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banger12

banger12

Former nerd; current burden
Aug 1, 2024
215
Introduction: This is not a conventional resource thread but I hope it is still useful for somebody. I wrote this post in response to a thread asking about mental hospital experiences. It was probably excessively long for a comment response I was thinking about it today though, and given the subject of these forums I figured that many people here may find this information valuable for various reasons and that it justified re-posting this separately as its own thread. Keep in mind that this is only based on my own experiences and may not be representative of the average experience. I did paint a very negative picture of these facilities because I wanted to be honest with how I felt about them, however that is my opinion and bias and won't be the case for everyone checked into a facility. I suspect that many here have been to facilities like this but for those who haven't but still want an idea of it I hope this helps. Also, sorry for the dog shit formatting (Idk why I put the edits I made after posting at the start instead of at the end, for example). Feel free to comment, ask questions, share your own experiences etc.

Edit: this went on way longer than I expected and I'm so sorry but I truly hope you appreciate the detailed response and that some people can make good use of thr information provided. Some people feel they have benefited from psychiatric units and may have needed them, but overall I have a very negative impression of these place, so warning I'm biased. I've been admitted to different psych units a couple times and so I described what was generally true of most or all of them here. This is by no means comprehensive and there are things im probably forgetting to add by mistake or would only be relevant to one facility. Keep in mind though that this is based only on the personal experience of myself, patients I've talked to at these places, and observations I've made while there as a patient. I hope this helps you or someone else. Please enjoy.

Edit #2: Forgot to note that every time no matter the facility I've had my phone, wallet, etc confiscated as per usual policy, without fail. They do allow visitation times (usually a pre-scheduled hour each week) from family but have rules around it like hug/physical affection prohibitions. And you have phone call hours where you can make calls out using a shitty landlines. Also, for context, I'm an American male, in case that information sheds further light on the matter.

I've been to psychiatric units a total of 3 separate psychiatric units in my life, 4 times in my life in total, 2 weeks each (except for final one). Idk if that counts. They werent their own dedicated mental hospital and it wasn't long term so idk if it counts as a mental hospitalization. Each time I was there it was over CTB related stuff. Twice as a minor, twice as an adult. Two of these happened during covid and idk if they are at all representative of any hospital experience nowadays.

Mostly uneventful but here's a few details. Keep in mind the is representative of only my experience and its very possible quite a few other facilities are different. You have no access to therapy at all. You'll likely be talking with a psychiatrist or a number of other docs and maybe a social worker or some shit. But you won't have access to therapy or emotional comfort. Also btw the docs and staff don't care what you think, only what they want.

They will have "group therapy" if you could even call it that. There will be other group activities to, some of which are supposed to be fun and some that are supposed to teach you skills, all of which felt useful or unpleasant. Btw they track your participation on that stupid shit and it counts toward your discharge.

Depending on the unit you'll either be able to order from a list of options that they cook up in the cafeteria or you'll be escorted to the cafeteria and everybody will eat the same stuff, it's not great but not terrible.

Other patients are a mixed bag. Most are cool but obviously it's a psych unit and you don't know why they're there, what their motives are, if they're being truthful etc, so caution is valuable. However given that you're all there together you'll likely befriend some other patients and bind over shitty life experiences and being stuck in a medical facility. It's to be expected this will happen, especially with no access to therapy or other emotional support, however it's technically prohibited, so these conversations typically don't happen until the neglectful staff are out of ear shot, which is often. There will likely be a couple unhinged patients who may make you feel unsafe at times and you'll have to be around them, and I still always felt bad for them. And patients sometimes fluctuate or oscillate between being pleasant to disturbing. Some patients value their time there, but most become more jaded about the whole thing the longer they're there and the more they get to observe.

It's possible you'll need to share rooms, you're not going to get any privacy. Fuck, you can't even shut your door half the time. Your room will be so suicide-proof even down to details like the faucets and toilet paper holders.

