Mental Health and Institututions

Is there any forums on mental health institutions because I've been to a few of them and have had problems. Im looking for public insight on making them better?

Dear devondegenero,

I have not found any forums on mental health institutions? It is hard to believe, though, that there are none. I hope you get some helpful responses to your post!

Sincerely yours, Yao Wen

It seems hit and miss. You can always start a thread on a topic of interest to you.

I am finishing editing a book I have written about my state's state hospital system, which< i suppose, is a large institution.


Anyhow, feel free to PM me if you wan tto caht about any of this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by devondegenero Is there any forums on mental health institutions because I've been to a few of them and have had problems. Im looking for public insight on making them better?

That's such an interesting topic. I have found online forums and information on the history of institutions, but nothing current.

There is a forum here at Psych Central called "Hospitalizations and inpatient treatment" at https://psychcentralforums.com/hospi...ent-treatment/ Is that what you are looking for?

What is your book called and did you have any issues at the hospital? When I went they failed to address any of my problems.

Yes I found the forum helpful, thank you.

A bunch of things. But, essentially, it is about what it is like to live at the Oregon State Hospital (where One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest was filmed) for nearly five years. The overwhelming, seemingly untreatable brain illness, the sometimes heroic staff, doing their best to make an impossible situation tolerable, the incredible artistic talent levels of many of these very ill people--painters, musicians, etc.--and how it is virtually impossible, due to our state's bizarre and arcane system, to actually ever be discharged once you are admitted, no matter how well you may be doing. On and on.

Much of it gets into the medicolegal issues at play in our state, such as the insanity defense, etc. Basically, it is a pretty thorough look under the hood of our weird forensic psych. system.

Has anyone had any luck sueing a hospital for malpractice. The hospital I was at failed to give therapy or perform any Neuro diagnostic tests. My condition has only worsened and I advised them I didn't feel safe to go home.

Not that I know of. It's nearly impossible I didn't even attempt to sue the one that locked me up for 2 years. Here's a guy who spent 20 years locked up after a misdiagnosis and his lawsuit was thrown out:
Dismissal of suit by man wrongly held in psych ward upheld

The hospital I was in was so bad that it got decertificated and stayed that way for 8 years before it got shut down. But I still don't know anyone who was able to sue it.

In the USA? Everyday, all day long--plus weekends.

ANY malpractice lawsuit is extremely difficult. The cost to file one is so large that unless you lose limbs it's impossible to sue - unless you want to pay a lawyer $50 k or more to file one. I tried to sue a dentist who butchered me and cost me $30 to fix, but now lawyer would take it.

I'm in the process of getting my medical records, and had my neurologist order a mri, eeg and I have to see a Neuro psychologist because my condition has worsened from there negligence. My attorney said if there is any damage it could be from the hospitals negligence and that's what caused my condition worsen.

Will the neuropsychlogist say that? Probably not. I went to doctor after doctor when I got butchered by the dentists and no one would take my side. You have to pay an expert over $10,000 to take your side and then at trial the defense attorney points out that you just paid to get the opinion you wanted.

I think you should focus more on getting better than suing. Trying to sue will just lead to frustration. I've been there.

Your Probally right. I have to get the test done anyways, ill wait to see what the results are and just hope to get better.

Hey @devondegenero: Before you do or say anything at all to anyone you'll need to get your full and complete medical records. Its important to use that terminology otherwise you may only get a summary. Check out the link I posted. It gives you an overview. You will have to go in and fill out a release form I think. Its best to submit the request in writing in addition to calling and emailing. You want to cover all your bases. Again if there is a place to state your reason or the hospital wants a reason you need to say that you want these records for your own personal healthcare records. Basically you do not want to tip them off to anything involving a complaint or lawsuit or anything basically. Hospitals- especially mental health institutions and treatment facilities are interested in protecting themselves. In a perfect world they would have no issue with a patient wanting their records but the way things are today they will probably have their radar up to see if you have any other motive other than just wanting them.

I feel the reason that mental illness hospitals, therapists, psychiatrists etc do not want patients to have their records is because they only care about the bottom line and if they are liable for anything. The entire process is shady and they are not looking to help you they want to protect themselves no matter what.

Quote:

Originally Posted by devondegenero Has anyone had any luck sueing a hospital for malpractice. The hospital I was at failed to give therapy or perform any Neuro diagnostic tests. My condition has only worsened and I advised them I didn't feel safe to go home.

How to Get Copies of Your Medical Records

In my experience, Mental health institutions are designed to prevent someone from harm of any kind. No music, no devices, nothing to distract them from their treatment (especially if that music leads to negatively associated emotions). They use arts and crafts as a focus model because it's something innocent, something not usually connected to a traumatic event, something all-inclusive and completely open-minded towards individual creativity.

Then they have tv time, scheduled medications and meals, and regular therapies to develop a sense of structure, which eliminates clutter and chaos.

They choose hospital clothes so that the poor and envious do not feel demeaned by the rich and greedy,

Everyone is brought back down to Earth to face the truth of who they are at their most raw and natural state - because then, they have no choice but to face themselves, accept themselves, and improve.

But some people don't believe they need the help. These are the people who would look straight at an Apple, call it an orange, and accuse you of trying to tell them it's a banana. These are the people who try constantly to get out, who refuse to take their medication, who refuse to take care of themselves.

But they're in a hospital wing, and if one person starts acting this way, the others might try to join, in hopes of getting them all out by overwhelming the staff. It may seem harsh to you that they would have to be dosed and restrained, but the progress of the other patients cannot be placed at risk for the refusal of one patient to attempt to progress.

They have to do things exactly the way they do when it comes to the institutions.

HOWEVER

Not all doctors, nurses, and pharmacists there are polite or considerate. One could be mumbling under their breath "they just wanted to get out of going to jail" and then say "oh, nothing!" when they are confronted. People like this should not be in that profession, but sadly, those who are will sometimes use the patients' conditions against them in order to keep their job. This is what needs to change.

The hospitals do not need to change even though some of their employees should.

The hospital I went to was definitely good for developing a sense of structure. As for everything else you said is very true. After going through the hospitals I just wish they would follow protocol a little closer and act like they cared for the patients. The doctors were there just to get a check. They performed no thorough evaluations or Neuro tests which are necessary for diagnosing and treating a condition. Very good info, thank you.

I thought five years ago that some of the damaging side effects caused by forced meds should be classed as medical G.B.H as it shortens the life span of the patient.

Are you after your gift card? with a name like Ace Rimmer.