Jackie Healey angry with college, Selkirk centre after attack

Jackie Healey, the Red River College student who was attacked last monthby residents at the Behavioural Health Foundation centre in Selkirk, Man., says she's angry with the institutions that put her in harm's way during a work placement.

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"I've been staying positive and happy but I am really, really angry, I'm sad, I'm disappointed not just at the kids, I'm disappointed and angry with BHF as well and a little bit with Red River," said Healey.

The 23-year-old was beaten with pool balls and a bat the evening of May 29. Police arrested two teenagers one 16 the other 17 May31 for multipleoffences related to the incident and a third for"counsellinganother person" in a criminal offence.

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Healey and another staff member were the only people on site, other than the teens,when the incident occurred.

The other worker on site was asleep on another floor when the two teenagers began to show signs of aggressive behaviour, said Healey. Later thatevening, Healey and the other worker were in different locations at the centre again when they were bothphysically assaulted, separately, by the teens, said Healey.

None of the allegations made byHealeyor policehave been proven in court.

"I was not prepared for anything like that to happen," Healey said of her attack.

The student cannot recall receiving any instructions from either her college orBHF staff about how to respond to violenceor aggressive behaviour.

No emergency training

There was no panic button in case of emergency and the fire alarm was just internal to the building it did not automatically send for firefighters, said Healey.

"Nobody told me, 'If this happens or that happens this is what you do,'" said Healey.

"I'm still so new to it I didn't realize how dangerous it was. Maybe I let my guard down, I don't know."

Healey suffered multiple injuries in the attack including the permanent loss of vision in one eye. She continues to haveswelling around her head, ear andneck.She requires pain medication to stay comfortable and experiences difficulty sleeping.

"Emotionally I have a really hard time at night ... every night I have multiple nightmares," she said. Many of the dreams bring flashbacks.

While she wants to complete her program inchild and youth care, Healey said she needs to focus on getting better first.

"I just want to heal, I want to be fully healed."

Once she's ready to fly,Healey plans to return to her northern reserve to be with family.

"I want to remain the happy person that I always was," Healey said.

She hopes her experiences sheds light on the dangers facing vulnerable workers so that no one else is hurt like she was.

"We never expected this to happen to us and I don't think anyone does I just want more safety and security for everyone."

Workplace Safety and Health is investigating the assaults.TheBehavioural Health Foundation declined to answer questions on safety concerns related to Healey's work placement while the investigation is ongoing.

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