However, you're there to be "stabilized" which is some kind of HR/PR Newspeak for "forced onto medication that likely won't help" which for the sake of comedy I'll refer to as "pharma slop". The staff for the most part don't give a fuck about you or other patients, with some exceptions, and quite a few actively resent the patients, sometimes openly so and express it. Some staff will be regulars. Patients will pick favorites out of the very few kind staffers. It's not universally true for every patient (although certainly true for the majority) and it's never stated explicitly, but there's an unwritten rule that if you want out you have to agree to start some pharma slop, which conveniently they're ready to send a prescription out to your pharmacy as soon as you're discharged. In fact it feels almost like a war of attrition to get you to fold and just submit to having the pharma slop shoved down your throat and whatever else they want you to do. It happened to me and I was on tons of meds for 2 years after the fact. There are some other criteria for discharge, some better and reasonable and some that are really bad, but the medication/pharma slop shit is obviously noteworthy. However, I suspect it may be possible to run out the clock with insurance at these places based on some remarks docs there made to me at the time, however I'm not sure so don't quote me on that.

I want to clarify btw that I think some people do need these places and that I'm not necessarily anti-medication. But it feels like over-prescription is endemic on these units and it feels very corrupt regardless. Plus, rarely do patients feel helped. I'd wager there is a financial motive involved, if not with the individual staff or facilities (which is possible) than in how the whole system is designed in the first place. It's also noteworthy that people who are depressed, anxious and suicidal are placed in the same facility among patients with very different, much more extreme/severe mental illnesses.

They will hand out notebooks and suicide-proof pens. They claim to respect your privacy. Don't believe them. From what I understand those are routinely checked and I've had other patients tell me about incidents in which staff has used journal entries against them.

In terms of episodes of abuse or SA I'm unaware of any committed by either staff or patients at any of the facilities I've been admitted to, other than one patient who would expose himself to female patients, as well as the odd attempted unit hookup or relationship. This stuff is pretty bad and concerning, but these were rare incidents and not full blown SA, although it certainly is enough to make one worry for their safety, especially since among the patients plenty had stories from other facilities of worse being perpetrated by both employees and other patients. It's not impossible that at some point some really bad incident occurred at the facilities I was at. Small note, when I get admitted to these places, typically they force you to strip in front of a staffer and then change into the shitty hospital clothes, ig because they worry about elastic wastelands becoming makeshift nooses or that you may hide razor blades in your box cutters. From what I understand this is standard procedure at most places but it's incredibly invasive and it's easy to see how a predator could take advantage of that. And given all the paperwork you're forced to sign god knows what rights you're signing away or how legally protected these facilities are.

I think these facilities also demonstrate the moral bankruptcy of suicide prevention as an action, idea and motivation. A pretty decent chunk of patients were repeat admissions and never experienced any long term benefit from them. But many people report having suffered as a result of their basically forced admission. Many end up committing suicide eventually anyway. So these institutions seemingly generate harm more than they reduce it.

I was very cooperative and honest while I was at these places. I didn't benefit. Some do but I git discharged the honest and productive way during most of my stays and I basically submitted and gave in to everything they wanted. Never benefitted. Ofc I can't speak for everyone but I hate these damn places.
 
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peaceandlove

peaceandlove

Unwitting
Aug 31, 2024
32
Imo they're just prisons traumatizing vulnerable dependant prisoners who are being punished for the mental health system's inability to help them
 
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willitpass

willitpass

Don’t try to offer me help, I’ve tried everything
Mar 10, 2020
2,945
I've spent a combined 2 years in those places throughout my life and got nothing but PTSD from it all. I will end up back in one over my dead body.
 
