“There was so much self-growth acquired from seeing my own personal struggles reflected back at me. The ability to help these people helped me better myself.”
– Andy Dokmanovich
Co-op Term: Fall 2024
Position: Mental Health Associate
Employer: Arbour Hospital
Andy’s responsibilities included restraining patients during crises, completing intake charts and daily census, managing dietary sheets, and responding to psychiatric emergencies across units. She rotated through several units before settling primarily on South Three, an acute psychiatric unit, where she built strong relationships with both staff and patients and took on the role of shift lead.
“My rapport with all of the core staff members grew exponentially. I was able to become a respected member of staff. Myself and two other co-ops were nicknamed the ‘Big Three’ on the unit.”
– Andy Dokmanovich
Beyond administrative and safety duties, Andy developed deep therapeutic rapport with patients, engaging in daily conversations, de-escalation, and emotional support, most notably preventing three suicide attempts. Throughout the experience, she relied heavily on peer co-op support and mentorship from senior staff to learn the practical, unofficial skills of the job that no orientation could have prepared her for.
