What is your experience with mental hospitals?

Indirect. I have a couple friends that used to work in one and I think once knew a guy a while back that had been admitted at one time.

Anything in particular you want to know?

>>17835202
What are the conditions like? Do they make you take any medicine? Do you have to piss in a cup each day?

>>17835236
Conditions are, well, not ideal. It's not a comfortable place to be, to say the least. But it's not like they're allowed to throw you in a pit or beat you or anything. It's not like in the movies. The inconveniences are usually more annoying than painful. I think the conditions probably really depend which country you're in though. I'm speaking as somebody from the US.

You do have to take your meds if you are prescribed them, but you can talk to your doctor about them if they're really not agreeing with you and see about altering them to suit your needs. You're only forced meds if you really act up, like getting violent.

I haven't heard of anybody being required to provide urine samples every single day. I'd expect you may be called on to provide a sample if there's reason to suspect you may be taking some drug you're not supposed to have, or possible as part of admittance. Seems like it'd be a real waste of time and resources to test every patient's piss every day, so I think they'd probably just make sure you're not getting anything snuck in to you, which they're pretty strict and thorough about.

>>17835284
What resources do they have to help pass the time? Do you have to share rooms at all? Are bathrooms private?

>>17835329
i work in one as a doctor. it really depends on where you live. i live in eu. where do you live?

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To give a little more detail to expand on the conditions (from what I've heard, and keep in mind it varies hospital to hospital): First off is you as a patient get next to no privacy. Pretty much monitored all the time. I hear if you want to fap alone with less chance of somebody walking in on you it's best to do it in the bathroom. There will be someone coming down the halls at night to look in everybody's rooms to make sure they're in bed where they belong. You will very very likely get at least one roommate. These places are typically too full to assign anybody a private room. Your roommate will have been admitted to the hospital for some kind of reason, but there's usually no reason to assume they're any worse off than you are. There are a surprising amount of every day little things that people typically take for granted that patients may not have access to, usually because they pose a suicide risk. Dunno if it's common, but I think I've heard of cases in which pillows were considered a privilege that needed to be earned, for example. I've heard of patients trying to sneak in extra cloth rope on dolls that posed a hanging risk, and the hospital was having none of it and couldn't allow it to be brought in.

>>17835188
I work at one.

>>17835329
>What resources do they have to help pass the time?

Depends. I think there's usually a rec room. Board games, maybe a tv, maybe ping pong? This is mostly speculation. My buddy once mentioned a patient that did creepy stuff with crafting, like paper dolls and junk. And of course there's therapy treatments to attend. I think I've seen posts on /adv/ and /x/ from former patients saying they didn't get an internet connection and had to catch up on news and shit after they were out.

>>17835344
USA

>>17835421
I hope they at least have a decent library or access to paper and means of writing.

>>17835463
Maybe. If you're thinking about being admitted, perhaps you could request a tour?

>>17835504
I could do that but I am paranoid about them doing just a front and finding out the place is anything but helpful to me.

I was baker acted in florida. the facilities were very basic. About 20 people. I managed to get a pencil eventually from one of the people to help pass the time. There was one tv. Some chess, checkers, that's it. Fucking nothing else. Mind numbing and boring.

Only had enough employees for one area to be open at once. Move from the recroom to outside whenever the group wanted to agree. basketball court and not much. Problem was the fucking crazies would get the ball and lob it over the fucking wall. No more basketball that day.

Food was bland. not good, no. I don't think that was a long stay place. Every day you had like a 10 minute psych eval with a guy that clearly didn't give a fuck. Was absolutely pointless. It was a facility meant only for a week long stay at most though.

Sleeping was the hardest thing. Barracks type quarters. People snored extremely loud. Crazies would scream all the time.

Other than being depressed I clearly did not belong there. I wasn't threatening suicide either. Was stupid.

>>17835516
Are you already seeing a doctor? Why are you thinking of being admitted?

I spent a week in one when I was a teenager cause I was suicidal. You would be amazed how many stories I have from just one week

>>17835525
Was this recent?

i worked in one and know people who went in for a while.
generally it's not a lot of fun since you don't have the freedom you are used to. but sometimes that is exactly what you need.
some guidance, structures and boundaries.
you would nevwr get medication against your will unless you attack someone and they have to sedate you for safety reasons.
in my experience, medication is really as much as needed, as little as possible.
as others said, privacy is not very big too. there will be someone cheking trough at night.
there is usually enough activities you can do. not mindblowing exciting but that's also not the point. in general, the people working there aren't evil or mean at all. just your normal everyday people.
are you thinking about admitting yourself?

admitted myself into one a few months ago because I was suicidal.
probably the most fucking boring 5 days in my life. being in there made me want to kill myself more out of boredom rather than depression

it's a lot easier to get out of a mental hospital if you go in voluntarily. much much harder to get out of you came in against your will

>>17835557
What made it so boring? How did you convince them to leave?

