The mental health benefits of storytelling for health care workers | Laurel Braitman

譯者: Pui-Ching Siu 審譯者: Thomas Tam

For the last few years,

在過去的幾年，

I've been a writer in residence at the Stanford Medical School.

我是進駐在史丹佛醫學院的作家。

I was hired by an incredible woman,

有位出色的女士聘用了我，

she's a poet and an anesthesiologist,

她是詩人，也是麻醉師，

named Audrey Shafer,

她的名字叫奧德莉·謝佛。

and she started the Medicine and the Muse Program

她創立了「醫藥與謬思計劃」，

to reintroduce humanities back into medical education and training.

把人文學科重新納入 醫學教育和訓練中。

My job was to teach writing, storytelling

我的工作是教導醫生、護理師、 醫科學生和其他醫護人員

and general communication skills

to physicians, nurses, medical students

寫作、講故事和一般溝通的技巧。

and other health care workers.

And I thought I'd get a ton of great student essays

我認為我會收到很多 關於解剖屍體的出色文章

about dissecting cadavers and poems about the spleen.

和關於脾臟的詩歌。

And I did.

確實如此。

But almost immediately,

但幾乎是同時，

I started getting more essays that made me really anxious

我也收到許多 令我焦急和擔心的文章。

and really worried.

我的學生描寫了 他們沉重的焦慮情緒，

My students were writing about their crushing anxiety,

the unbearable pressure on them to succeed,

為了成功無法忍受的壓力，

their mental health diagnoses,

他們心理健康診斷結果、

their suicide attempts,

他們試圖自殺的經歷，

how alone and isolated they felt

及感受到的寂寞和孤單，

and wondered if they'd gone into the right profession,

也開始懷疑自己是否 選擇了正確職業，

and they weren't even doctors yet.

然而有部分人仍未成為醫生。

This is my student Uriel Sanchez.

這是我的學生尤瑞爾·桑切斯。

(Audio) Uriel Sanchez: The choice you are given through medicine,

(語音) 桑切斯：醫學中的選擇，

即使有許多的導師指引，

from a lot of your mentors even, is like,

你還是需要選擇，

you have to choose,

like, being a really good person or a really good doctor.

成為很好的人，或是很好的醫生。

(Music)

(音樂)

Laurel Braitman: Physicians' own humanity and emotional well-being

羅瑞爾·貝特曼： 醫生的人性和情緒健康

are almost never made a core part of their training

從來不是醫科專業訓練的核心部分，

or even acknowledged.

甚至完全沒有被提到。

And real vulnerability,

然而他們真實的脆弱，

like sharing certain mental health diagnoses, for example,

像是分享自己心理健康的診斷結果，

can be absolutely career-ending.

絕對可以將他們的職業終結。

But nearly 30 percent of American medical students are depressed,

但將近三成的美國醫學生 患有憂鬱症，

and one in 10 have thought about suicide.

十分之一有過自殺的念頭，

And it's actually even worse for practicing physicians.

而正在執業的醫生情況更糟。

There's really widespread job dissatisfaction,

他們對工作普遍不滿，

high rates of depression,

患有憂鬱症的比率很高，

and doctors have one of the highest suicide rates

還有醫生的自殺率，

of any profession in the United Sates.

為美國眾專業最高之一。

This is scary.

這非常可怕，

Not just for them but for us, too.

無論是對他們，還是我們。

I really think doctors have the most important job.

我認為醫生做的是最重要的工作。

And if their lives are at stake,

若他們性命受到威脅，

ours are, too.

我們的也是。

Now, I am absolutely not a mental health professional,

我絕非精神健康領域的專業人士，

I'm a writer,

我是作家，

which most days is absolutely the complete and total opposite.

生活與他們的簡直是天壤之別。

But I can tell you that the more opportunities

但是，我可以告訴你， 當我給予醫護人員更多的機會

that I give health care workers

to share their daily frustrations, their fears, their joys,

分享他們每天的挫折、 恐懼與喜悅、

what surprises them, what they resent,

和感到驚喜或憤恨的一切，

the better they seem to feel.

