been out before. To be expected of course. But again, just makes me wonder. You know the MACO's don't get the same considerations the Starfleet officers get."

"But what about you, Dr. Coleman. How are you feeling about things?" Amelia asked.

Coleman hadn't had much time to think about the attack while they were in Spacedock. He had been working from pretty much the time of the attack until the last member of the crew was released, which wasn't too long ago. He looked at Amelia and said, "Thankfully, there wasn't much death in the attack while we were spacedock. But, that doesn't mean that the next round won't be so bloody. I'm nervous, probably like the rest of the crew. But, I know that I'll be able to help out with getting the crew back on their feet. So, it's just a matter of what happens next and I don't like to think about what could happen. I like to think about what is and has happened. Then, I go from there."

Amelia nodded thoughtfully. "Have you been to war yet, Doctor? On a battle front?"

"Nothing like this. I was onboard a starship when the Xindi attacked Earth, but nothing quite like this. How about you?" Coleman asked.

"There hasn't been anything else like this in our lifetimes has there?" Amelia responded. "I was on a transport ship that picked up a group of soldiers from this war for transport back to Earth. Most were wounded, all had been in the thick of battle and were ordered back for debriefing and evaluations before redeployment," Amelia stated. "We didn't go near the front lines though. I just heard the stories. At least what the soldiers would say. Most of them hold a lot back."

"I've heard stories from both the Xindi and the Romulan fronts. While the Xindi affair was sorted out with Captain Archer, we're still feeling the effects of it years later. War is such a dirty business and it was something that I was hoping we could have avoided with the Romulans. But, they wanted to hide behind cloak and dagger. I'm just hoping that we can figure a way out of this before more lives are lost," Coleman offered up quietly. He wasn't sure what to the think of the Romulans, especially since they were hiding behind their cloaking devices.

"The latest reports on casualty numbers don't look good," Amelia said shaking her head. "I try to comb through the reports for relations in our crew, but there are so many. It's a big task."

"Well, have you thought about getting someone to help you out? That way, it's not something that's overwhelming or anything for you to look over or to look through?" Coleman replied, knowing that something like that was not only a large task work wise, but mentally too.

"You know, the communications officer, McArthur, she's somewhat of a computer person. An algorithm would be nice." Amelia smiled knowingly at the Chief Medical Officer. "Seems we're both playing the game of shifting concern off of ourselves. I ask you how you're doing, and you turn it back to make sure I have everything I need. Job hazard of being a professional caregiver."

"Anyway," Amelia stood up, "I suppose as long as we keep looking out for each other and make a pact to actually speak up when the going gets rough we'll be alright."

"I know that things can be hard sometimes. Just remember that my door is always open if you were to need anything from me, even if it's just a simple talk. Talking helps us to figure out the best course of action sometimes," Coleman offered up as he stood up himself.

"Same to you, Doc. See you at Yoga this week?" Amelia asked over her shoulder from the door.

"There's yoga onboard?! Sign me up for it then!" Coleman replied with a small, but gracious smile as he looked back at Amelia.

"You're committed now. I've got you down. Tuesday at 0700," Amelia responded pointing a finger at him. "Have a good afternoon, Doc. Nice talkin' with ya."

"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow at 0700. Have a good rest of your day!" Coleman replied, excited for something to get and keep his own mind off of all of this Romulan mess with the war.

[OFF]

Alexander Coleman, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer
Unicorn, NX-151

&

Amelia Johansen, M.D.
Counselor, Psychiatrist
Unicorn NX-151

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