I've been on the psych wards of 2 different hospitals. And, you're right, they were just variations on a theme... & not a particularly good one either. Unfortunately I don't know how you make people who haven't been there understand. I'm afraid you probably can't. You simply have to stand your ground. Following one of my hospitalizations I participated in a partial hospital program. And while that wasn't perfect either it was certainly better than the psych ward.