Psychiatric hospitals or wards

Hey Craven,

Hi, I don't know whether this is the right place but my neighbour as just come out of Psychiatric care acting very weird indeed, banging and crashing furniture at 3am in the monring, turning taps on and off. When I went to ask her about her behaviour she rang the police and said that I was going to kill her. The police thought me that they felt she had some sort of mental issues but couldn't do much about it. is there a way that i can alert someone to her behaviour so she can have her issues rectifed, she seems to be left to fend for herself.

Hi Shock,

I am truly surprised that many people here seemed to have had positive experiences in these places. Perhaps many of you have gone to independent psych wards where you pay? Perhaps I was just very unlucky? Anyway I dont want to discourage anyone from going in but just seriously think about it first, and be prepared.

Hey ChrisBSydney,

It sounds like a very frustrating situation.
It's always good to explore your options - but keep in mind, different things work for different people.
It's definitely worth talking to your current support professioanls about those options. It sounds like the last psych ward worked well for you, besides the early discharge - so remember to keep those positives in mind.
unfortunately it's against ReachOut.com's guidelines to discuss specific places and professionals, so we are unable to talk about specific wards.
As I mentioned, different things work for different people & I think it's great you're doing your research to find the best option for you.

Nikki

Disfunctional - I responded to a post of yours here http://au.reachout.com/find/articles/are-you-feeling-suicidal?page=1#comment_88758 and I would repeat the same message in response to your message in this thread. Professionals job is to assist - not to judge. There is no shame in asking for assistance - it's quite the opposite - it shows that you have the strength to look after yourself and be responsible for your wellbeing.
You have already showed that you have the courage to ask for assistance in order to look after yourself, and I know you can do it again.

Take care,

Nikki

Hey im having trouble i have bin admitted in a psych ward once before last year and it was really helping but then the doctor in charge of me discharged me with no good reason and all my other doctors said it was to soon but i started moving on and getting better over time but now iv gotten really bad again and in the past 2-3 months i have bin so bad i want to give up. im thinking of going back to a psych ward but im worried to go back to the one i was in incase they will just do the same again i was thinking i would try a different one but there is no place i can go to find out witch ones have like good out comes with there patients. so what im asking is dose anyone know of a site were you can ask people that have bin to different wards what there experience was like

thanks.

I had to go to the ED this week, I'm not really sure what happened there, but I remember them coming and asking me if I was ok to go home. I told them I'd like to go to PECC again  because I wasn't feeling safe to go home and I couldn't really think straight (There isn't a fact sheet on PECC, how is it different to hospital?).

Hi phaidra,

I really am sorry to hear about everything you have been through.  You should be really proud of yourself for reaching pout for help and seeing a counsellor and psychiatrist. I am sure this was not an easy thing to do but it was the right thing to do :)

The best person to advise you on whether or not a psychiatric hospital would be benificial to you would be your psychiatrist or counsellor, you could also get the advise of your local GP. 

It is really great that you are seeking help and important that you keep it up.  These things take time but you will slowly start to feel better. 

If you ever feel like you need to speak to someone or some extra support inbetween visits to your counsellor please remember that you can always call lifeline on 13 11 14.  They are really friendly and available any time of the night or day for the price of a local call. 

You can get through this!

Keep reaching out
Roisin - RO Crew

I have been dealing with depression for 3 months.  I am not immediately suicidal, like acting on it, though I think about it, I couldn't do that to my family.  But I cry so often at even smallest things, I have been in counseling, dealing with my past and issues, twice a week for the past month and visited a psychiatrist who gave me a mood stabilizer and Xanax do deal with anxiety and being scared.  My question is could I benefit from a hospital and would they take me if I'm not immediately suicidal?  I'm scared and of getting into on of these moods again where I wake up scared and hopeless and just don't want to live, or when I really do feel suicidal and then guilty for feeling that way, so I don't even tell anyone.  Finally I told my Dad yesterday when I was feeling really bad and he told me that he expects me to respect my life.  I just want help.

Hi Fallen95

hi, um, i kinda feel like i deserve to go in one. Its just im getting counciling at the moment for depression and anxiety. But i feel like it doesnt help, ive tried groups, different councilers, phone lines etc. But if anything i feel kind of pressured, like i was talking to a counciler and we started talking about my past, but then later that night i self hrmed the worst i have before. Now i feel bad because it kinda shows it isnt working. Alos my anxiety is just going overboard, and i dont think i can cope with it anymore. I sometimes feel like i dont want to be here, thats why i think i need to go in a ward, i feel like i'l be safe knowing that people can stop me. But i dont know how to ask, or suggest it. But i think it would help alot more ten sending me into kind of a rebound.