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banger12

banger12

Former nerd; current burden
Aug 1, 2024
215
I've spent a combined 2 years in those places throughout my life and got nothing but PTSD from it all. I will end up back in one over my dead body.
I am so sorry that you've been subjected to all of that only to have such destructive, permanent consequences.
Imo they're just prisons traumatizing vulnerable dependant prisoners who are being punished for the mental health system's inability to help them
yeah I agree. Ofc I should always add the disclaimer that these are just my opinions based on my experiences, and I don't want to discourage others from checking into a psych unit of their own choosing if they become convinced it can help them. But yeah theyre pretty awful places in my opinion and they seem to exist out for profit milking, liability management and public demand/cries of "we need to do something" about the mentally ill. If anyone, especially a provider, truly does want to help us, they should refrain from non-consensually forcing us into the humiliating, distressing and outright scary experience of being in such a place. It'd also be nice if our concerns and ideas weren't dismissed out of hand by providers too. Until things are changed, these places and the people in them aren't "helping" patients or preventing suicide, they're only traumatizing and tormenting us while lining their pockets (the latter seemingly being the actual concern for them)
 
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SilentSadness

SilentSadness

The rain pours eternally.
Feb 28, 2023
1,140
That is absolutely disgusting, the amount of human rights violations in these places are uncountable. I hope you can recover from your inevitable trauma.
 
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banger12

banger12

Former nerd; current burden
Aug 1, 2024
215
That is absolutely disgusting, the amount of human rights violations in these places are uncountable. I hope you can recover from your inevitable trauma.
Fortunately, despite how unpleasant and sometimes distressing the experience was, i didn't end up traumatized. I lucked out ig, and plenty of people have experienced far worse at places like that. I really feel bad for them. I'm also quite adaptable. There were plenty of silver linings too.

Keep in mind I wrote and posted this mainly as a resource for those unfamiliar with the experience to get a look in and have a better picture of what these placed are like. Although I'm sure plenty (if not most) people on the website of been places like that.
 
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B

bus catcher

Member
Jul 22, 2024
13
I feel bad for anyone who has to go through this. I've never gone but my family has threatened to take me there before and reading the stories here, it terrifies me.
 
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PDAnnie2610

Waiting for my bus.
Oct 27, 2019
701
Went through psych hospitalisations in 2 different countries, trying to process it.

Will never go in voluntarily, ever.
 
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feelinggloomy

feelinggloomy

Experienced
May 29, 2024
251
It helps to read this for me and I'm so sorry for the bad experiences. My son CTB recently and was against going into the hospital. I did not push the issue and I have guilt around that … not trying everything possible. But I wanted him to chose and have power over his own life. He didn't want to go … so in the end he CTB. I'll never know if I gave him the right advice or did the right thing and it haunts me
 
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PDAnnie2610

Waiting for my bus.
Oct 27, 2019
701
It helps to read this for me and I'm so sorry for the bad experiences. My son CTB recently and was against going into the hospital. I did not push the issue and I have guilt around that … not trying everything possible. But I wanted him to chose and have power over his own life. He didn't want to go … so in the end he CTB. I'll never know if I gave him the right advice or did the right thing and it haunts me
I'm very sorry for the pain you went through.

As a survivor of past attempts, and having lost 4 friends to suicide, I wanted to tell you to let go of the guilt… because it's almost impossible to stop someone who's determined to go.

Yes, you'd feel obliged to be responsible, but you can only do your best. It's not easy, but you really can only try your best.
 
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wren-briar

wrenbriar.gitlab.io
Jul 1, 2024
241
Personal Vent:

I was not actively suicidal UNTIL I was subjected to a coffin room (aka seclusion room), because I had the audacity to seek exclusively unbiased medical care -medical care that I actually needed and which I was denied!

I am going to CTB BECAUSE -i.e. as a direct and explicit RESONSE to being imprisoned- because I was confined to a coffin room, to include the strip search, and psychological bullied, and psychologically assaulted, and threatened with forced confinement if I didn't "voluntarily" admit myself!

