I cannot say that I was impressed at all. For a place that supposedly helps and treats those with mental illness, it really didn't feel like it. They made me take a medication that got me feeling more depressed, the LAST thing I needed, and held me there longer because I was "refusing" it despite me having voiced to several staff how it was negatively impacting me. I was talked down to as though I was being an obstinate child about it rather than someone who understands and should have agency over her own body.
They don't care about the patients, if you ask for a want or need it'll take days to happen or it won't at all. I had to pester, pester, pester to ensure literally anything got done or any reasonable request was met.
Patients are shoved into a section together without their individual needs and diagnoses accounted for and it results in fights breaking out as well as elevated stress for those whose specific issues had a tendency to clash.
So many staff have either "I don't care" or "you better not step outta line" energy which just creates more issues for already struggling individuals. When there was a rare occurrence of a caring or understanding staff member, I made it a point to commend them and let them know I see their efforts and appreciate it. This happened only once.
I had to sign myself out to avoid basically going insane in a place that felt like going to prison, thank goodness I was there voluntarily or else I couldn't do that. Even then, they may choose to switch you to an involuntary hold if they think you got good money or insurance. As a well-mannered and at least somewhat well-spoken caucasian, I saw people with bigger issues than me come and go faster than I did and that felt ridiculously suspicious. Jokes on them, I'm broker than a donkey!! I'm stuck with a bill I can't afford, that's okay though because legally a medical institution cannot pursue you relentlessly for debt especially if you never tell collections your name and address and instead hang up on any numbers you don't recognize. Healthcare is a right for all, whether they can afford the ridiculous cost or not. Furthermore it falls off your credit after 7 years (fun fact, the more you know!!) so I don't see myself suffering very much misery "trying" to pay them for essentially trapping me in he// for a week. I know some lawyers who'd probably love to bankrupt them and become richer too if they wanna be a problem about it rather than keeping quiet and compliant like we were all harshly and unfairly demanded to do whilst imprisoned. If they cause me even one more single teardrop of grief even after getting my freedom back then I'll tip those lawyers off and enjoy watching the aftermath.
As a patient you basically have no rights, no freedom. Little to no exercise, only a tv and crayons for entertainment as though they think we're children. I did my best to enjoy group activities, but they felt rather childish. I felt like a pet human for people who collected but simultaneously hated us, being locked in a cage wouldn't have been much better or worse honestly.
DO BETTER Y'ALL!! This SHOULD be a place of healing, but it just feels careless and abusive!! read more