他們的感覺會越好。

So at Medicine and the Muse, we offer evening, weekend

我們的「醫藥與謬思計劃」 提供夜晚、週末，

and day-long storytelling workshops

和全天的講故事工作坊，

at farms and other places with really good food.

地點在農場，和其他有美食的地方。

I invite other journalists, writers, producers,

我邀請了記者、作家、製作人、

podcasters and poets,

播客和詩人，

and they teach writing,

給他們教授

communication and storytelling skills to our participants.

寫作、溝通與說故事的技巧。

And those participants practice being vulnerable

然後讓他們大聲分享自己的故事，

by sharing their stories out loud with one another.

練習接受自己脆弱的一面。

And in doing so,

藉此，

they reconnect with what drew them to medicine in the first place.

他們可重新找回 當初進入醫學界的原因。

These are the skills they'll draw on

這些是當他們意識到和面對 工作上充滿壓力和凌亂的現實時

when they realize and are confronted with the stressful, messy reality

of the work they've chosen.

會使用到的技巧。

This is how they realize it's a calling.

他們因此而發現自己的使命感。

So I have a prescription here for you today.

所以，今天在這裡 我有個處方要給你。

It's not from physicians, it's for them,

這並不是醫生開的處方， 反而是給他們的，

and I asked my students for help.

我還拜託了學生來幫忙。

And before I start, let me just say I work with doctors,

在我開始之前，讓我先澄清， 雖說我與醫生工作，

but I'm absolutely convinced

但是，我非常肯定

that this applies to almost any profession,

這對於全部專業都有幫助，

especially those of us who are so committed to our work,

特別是對工作盡忠職守的我們，

and it can be so intense and overwhelming,

有時工作是非常緊張和難耐的，

that sometimes we forget why we chose to do it in the first place.

導致我們忘記了選擇它的初衷。

To me, sharing a true vulnerable story

對於我，分享一個 表達自身脆弱的故事，

is a lot like raising a flag up a flagpole.

就像是在旗杆升起一面旗。

Other people see it,

當其他人看到這面旗，

if they agree with it and it resonates with them,

如果同時贊同，並產生共鳴，

they come and stand under it with you.

便會和你一起站在旗下。

That's what my student Maite Van Hentenryck did.

那就是我的學生 玫特·梵·亨特利所做的。

(Audio) Maite Van Hentenryck: I mean, it was super anxiety-inducing,

(語音) 玫特： 這件事讓我超級焦慮，

and I shared parts of myself

關於這部分的自己，

that I really have probably told five classmates.

我只曾與五位同學分享。

LB: When Maite was a baby, she had to have her leg amputated.

貝特曼：玫特還是嬰兒時， 就被迫腿部截肢。

When she got to medical school,

當她進入醫學院後，

she was taking just a standard class quiz,

她要接受一個標準課堂測驗，

and she got asked the question,

其中一題：

"Please tell us about the first time

「請你告訴我們， 第一次遇到身障者的經歷。」

you encountered someone with a disability."

She wondered if her supervisors had ever considered

她懷疑她的主管有否考慮，

that the person with the disability was her, the doctor.

她既是醫生，也是名身障者。

So she talked about it in front of about 100 of her friends, peers,

因此，她在 100 多位友伴 面前談及這次遭遇。

which is a big deal, because, you know, she's really shy.

這件事非同小可，因為她很害羞。

And afterwards, what happened,

之後，

is a number of students with disabilities,

引來一群她不認識的身障學生

that she didn't know,

came up to her and asked her to colead a group on campus

要求玫特共同領導他們的團體，

目標是在醫療培訓中提高 對身障者的能見度和包容性。

that's now advocating for more visibility and inclusion in medical training.

In English, we tend to call people creatives

我們在英語中的習慣 是把從事某些職業的人

if they have a certain job.

