Discussion After hospitalization?

[Lra888]

What happens to a mentally ill person after they are released from the hospital?

1. What happens to the person after they are let out if they are no longer financially stable? What if a person was forced to leave their job because of this and can no longer afford a place to stay, food etc?

2. If a person is hospitalized against their will, are they billed for the hospital stay, treatment, etc - and expected to pay off this debt?

3. If a person is let out and they don't have a sufficient place to stay, cannot be alone, can't take care of themselves—where are they released to?

I'm asking because my therapist was saying I should probably be hospitalized because of how depressed I am and my prior attempts and I should go to the emergency room if I ever get to the point of following through. Of course i'd kill myself before letting that happen— but what do they expect me to do if I lose my job, home, and become indebted to the hospital?

I did ask my therapist "how can I go into the hospital if i'll lose my job and probably won't have a secure living situation after I get out." She gave me vague answers like "living comes before all of that" and "there are programs" but i'd be completely destitute.

 

[Lra888]

Being hospitalized and leaving employment, home etc - (basically your life) - is perhaps worse than suicide. If you kill yourself you are out of that misery, free from the descent and mental pain, agonizing daily tedium.

If you ctb the pain is finished and you at least went out with dignity as you made a choice and were able to act freely. If you are held in a hospital against your will, not only do you leave your life behind but you are also forced to live with perhaps total ruin. I cannot imagine that sense of total helplessness, excruciating agony and imprisonment. Much worse than death because you've ended things but are still trapped here in a much worse situation.

 

[Circles]

What happens to a mentally ill person after they are released from the hospital?

1. What happens to the person after they are let out if they are no longer financially stable? What if a person was forced to leave their job because of this and can no longer afford a place to stay, food etc?

2. If a person is hospitalized against their will, are they billed for the hospital stay, treatment, etc?

3. If a person is let out and they don't have a sufficient place to stay, cannot be alone, can't take care of themselves—where are they released to?

I'm asking because my therapist was saying I should probably be hospitalized because of how depressed I am and my prior attempts and I should go to the emergency room if I ever get to the point of following through. Of course i'd kill myself before letting that happen— but what do they expect me to do if I lose my job, home, and become indebted to the hospital?

I did ask my therapist "how can I go into the hospital if i'll lose my job and probably won't have a secure living situation after I get out." She gave me vague answers like "living comes before all of that" and "there are programs" but i'd be completely destitute.

I will tell you my experience:

1. As bad as it sounds, homelessness or going back to my moms place to crash, food stamps, begging, stealing, etc.

2. Yes as far as I know, but at the time I was still under my mother's insurance. I forgot the cost but it was high.

3. Sadly yet again homelessness. It sucks, but that's how the system works or you might get the small opportunity to go to a clinic who only only allow 3-4 patients at a time. Mental health care is pathetic here and is deteriorating. Or a shelter but that was just sketchy as fuck for me. I met some amazing people who would hang out by the train track under a bridge. It felt like a safe haven at times.

Those 'programs' are laughable in my experience.

 

[Lra888]

I was hospitalized but only as a teenager when I was still living with family. The family situation had problems but I had nowhere else to go. Much of the reason I was hospitalized was because of what my parents told a psych doctor about me so I was put in there against my will. A horrifying experience.

 

[AndyCurious]

I was hospitalized but only as a teenager when I was still living with family. The family situation had problems but I had nowhere else to go. Much of the reason I was hospitalized was because of what my parents told a psych doctor about me so I was put in there against my will. A horrifying experience.

I am sorry to hear that... Hugs <3

 

[Lra888]

I will tell you my experience:

1. As bad as it sounds, homelessness or going back to my moms place to crash, food stamps, begging, stealing, etc.

2. Yes as far as I know, but at the time I was still under my mother's insurance. I forgot the cost but it was high.

3. Sadly yet again homelessness. It sucks, but that's how the system works or you might get the small opportunity to go to a clinic who only only allow 3-4 patients at a time. Mental health care is pathetic here and is deteriorating. Or a shelter but that was just sketchy as fuck for me. I met some amazing people who would hang out by the train track under a bridge. It felt like a safe haven at times.

Those 'programs' are laughable in my experience.

Thank you. Yeah the doctor's and therapist's goal seems to be to keep the suicidal person alive at any cost no matter what, even if that means facing total poverty, ruin and homelessness.

 

[AndyCurious]

Being hospitalized and leaving employment, home etc - (basically your life) - is perhaps worse than suicide. If you kill yourself you are out of that misery, free from the descent and mental pain, agonizing daily tedium.

If you ctb the pain is finished and you at least went out with dignity as you made a choice and were able to act freely. If you are held in a hospital against your will, not only do you leave your life behind but you are also forced to live with perhaps total ruin. I cannot imagine that sense of total helplessness, excruciating agony and imprisonment. Much worse than death because you've ended things but are still trapped here in a much worse situation.