Hey there Dysfunctional,

I ended up in the emergency department, when they discharged me they sent me to a psychiatric emergency care centre. It wasn't all that bad, gave me a lot of time to think. I wish I had gone earlier. Problem is that I wasn't able to choose the better option earlier, and I don't know whether or not I will be able to in the future?

Dear Disfunctional,
It's perfectly normal to feel scared about entering a ward. I was forced into one myself. I think you should have a detailed discussion with your referring doctor about the referral and their professional opinion regarding you. As a patient (and person in general), you should be in the 'know' about your own health (although this is a bit more complicated when it comes to mental health). Because your health professional has given you the option (I presume) to go, you need to be knowledgeable enough to choose the best/better option. They might even suggest alternative therapies.

With your insurance, you can always call up and ask them! :)

Good luck

I was offered a referral to a hospital, but I turned it down. Not because I didn't think I needed it, but because I was scared and don't really know what it would mean?

Im 13 years old tearning 14 in a couppel of weeks(Mod edit, Please see guidelines) iv been reading these things on ur site and i do self harm but i hide it and nobody knows about it. i have really strange mood swings when people in my class could swear i was high but i wasnt and other days im sa sad i stay in my room and dont move or talk, im never in the middel of the moods it sad or happy not normal. some times i cry so much i have an asthma attack and when im realy happy its like i cant feel any pain............ my real dad lives in christchurch and i see him every holidays but i hate him. my mum was a hevey drug user but gave that all up and i remember all the rehab sesions and everything. i have a smaller bro and his dad is my steap dad and him and mum are splitting up and mums not talking to me. iv tried to kill myself 2wise but no1 knows and i dont wana tell any 1 and im not going to. i also walk down the street and hear strang noises and people talking then i turn around and no bodys there. i have realy sceary dreams and sometimes im in a convesation and i stop and forget about what im talking about. im sceared that if i get annoyed to much im going to spinn out and really hurt  some1

i guess pretty much what im trying to say is...what should i do? what would happen  in there?  should i go? im not quite sure why im putting this here...
im just not sure wether i should go or not..

Hi Mad_one,

It is understandable that you are feeling scared and overwhelmed by the thoughts of going to hospital, but if you feel that it would help you feel better then it is worth it.  You have already been so brave and strong by reaching out to your friends and finding out where you can get help and even posting on RO asking for advice.  If you are feeling suicidal then you need to keep yourself safe and find help right now.  A hospital is a safe environment where you will be supported by people who can help you get through this.

I strongly suggest you have a read of this story written by another young person about how getting help in a hospital setting helped them get through their tough times.http://au.reachout.com/find/articles/going-to-hospital-was-a-positive-experience-for-me

The Reach Out Crew can not diagnose you and therefore we can not say weather hospitalization is the right option for you but we do know that if you are feeling this down that you do need to speak to a professional, if you haven't already.  Your local GP may be a good place to start as they are qualified  to deal with a range of issues and will be able to advise you on what kind of help would be most appropriate for you and even refer you to hospital.  Here is a fact sheet about visiting your GP:http://au.reachout.com/find/articles/local-doctor-or-general-practitioner-gp

Telling your parents about what's going on for you can be really difficult, but in my experience, parents really want to support their daughters/sons and knowing the full picture helps them do this and you will feel better having everything out in the open. Professionals can help you, by either being there when you talk to them, or help and support you having the conversation with your parents. They may be shocked, but I bet they are really concerned about you and would want to know

I also suggest that you check out this section of our site that has lots of handy info about all of the different types of help available to you so that you can choose what kind of help would suit you best:http://au.reachout.com/find/getting-help/who-can-help-you

We hope that some of this information helps you - we promise that you are not alone in this - you just need to connect with people who will listen to you and help you with what you are going through.