形容為有創意。

Like, designer or architect or artist.

例如設計師、建築師或藝術家。

I hate that term.

我討厭這個詞語，

I think it's offensive and exclusionary.

因為這詞既冒犯又排他。

Creativity doesn't belong to a certain group of people.

創意不僅屬於特定的一群人。

A lot of my work with physicians and medical students

我工作上碰到醫生和醫科學生的時候，

is just reminding them that no matter what profession we choose,

大部分都只是要提醒他們， 無論自己選擇什麼職業，

we can make meaning,

我們也可創造意義，

find beauty in the hard stuff and create.

於困難中找出美好和可創造的一面。

This is medical student Pablo Romano.

以下是醫學生巴布羅·羅馬諾。

(Audio) Pablo Romano: My parents immigrated here from Mexico

(語音) 巴布羅：我父母很多年前 從墨西哥移民來這裡，

many years ago,

在我讀大學的時候他們先後過世了。

and when I was in college, they passed away.

I was 18 when my dad died and then 20 when my mom died.

那時我才 18 和 20 歲。

LB: Not only has Pablo been talking publicly for the first time

貝特曼：巴布羅不僅是首次公開講述

about being an orphan,

他是孤兒的事，

but together, we started a live storytelling series we're calling Talk Rx,

我們共同成立了現場說故事系列，

稱為 Talk Rx ，

and it's become a really popular place for his peers

後來在他同儕間變得很受歡迎，

to show their most vulnerable and powerful thoughts and feelings.

他們在那裡可以分享自己最脆弱、 有強大想法和感受的故事。

(Audio) PR: I go to a school

(語音) 巴布羅：我去到一所 重視資料、研究和數字的學校。

that cares so much about data and research and numbers.

At the end of the day, what moves people is stories.

到頭來，還是故事能夠感動人。

LB: Arifeen Rahman is a second-year medical student.

貝特曼：阿爾菲·拉曼 是二年級的醫學生。

And before she was born,

在她出生之前，

her parents immigrated from Bangladesh to the United States.

她的父母已從孟加拉移民美國。

She grew up in a really beautiful home in Northern California,

她在加州北部美麗的家長大，

very safe and stable,

一切是安全和穩定，

her parents are still together,

她與父母依然在一起，

she never went hungry, and she graduated from Harvard.

她也從來沒有挨過餓， 並從哈佛大學畢業了。

(Audio) Arifeen Rahman: I didn't feel like the stories I had

(語音) 阿爾菲： 我不以為自己的故事

were worth telling or that they mattered.

會值得分享或被重視。

LB: Arifeen did have stories, though.

貝特曼：但她的故事值得一聽。

Recently, she gave a talk about being maybe

她最近發表了一場演講，

那是關於她，也許是首位

the only Bangladeshi American girl

to win an essay contest

美籍孟加拉裔女孩在美國革命女兒會 寫作比賽中得獎。

from the Daughters of the American Revolution --

(Laughter)

(笑聲)

and then dress up for Halloween as the Declaration of Independence.

然後她在萬聖節中 打扮成美國獨立宣言的樣子。

And I love Arifeen's story so much,

我非常喜愛阿爾菲的故事，

because to me it represents all that is good and bad

因為它代表著新的美國夢

and hard and exhausting

about representing the new American dream.

有好、有壞、艱難與辛苦的一切。

(Audio) AR: The hardest thing was coming up against that voice

(語音) 阿爾菲：最困難是

要面對那聲音告訴我 沒有人會聽我的故事。

that was telling me no one wants to hear my stories,

like, why invest the time in this thing

它會說其他人為何要花時間

that doesn't really mean anything in the grand scale of life.

聽我那對他們漫長人生 沒什麼意義的故事。

Maybe the biggest thing is, like, maybe it does.

也許重要的是，對他們確實有意義。

LB: Life is so short.