Totally agree there.. I'd rather hang myself asap than getting hospitalized against my will...

 

[AveryConure]

I know depending on the type of treatment you're getting sometimes they'll allow you to stay in the hospital until they find a shelter or a program for you which of course staying in the hospital is better than being homeless but I've also been through places that didn't even give a shit if I was going to get hit by a truck after I was released so I don't blame you at all for not wanting to gamble on our so-called "healthcare".

 

[Shewaitsforme]

I was released a week last Monday after 2 months in hospital in total. Im now financially unstable as my job went down to half pay. Im not allowed to go back to work (NHS) before occupational health meeting, GP fit for work and an investigation. Im very aware i will get sacked, cant claim benefits as im still technically employed just on sick pay.

Im in a far worse position than when i was before going in, so suicide is my only choice. Ive got people chasing me for momey, threatening me with balifs, my landlord will soon be chasing me for a months missed rent.

They put you in hospital against your will thinking your world and resposibilities just stop then release you to pick up the pieces if you can

 

[Lra888]

I was released a week last Monday after 2 months in hospital in total. Im now financially unstable as my job went down to half pay. Im not allowed to go back to work (NHS) before occupational health meeting, GP fit for work and an investigation. Im very aware i will get sacked, cant claim benefits as im still technically employed just on sick pay.

Im in a far worse position than when i was before going in, so suicide is my only choice. Ive got people chasing me for momey, threatening me with balifs, my landlord will soon be chasing me for a months missed rent.

They put you in hospital against your will thinking your world and resposibilities just stop then release you to pick up the pieces if you can

Thank you for sharing. This is what I expect unfortunately. If a person goes into the hospital to attempt to save their life - they will be released into a dire situation with loss of income, a buildup of bills and back rent. Not a circumstance that a depressed person can manage. The stresses of daily life likely exacerbated their mental health problems in the first place & going into hospital will multiply those stresses.

 

[Lra888]

I know depending on the type of treatment you're getting sometimes they'll allow you to stay in the hospital until they find a shelter or a program for you which of course staying in the hospital is better than being homeless but I've also been through places that didn't even give a shit if I was going to get hit by a truck after I was released so I don't blame you at all for not wanting to gamble on our so-called "healthcare".

Yes. From the doctor's perspective it's "as long as this person is still alive - no matter how bad things are for them - at least they're not dead". Homeless, poverty and lack of food is better than suicidal for them.

Drs and therapists will never entertain the thought that perhaps suicide can be a dignified way to escape from a hellish set of circumstances (pain, chronic mental illness, sickness, tragedy etc.)

 

[Lra888]

I have a therapy session this afternoon and i'm going to ask her about this. What do therapists and drs expect to happen to the people they send to the hospital?

I must keep in mind that she will never tell me that suicide is an option. Perhaps doctors & therapists do believe in suicide as a way out - but professionally that cannot speak about that.

 

[faex42]

My experience is that clients are sectioned to the hospital largely for safety reasons; sometimes for medication reviews but the former cause is much greater in number.. They don't expect the hospital to do much more than keep the person safe as insurance companies seek to limit lengths of stay as much as possible. It's a very serious ethical and legal problem to endorse suicide in any way. Its drilled into every mental health professional's head from the beginning of training. What they really think will not be revealed. BTW, therapists whose clients commit suicide often experience guilt, depression and PTSD for many years thereafter even if they understood why it happened. .

 

[Lra888]

It's fucked up. A person gets out unemployed and it's like "better get back to the 9-5 grind - (6am-6pm including preparation and commute). No fucking way a depressed person is going to jump back into that. Guess it's try to get food stamps and die slowly.

Also applying for new jobs like "I had to leave my old job because I was suicidal and went to the hospital so I wouldn't kill myself".

 

[faex42]

Many people for the reasons cited in the above posts do lie. Therapists/psychiatrists do not take into account "what happens next". Referred to the homeless shelter post discharge would be a very quick way for me to truly cbt as fast as I could. All the homeless shelters here are Hell. I'll usually refer to suicide in a way that doesn't trigger actually being evaluated a/o/admitted to a psychiatric hospital. I find that few clinicians probe much if I give them a bogus safety plan.
The problem is that I can't discuss how I really feel without running an unacceptable risk.

 

[Lra888]

Many people for the reasons cited in the above posts do lie. Therapists/psychiatrists do not take into account "what happens next". Referred to the homeless shelter post discharge would be a very quick way for me to truly cbt as fast as I could. All the homeless shelters here are Hell. I'll usually refer to suicide in a way that doesn't trigger actually being evaluated a/o/admitted to a psychiatric hospital. I find that few clinicians probe much if I give them a bogus safety plan.
The problem is that I can't discuss how I really feel without running an unacceptable risk.

Exactly. It makes therapy a waste of time because it's never truthful no matter how desperate I am.