If I'd gotten exclusively the unbiased medical care that I sought, and should have received, then I would have continued to be willing to try and find reasons to live -like I had for decades.

But their actions PROVED that my health does NOT matter, that my mental health does NOT matter, that CTA against a none issue (I was NOT actively suicidal UNTIL I was subjected to unasked for, unwanted, unneeded, and exclusively traumatizing mother-f'ing psychiatric crisis f'ing interventions) is more important than addressing the very real problem that I had actually asked for help with!

Their actions PROVED this is not a world I am willing to be a part of anymore. I'm CTB BECAUSE of -directly and explicitly BECAUSE of- being subjected to unasked for, unwanted, unneeded, and exclusively traumatizing mother-f'ing psychiatric crisis f'ing interventions!
It helps to read this for me and I'm so sorry for the bad experiences. My son CTB recently and was against going into the hospital. I did not push the issue and I have guilt around that … not trying everything possible. But I wanted him to chose and have power over his own life. He didn't want to go … so in the end he CTB. I'll never know if I gave him the right advice or did the right thing and it haunts min

I am so sorry for your loss.

I have had friends who actually appreciated and benefitted from seclusion rooms (aka coffin rooms) and the psych ward. I've had friends who were exclusively harmed and traumatized by them. And I am going the CTB as a direct and explicit response to being subjected to them (re: my previous comment in this thread).

Everybody that I know who benefitted, knew it was a place that would help them, while everyone who was harmed was subjected to them against their will (to include manipulation, coercion, and threats, i.e. not just forced).

So, if your son was against going to the hospital, it honestly would likely have just caused him more harm and trauma, and it certainly would have had other negative impacts if he was forced into such a hellhole (my personal opinion, but likely similar to your son's opinion).

I have always been a proponent of acting on lessons learned. E.g. I learned I will never again feel safe asking for help that I need, and I will CTB rather than live in fear of being betrayed when I'm actively seeking help that I actually need.

For you, nothing will bring your son back, but that doesn't mean that you can't take what you've learned and try to act on it in ways that will help others. If that's something you're interested in, I highly recommend you look into "peer respite centers" near you, and try to help out in such places. I suspect that you could help others like your son and, while it will never be a panacea, you might find a bit of peace as you get to know others who struggle with MH issues.

Regardless, like any child who has suffered after a lengthy battle against a terminal illness, please be at least a bit grateful that your son is finally at peace. 🫂
 
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banger12

banger12

Former nerd; current burden
Aug 1, 2024
215
It helps to read this for me and I'm so sorry for the bad experiences. My son CTB recently and was against going into the hospital. I did not push the issue and I have guilt around that … not trying everything possible. But I wanted him to chose and have power over his own life. He didn't want to go … so in the end he CTB. I'll never know if I gave him the right advice or did the right thing and it haunts me
I am so sorry for your loss. And yeah I can understand how that can be haunting. I'm not a parent myself so I can only imagine but it's probably hell. I know it's easier said than done, but don't tear yourself apart over finding the answer to unanswerable questions. And if it's any consolation, he's at peace and no longer in any pain. Of course I'm sure you'd rather he be with you, which is only natural and completely reasonable. But he's not hurting and I hope that provides some comfort.
 
A

Alabaster

Member
Aug 28, 2024
40
Thank you for this information. It's quite hard to find candid reviews on the web.

On balance, this type of holiday resort sounds like it leaves a lot to be desired (2 stars, or even 1 star, out of 5) and I will bear that in mind and try to avoid it.
 
maniac116

maniac116

My own worst enemy🌹💔
Aug 10, 2024
978
It helps to read this for me and I'm so sorry for the bad experiences. My son CTB recently and was against going into the hospital. I did not push the issue and I have guilt around that … not trying everything possible. But I wanted him to chose and have power over his own life. He didn't want to go … so in the end he CTB. I'll never know if I gave him the right advice or did the right thing and it haunts me
🤗🤗🤗🌹💔
 

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