貝特曼：生命是短暫的。

For me, the only thing, really, that matters with my time here

對我來說，唯一有重要價值的東西

is feeling like I can connect with other people

就是能感受與別人的連結，

and maybe make them feel slightly less alone.

也許減少了他們 所感受到的孤單和寂寞。

And in my experience,

在我的經歷中，

that's what stories do absolutely the best.

那是故事最擅長的事。

So, my student and a collaborator in a lot of these endeavors

坎迪絲·金是我的學生， 同時也在許多計劃中與我合作。

is Candice Kim.

She's an MD-PhD student in medical education.

她是醫學教育的醫學博士生。

She's written about #MeToo in medicine,

她曾寫過有關 醫學界的 #MeToo 運動，

navigating her queer identity in a conservative field

在保守的領域裡 尋找她酷兒身份的認同，

and her mom's metastatic cancer diagnosis.

和有關她母親轉移性癌症的診斷。

And recently, she started also doing some really interesting research

最近，她開始為我們的工作

做一項有趣的研究。

about our work.

(Audio) Candace Kim: We've seen that students

(語音) 坎迪絲：我們發現

who participate in our storytelling opportunity

參加過我們說故事計劃的學生，

他們的憂慮情緒下降了 36 至 51%。

show between a 36 and 51 percent decrease in distress.

LB: If this was a mental health drug,

貝特曼：若說故事 是治療心理疾病的藥物，

it would be an absolute blockbuster.

它絕對是非常成功。

Results seem to last up to a month.

成效長達一個月。

It might be longer,

也許更長，

a month is just when Candice stopped measuring.

因為一個月後，坎迪絲停止記錄了。

So we don't even know.

所以我們不知道時效多長。

Not only that, but 100 percent of our participants

除此以外，我們全部的參與者

recommend these opportunities to a friend.

都向朋友推薦這些參與機會。

For me, though, the most important thing that our work has done

然而，對我來說，最重要的

is create a culture of vulnerability

是在一個從來沒有 面對自身脆弱的文化的地方，

in a place [where] there was absolutely none before.

建立這個文化。

I think what this does

我認為這點能夠

is that it allows doctors and other folks

給予醫生和其他人機會，

an opportunity to envision a different kind of future for themselves

為自己和病人 設想一個不一樣的未來。

and their patients.

This is Maite again.

接下來同樣是玫特。

(Audio) MVH: I want to be the doctor that remembers when your birthday is

(語音) 玫特：我想成為一個

without having to look at the chart.

不用看病歷 也能記得病人生日的醫生。

And I want to be the doctor who knows

我還想成為一個可以知道病人

what my patient's favorite color is

最喜愛顏色和電視劇的醫生。

and what TV shows they like to watch.

I want to be the doctor that's remembered for listening to people

我想成為因為擅於聆聽，

and making sure I take care of all of them

能提供治療以外的關懷

and not just treating their disease.

而被記住的醫生。

LB: Being human is a terminal condition.

貝特曼：身而為人就得面對死亡。

We all have it, and we are all going to die.

我們都一樣，終有一天會死去。

Helping health care professionals communicate more meaningfully

我們幫助專業醫護人員 更有意義地和彼此、

with each other,

病人，及自己的內心交流，

with their patients and with themselves

is certainly not going to magically change

當然不會像魔法般改變

everything that is wrong with the contemporary health care system,

現代醫療保健體系中的一切錯誤，

and it's not going to live to the immense burdens we place on our physicians,

也許未能完全緩和 我們給予醫生的重大壓力，

but it is absolutely key

但關鍵絕對是

in making sure that our healers are healthy enough

確保我們的醫護人員， 擁有足夠的健康

to heal the rest of us.

來治療我們其餘的人。

Communicating with each other with vulnerability,

帶著自身的脆弱溝通，

listening with compassion,

帶著同情心來聆聽，

is, I believe, the absolute best medicine that we have.

我相信此舉絕對是 我們擁有最好的藥物。

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Applause)

(鼓掌)