Keep reaching out
Roisin - (on behalf of the RO Crew)

im really scared of going to the hospital...lately stuffs been getting a bit much though...ive been talking to my friend though and he says that he'll go with me and help me out as much as possible...ive never been in hospital before so i guess im scared cause i dont know what its like in there..i dont know what will happen...im also scared of what my parents would do or say...they dont know much about whats happening with me...they know im depressed...they dont know much more that that though...they dont know how bad it really is...that ive hurt myself...that ive been/am suicidal...it would be a massive shock to them if i got put in the hospital...im not quite sure what to do...i dont want to go to the hospital because im scared of it...but in a way i want to go because there they can probably help me...they can stop this...i just dont know what will happen...and i think thats what scares me most...

My father is very unwell, he is depressed, has cancer, epilepsy, is an alcoholic and is about to become homeless.
I'm thinking of having him committed, he is getting worse every day, he sits outside on a chair all day talking to himself, he even does it when I'm right next to him, talking to him.
He is thinking illogically and is angry ALL the time.
And if I do have him put in a hospital, is there any kind of help for him finding a place to live when he gets out? I've done everything I can but I can't do anymore. I need help for him.

Hi Kelvin,

While the thought of staying at a psychiatric hospital can be scary and overwhelming at first, it does not nessasarily have to be a negative experience.

 Why not check out this story written by a young person about how staying in a psychiatric hospital was a positive experience for them: http://au.reachout.com/find/articles/going-to-hospital-was-a-positive-experience-for-me

Remember if you ever feel that you would like to talk to someone about anything you may be going through Lifeline on 13 11 14 are really friendly and available 24/7.

All the best
Roisin- RO Crew

 the more i read here about going into a psycho ward the more frighten i get and it starts to get at me straight away, sorry
                                        kel

Hi feeling_down,

I really am sorry to hear about what a tough time you have been going through recently.  I also wanted to say well done to you for reaching out for help, this is not often an easy step to take so well done you :)

Different medications can affect people differently. Please be patient and don’t give up. If you feel like it is not working properly see your doctor before stopping or changing the amount you take.

Here is a link to a fact sheet that has some more information about taking medication:
http://au.reachout.com/find/articles/taking-medication-things-to-consider

If you want to talk to someone about how you are feeling please do not hesitate to call Kids Help Line on 18000 55 1800 or life line on 13 11 14.  They are both really friendly and there for you 24/7.

I am so happy to hear that you are having another go at talking to your mum and I hope it goes well :)

Take care
Roisin - RO crew

You're welcome. 

Thankyou for responding so quickly! I really do feel as if it would help me. I'm going to talk to my mum about it again.
ReachOut really is a great site, keep up the good work :)

Hey feeling_down,

I have severe depression and really think i would benefit from some time in hospital. I was getting and feeling better a while ago but over the last 3 weeks my depression has come back and feels worse this time. My psychiatrist has doubled my dosage of anti-depressents but i feel like i cant wait for them to start working, i just want to give up. How would i go about a voluntary admission into hospital? would they accept me? I asked my mum about it but she said she doesn't think im bad enough to go. but i cant go on like this. help!

Hey there peteyadvnetures :)

There are always private and public options available - and often where you go (if you do go) will depend on the doctor you see and their referring options.

The best step forward is definitely to chat with your doc about it.

The other option is always presenting at emergency if you can't wait to see your doctor, calling an ambulance or a crisis team. Or, ringing Kids Helpline or Lifeline who can talk you through things. Often they prefer you to contact the ambulance yourself if that is possible too - avoids having three parties involved - however don't let this stop you ringing them as they are of course happy to help and are trained to chat through whatever you're going through with you :)

Sounds like you would've had your doc appointment yesterday though - how did it go?

Anna:)

Thanks that was really helpful, but wow $4000 a week is crazy alot. I definitely won't be able to afford a private one without health insurance. I think I am covered by my family plan but I don't know whether that includes psychiatric treatment. I have an appointment with my doctor on monday to talk about everything. I hope that if he thinks going to a ward is good idea that there won't be a waiting list for public ones and that i will be able to afford it. Thanks for your help. If anyone has any other comments about their experiences please tell me.

I have been to a psychiatric ward three times in the past year.  At first its a bit scary, as you feel really isolated as you don't know anyone and they are asking heaps of questions.  But after about a week and you settle a bit they are really helpful - they will be able to tell whether you are 'ill' or not.
Umm.  If you want to go to a private one, its best you have health insurance.  Otherwise, its very expensive ($4000 a week?).
Or have a look at the public health ones.  I think they're a bit more restrictive.
There's freedom if you are a voluntary patient also.
Hope that helps :)