| Q: Teaching Aid has Bipolar Dear Dr. Phelps, I am concerned about my teaching aid who shared with me the other day that she is bi-polar. I teach pre-k (4-5 yr. olds) she is my assistant in the classroom. She has been hospitalized for her condition and is currently on meds and observed by dr. I have some concerns about her behavior, she often is too hard on the kids and gets very annoyed by the noise our classroom generates. I have seen her eat the childrens food that they have thrown away, she has a hard time dealing with conflicts between the children, and sometimes "plays" the baby in the home center for 30 or more min. (fake crying and laying on the floor- I have been known to be an elephant in our class, but she takes things too far) I worry every day when I leave the class room for a break or errand if they will be okay. Should someone with this condition be with kids, and If I wouldn't leave my kids with her should our school trust her with 17 kids? I understand that this is out of her control, and I really care about her. Thanks for taking the time to listen. Ali Dear Ali -- With most folks who have bipolar I, I will have a "safety net" arrangement: someone who sees the patient very frequently who knows about the diagnosis and the risks and can make something happen quickly (get the doc', get the family; get the patient to a hospital; alert the psychiatrist to the presence of symptoms; or call emergency services if needed). If your assistant has such a net, that's obviously where you'd want to turn. Is she organized enough that you can discuss your concerns with her directly? Perhaps on a relatively symptom-free day? And get her direction as to what she would want you to do when you see symptoms? I agree with your concern about leaving the class with her, and your logic (not your own kids, so why a class?). At the same time your care and your concern not to just "blow the whistle" in such a way she gets yanked (solves your problem, but surely not hers) is really nice to hear -- you are really gracious to do this for her. I hope there's an idea in here that might help you. In the long run, making something happen rather than putting up with symptoms is probably far the better for all concerned, if you can figure out the most gentle way of doing it. Dr. Phelps |