There is already research on how involuntary commitment for anyone who tells their Therapist they are having suicidal thoughts being a deterent for those seeking help. I had that horrible experience and was lied to about being able to check myself out. They even tried to keep me an extra day because my vitamin D level was low! They offered no counseling while I was in there and I had absolutely no privacy.
Natalie, thank you for the comment. I am so sorry to hear about your experience, and know you are not alone in it being a horrible experience. And to add insult to injury, not getting any counseling while hospitalized! The entire clinical community needs to come together and ask themselves what about the current set up is working for people. You are spot on about the research - something that I wished we put more into practice.
with the U.S. shift to right authoritarianism be prepared for psychiatric incarceration to used on people who politically descent. This happens in Russia and Venezuela. Also with less foster care available and the anti-abortion laws-in the coming years we will have children dumped at psych wards (and most likely over-drugged) as a former foster kid and troubled teen industry survivor myself I know how evil some of these places can be.... Utah as a state is the worst offender for the troubled teen industry...
I have worked with troubled teens. Youth detention centers are no place for these lost kids who through no fault of some of their parents who themselves grew up in dysfunctional families. I've seen babies attempt to raise babies on their own with no community support. We have an growing mental health crisis and I institutions are just punishing those who need help. Social media then COVID have isolated us from our families and communities. Everyone is anti social. ( on my opinion) We need prevention programs, more people to care about one another again
exactly but its hard to talk about without being a labeled an "antipsychiatry zealot" a-la RFK Jr. I am NOT saying that ALL psychiatry is bad and that everyone who works in mental health adjacent fields are bad.... however, there is nuance and there is a LOT of iatrogenic harm and minimization of patients rights under the guise of lack of capacity..... This happens in ALL care institutions.... Hospitals, psych wards, group homes, nursing homes, Jails, etc..... Disability Rights, ACLU, etc... DO speak out about it but it often doesn't generate enough outrage the way it should...
People think.... Well these places are just trying to help them.... or the juxtapose that the patient is ALWAYS wrong and the [insert authoritative figure here] is ALWAYS right... and this is just not true...
So in short the system that exists is highly problematic and prone to abuse... within that system there are SOME people helped, SOME people hurt, and everything in-between.
This is such an important topic, and I greatly appreciate your thoughts on the matter, particularly your recommendations for moving forward. As the parent of young adults with SMI, I have found it nearly impossible to get them the help they desperately need, even when involved within the system. I know so many parents, just like me, who have been traumatized by our own loved ones, unable to get them the help they need due to "rights." There is a middle ground that allows for families and loved ones to be safe and stable while also getting treatment for those who need it, especially those with anosognosia. Working in the mental health field, what I also see on a regular basis is a lack of continuity because so many professionals are overworked and don't have the time or other resources or support they need to deliver the care these individuals and their families deserve.
Thank you so much for the comment, Robin, and thank you for your leadership/service in the field. I feel what you are going through deeply - to see loved ones suffer and not be able to get them what they need - it's beyond frustrating... I also agree that this is a complicated issue where there's no real good solution (yet).
To your point on continuity, I couldn't agree more. There such power in relationships, and when we force people to tell their story over and over and over, it's hard to feel taken care of. Part of the reason I think we keep getting this wrong is that we put what limited resources we have into the same structures/system and expect a different outcome. There has to be a better way.
There is already research on how involuntary commitment for anyone who tells their Therapist they are having suicidal thoughts being a deterent for those seeking help. I had that horrible experience and was lied to about being able to check myself out. They even tried to keep me an extra day because my vitamin D level was low! They offered no counseling while I was in there and I had absolutely no privacy.
Natalie, thank you for the comment. I am so sorry to hear about your experience, and know you are not alone in it being a horrible experience. And to add insult to injury, not getting any counseling while hospitalized! The entire clinical community needs to come together and ask themselves what about the current set up is working for people. You are spot on about the research - something that I wished we put more into practice.
There were some scary characters in there too.
with the U.S. shift to right authoritarianism be prepared for psychiatric incarceration to used on people who politically descent. This happens in Russia and Venezuela. Also with less foster care available and the anti-abortion laws-in the coming years we will have children dumped at psych wards (and most likely over-drugged) as a former foster kid and troubled teen industry survivor myself I know how evil some of these places can be.... Utah as a state is the worst offender for the troubled teen industry...
I have worked with troubled teens. Youth detention centers are no place for these lost kids who through no fault of some of their parents who themselves grew up in dysfunctional families. I've seen babies attempt to raise babies on their own with no community support. We have an growing mental health crisis and I institutions are just punishing those who need help. Social media then COVID have isolated us from our families and communities. Everyone is anti social. ( on my opinion) We need prevention programs, more people to care about one another again
exactly but its hard to talk about without being a labeled an "antipsychiatry zealot" a-la RFK Jr. I am NOT saying that ALL psychiatry is bad and that everyone who works in mental health adjacent fields are bad.... however, there is nuance and there is a LOT of iatrogenic harm and minimization of patients rights under the guise of lack of capacity..... This happens in ALL care institutions.... Hospitals, psych wards, group homes, nursing homes, Jails, etc..... Disability Rights, ACLU, etc... DO speak out about it but it often doesn't generate enough outrage the way it should...
People think.... Well these places are just trying to help them.... or the juxtapose that the patient is ALWAYS wrong and the [insert authoritative figure here] is ALWAYS right... and this is just not true...
So in short the system that exists is highly problematic and prone to abuse... within that system there are SOME people helped, SOME people hurt, and everything in-between.
This is such an important topic, and I greatly appreciate your thoughts on the matter, particularly your recommendations for moving forward. As the parent of young adults with SMI, I have found it nearly impossible to get them the help they desperately need, even when involved within the system. I know so many parents, just like me, who have been traumatized by our own loved ones, unable to get them the help they need due to "rights." There is a middle ground that allows for families and loved ones to be safe and stable while also getting treatment for those who need it, especially those with anosognosia. Working in the mental health field, what I also see on a regular basis is a lack of continuity because so many professionals are overworked and don't have the time or other resources or support they need to deliver the care these individuals and their families deserve.
Thank you so much for the comment, Robin, and thank you for your leadership/service in the field. I feel what you are going through deeply - to see loved ones suffer and not be able to get them what they need - it's beyond frustrating... I also agree that this is a complicated issue where there's no real good solution (yet).
To your point on continuity, I couldn't agree more. There such power in relationships, and when we force people to tell their story over and over and over, it's hard to feel taken care of. Part of the reason I think we keep getting this wrong is that we put what limited resources we have into the same structures/system and expect a different outcome. There has to be a better way.
Helpful to see the outline of these solutions. Curious to learn more about the Peer-Respite Centers.