>>17835550
I have been thinking of admitting myself to escape suicidal thoughts, but I am far from social and get bored easily without fun shit to read and being able to write.

>>17835538
Tell us more.>>17835550

>>17835529
Yes, but the two doctors are not helping me much, and one of them is always for medicating the shit out of me, each time I went to a meet, they were always ready to ask if I want to be on more medicine

>>17835525
Where you go to, Lakeside Alternatives?

>>17835358
I hope the pay is good to be worth trying.

>>17835353
Don't forget they are going to keep you from being with and seeing the opposite sex for anything.

Lots of freedom and meth around the place. Staff is uncaring and only in it for the salary. Some of the staff are mentally ill vets who are ""cured""

Of course this is all on a very poor state.

>>17835750
Michigan?

>>17835753
Alabama. I would not be surprised if Michigan had the same issue.

>>17835188
it is not so bad in europe(in france at least), i go there regularly and often stay for 1 week or more.

it can be very weird the first time you get there because you have to get used to the weird noises, screams at random times and other random stuff from the other patients, but you do get used to it. in fact some of them are cool.

we are allowed to talk to eachother in a common living room every day during the afternoon

>>17835787
Fucking hillbilly staff and rednecks for patients.

>>17835796
Why do you go regularly there?

>>17835693
hahahahahaha

>>17835802
Yep. The best way to go clean is to lower the intake. It's hard but that usually works.

>was hooked on coke after high school but got off it for 13 months so far
Feels nice.

>parents try to put me in after I came back from "running away"
>just left for the weekend without telling them because teenage angst
>pissed as fuck because want to go military out of high school
>freaking out on the way there
>wise up and get super calm before going in, meditate, get my heart rate down
>can't get me committed because I'm perfectly stoic
>cunt mom lies and says I threatened to kill myself
>deny it but it's too late
everybodygetsone.png
>3 day suicide watch
>military chances hit 0
(end up having to take out huge loans to pay for college because parents unironically go into debt buying jewelry and brand new high quality beds and brand new high end cars they can't afford)[yes I do take every chance to bitch about it, sue me]
>literally padded cell for the first few hours
>counselor starts talking to me through the door
>asks if I'm hungry
>no
>Are you sure you aren't just trying to starve yourself?
>mfw I have no face
>ask for a different counselor
>new guy is cool, I explain the situation
>says he can let me out of the room but not the facility since he'd be liable
>mad as hell but I get it
>out with the nutjobs
>everyone is clearly drugged out or retarded or whatever
>nonviolent, boring TV
>bin has board games and a slimy GBA with Tetris
>back to TV it is
>bed time, give me god awful mashed potatoes and jello with a plastic spoon
>can't Shawshank my way out in only 3 days so I eat it because first counselor no doubt made a note of my brilliant starvation plan
>bed is awful
>sleep, wake up, decide not to watch boring TV and stay in bed
>breakfast is served, sucky "eggs" and "bacon"
>back to bed
>counselor asks if I'm depressed
>No I'm just bored and don't want to play Yahtzee with nutjobs.
>offers to play card games with me
>don't want to but want to act not depressed so fine
>bitch to him between rounds of Go Fish and Poker using literal chips
>sleep time, same shit food
>abandon all hope of getting out before my 72 hours are up, stay in bed forever

>>17835421
This is pretty accurate. From a patient's perspective. Luckily I was able to find some decent books in their "library" which was just a cart of books. They had a tv going during specific hours of the day and plenty of craft things to try out. Some group therapy everyday and some other stuff to do too.

>>17835851
What do you do now, anon?

>>17835889
Worked construction for a while, got sick of manual labor and went into website development. Decided to go to school despite having to pay out the nose, majored in computer engineering, and now I develop firmware for IBM. Nearly out of debt now because it was only a bachelor's and I had some savings going in. Even got my firearm rights back after getting cleared psychs. Military won't touch me with a ten foot pole but fuck it, already done with school and the health care alone isn't worth it to me.

>>17835928
Good for you. Sorry your parents ruined your dreams. Whats your relationship with them now?

>>17835539
was in 2010. I did get out before the 3 days though. I had a flight booked and they had my parents make a pledge (was visiting home, just graduated college) to watch over me. Hoped the plane would crash but was disappointed. Still disappointed.

>>17835684
I actually have no idea what it was called. I wasn't paying much attention when I got there because I just was so embarrassed by getting handcuffed and dragged out of my fucking apartment.

