In the middle of July, the heat is overwhelming. Temperatures rise above 37 degrees and, in the field, every outreach round becomes a race against the risks associated with the heatwave. During these extreme periods, the team adapts its priorities: reaching out to the most vulnerable people, those who, because of their physical or mental health, are no longer able to protect themselves.
It is in this context that we decide to visit Mr L., who has been supported by Street Nurses for five years. He has been homeless again for eight months. The loss of his housing, directly linked to the deterioration of his mental health, has forced him back onto the street, where he is constantly exposed to danger.
An alarming situation in 37-degree heat
When we find him, the situation is alarming. Despite the suffocating heat, Mr L. is wearing several layers of thick clothing. He seems completely disconnected from reality, trapped in hallucinations that isolate him from the outside world. Usually, even during his psychotic episodes, some form of communication remains possible. But that day, his mental state, combined with exhaustion caused by the heat, makes any contact extremely difficult.
Very quickly, a question arises: are we witnessing his usual condition or an acute decompensation that is putting his life at risk? In the field and in an emergency, this distinction is essential. A misinterpretation could either cause a breakdown in the relationship of trust built over several years or lead us to overlook a critical situation.
An expert perspective at the heart of an emergency
It is at this point that we call Manon, our psychologist.
In just a few minutes, her intervention completely changes the situation. From a distance, she helps us gain a clearer understanding of what we are observing. She listens carefully to our description, helps us distinguish Mr L.’s usual signs from those that should genuinely cause concern and, above all, guides us on how to approach him without increasing his anxiety.
Thanks to her expertise, we immediately adjust our approach: our tone of voice, our choice of words, our physical distance and our gestures. Little by little, Mr L. becomes calmer. He eventually agrees to remove some of his clothing and drink water.
Understanding, assessing and acting appropriately
That day, the psychologist’s intervention was decisive. Not merely as theoretical support, but as genuine operational assistance at the heart of an emergency. In situations where just a few minutes can change the course of someone’s life, her expertise enables the teams to understand, assess and act appropriately.
In the field, the presence of a psychologist is not limited to meeting with patients: she also supports staff members facing complex human situations, where the line between a mental health crisis, physical danger and maintaining the relationship of trust can sometimes be extremely fine. At certain critical moments, this expertise can literally make all the difference.
Story from Cloé, nurse on the streets
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(*) We do our utmost to respect the privacy of our patients and our professional secrecy. However, we want to testify to how they must survive and how we are working together to reintegrate them. As a result, the names of places and people are deliberately omitted or changed and real-life situations are placed in a different context. There is no direct link between the photos and the stories above.