Yes, I was super depressed. My GF just fucking cheated on me and the job I had planned dropped out.

It was RIGHT after I graduated. I was leaving the state for good and needed to throw away all my furniture (all junk). To let out a little frustration I just want apeshit on everything with a baseball bat. My ex(girl that cheated me) walks in as I'm beating the fuck out of my couch and got freaked out. Wasn't threatening anyone, wasn't fucking screaming, I was just in my undies with bed hair doing something literally everyone has always wanted to do.

Sure, I looked crazy as fuck but come on.

>>17835804
many reasons ranging from acute psychotic symptoms (hallucinations and delusions that i can not control or understand that are false),heroin addiction,being suicidal,major depression

i have these hard episodes every few months and go to the hospital when it happens

it has been like that for 3 years

I work in an inpatient mental health ward in the UK, so under NHS (national health service)

Experience will vary massively from the type of ward, for example a PICU (psychiatric intensive care unit) ward is restrictive in terms of privacy as you'd most likely to be on 'levels' level 4 - all patient subject to these levels and location is checked and recorded every hour. Level 3 - patient checked and recorded every 10/15 mins etc time frames down to nurse's discretion. Level 2 - patient always within eyesight of staff member (staff will rotate every hour) and level 1 - patient always within arms reach of staff member(s) but level 1 only for patient at very high risk of self harm etc. A PICU ward will be secure so things like cutlery checked at meal times to ensure patients don't have anything that can be used as a weapon etc.

However by the sounds of it you'd be looking at admitting yourself informally, which would mean you would be on level 4 general observations and checked every hour. Where I work there are 3 meals a day with snacks inbetween and fluids whenever requested. Patients may not always have access to own drinks such as tea/coffee due to boiling water risks etc. Food is generally good and a few options every meal time. As an informal patient you're free to leave/enter the ward as you like as long as you let staff know. However you can be put on a section if a doctor deems you to be vulnerable due to your mental health you can be on a section 2 which lasts 28 days, during which time you're only able to leave the hospital/ward by having certain leave, and mostly escorted by ward staff members. However if you're on a section 3 this lasts 6 months and the same applies.

>>17836087

As far as facilities there are televisions, books, pool table, table tennis, gym, arts and crafts supplies, board games etc. Also OT staff (occupational therapy) organise activities, either independently or in groups for various things depending on hospital resources and funding etc. Generally when a patient is admitted ward staff/OT go through an 'interest checklist' or similar to find out what hobbies and activities the patient enjoys and would try accommodate them as best they could during their stay.

As for medication you'll have a drug card which doctors prescribe medication, such as anti psychotics where suitable etc, and nurses dispense these. Patients are prompted to take medication, which could be 3/4 times a day depending on the drug, and in some cases if patient refuses medication, then it can be given IM (intramuscular) through the form of an injection with staff restraining the patient, however this only occurs if the patient is seriously mentally unwell and does require medication. Also if a patient is being aggressive etc they can also be given IM injections with drugs that calm them down, send them drowsy etc.

Urine samples are only required from patients if they have suspected urine infections etc or anything that could be contributing to mental health symptoms as these infections can enhance or cause behaviours that are seen in mentally unwell people, however if you're suspected of taking illegal or recreational drugs then urine samples could be requested. Example - informal patient, under no mental health act so aren't detained to the hospital, suspected of being under the influences of drugs and refuses to go through with a urine test could be asked to leave the ward etc.

conditions wise depend on the ward, some have ensuite showers and toilets, some just toilets and others none, entirely depends on the ward.

>>17836094
Not sure what mental health hospitals/wards are like in other countries etc but if you feel you'd benefit from informally admitting yourself then i would suggest you do as a lot of patients come in very unwell, unable to function independently etc and leave totally better and lead good lives.

>>17836007
Nonexistant, but I'm also a fag, they're traditionally Christian... meh.

>>17835656
There was this one girl there that had been there for half a year who would scream and bang her head on the wall. I saw an 11 year old schizo who had a mealdown and started screaming about things he saw. There was this one girl that got in a car crash and lost her personality. Her eyes were dead and she thought she was the source of evil and disease. I also made sick beats with my redneck and gangsta roommates. I wasn't allowed to talk to girls. I actually got in trouble for making faces at a girl. We had school there and would take breaks for group therapy. We watched movies on the weekend. We actually ended up watching at least 4 movies on Saturday. I can post some greentexts if you want

>>17836473
Tell us more.

>>17835188

it sucks

if you don't want to go to a mental hospital do not tell them you are suicidal

unless you are ready to stay there for a week

>>17836628
Suicide watch is a really awful treatment.

>>17835871
What books did they have?

>>17836951
Some Terry Pratchett, one of my favorite authors