[Loki13outlaw]

I wasn't exactly sure where to post this, I thought it fit most with depression because that is my biggest issue but the board specifically said not to post anything related to suicide so I'm posting here.
I'm wondering what kind of experiences other people had with going to the ER for plans to commit suicide? I have had suicidal thoughts for most of my life (childhood PTSD) but recently things have been getting so stressful that I have started planning what I would do to actually commit suicide. I already removed any guns from my house, generally I do want to get help and stop myself from committing suicide. It's just that sometimes when it gets really bad that part is hard to remember.
My question is to anyone who has actually gone to the ER for suicide, did you actually get help? Or will they basically just lock me in a room until I tell them I won't do it? If you don't think the ER is the best treatment I can get what would you suggest?
I don't have insurance.
Thank you.

[secretgalaxy]

Well I didn't directly go to the hospital but U did end up at the ER. When I told my T that I was going to commit suicide, she tried to get me to reconsider and even told me that I can meet her everyday on the weekend as well. I made it clear that that night was the night and she called the crisis team. My mom called it off and took me home in which I ran away from. Afterwards the crisis team was called again. I came back home with some encouragement, and got evaluated. They forced me to go to the ER with paperwork saying why I was there. Stayed they for 12 hours and two more doctors evaluated me again. Then I got sent into a psych hospital.

[cloudyn808]

Loki- I'm sorry you are hurting so much. If you ever feel unsafe from your own actions please tell someone immediately, go to the ER, call 911 or call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. There are many options and I have used several of them over the many years I have battled depression. I hope you have a Therapist or Psychiatrist. If not, please consider getting help immediately. Actuall planning is a BIG warning sign... I want you to feel better- take good care of yourself and let others help. You're worth it!

[avlady]

i hope you feel better and if you feel suicidal please call crisis center or get yourself to hospital

[ChipperMonkey]

It depends on where you live and what hospital you go to.

Some people are in full blown crisis mode and turned away from the ER. Others go in and are given treatment, and later released when they are stabilized.

It really does vary.

[Stronger]

Hey Loki,
Welcome to pc!

Yes, it definitely depends on the hospital. I've been to the ER 4 times for this, 3 times for ideation and once right after an attempt. As for just the ideation times, one hospital put me in a completely bare room with nothing but two chairs and cameras on the walls, a different hospital another time gave me a bed and a minimally furnished curtained area, and in a different hospital they put me on a bed in the hall because they were so crowded (many hours later I got a real room). Each time took at least 5 hours.
They will assess you with a boatload of questions to determine if they should send you inpatient or if you are safe enough to send home with a list of outpatient resources. They usually take the inpatient route, especially if you're self-admitted. In fact, in order to go inpatient, almost always you have to be admitted through the ER. And it will be expensive, but a whole lot of places have special financial aid that can help you with the cost.

I'm so glad you are thinking about getting help for this before things go too far south. Early intervention is critical for any health-related issues, including psych ones. Please do take that step and admit yourself. But also please please please know that you will only ever get out of inpatient therapy what you put into it. It can make no difference or a huge difference, that's completely up to you.

Good luck, my friend! I truly hope things work out well for you.

[cattie-bre]

HI Loki- I didn't go directly to the hospital, but I did end up there, and they do help. If you are having a really hard time with your thoughts and you are planning your suicide, I would strongly recommend you go, it is better to be safe than sorry hun!

[Loki13outlaw]

Thank you so much everyone for your answers and concern I talked to my husband and my best friend about whats been going on with me and I'm getting support, I told them that I'm committed that if (or even when) I reach that point again I am going to go to the ER. It really helps knowing what to expect Thank you again!

[cattie-bre]

I am very happy to hear you talk to your husband and your best friend!! There is no better feeling than knowing your loved ones are there for you, and taking the steps to make sure your ok!! I hope things continue down a good path for you

[Nammu]

Welcome to PC!
I'm glad you talked to someone. You can always post here and know that the people here will understand. PC is a very supportive community.

[Rose76]

Originally Posted by Loki13outlaw

My question is to anyone who has actually gone to the ER for suicide, did you actually get help? Or will they basically just lock me in a room until I tell them I won't do it? If you don't think the ER is the best treatment I can get what would you suggest?

No, they don't normally lock you in a room. They lock you on a hospital psych unit. If you are violent toward other patients or becoming destructive of your surroundings, then they lock you in a room. That's for a very limited time.

The main purpose of in-patient psych units is to detain people who seem to be at high risk for hurting themselves or are so psychotically disorganized that they can't be left just wandering around. I've been to the ER and gotten admitted a few times over the years. Once it led to me getting a referral to an outpatient program that I found very helpful. Other times, I didn't find it helpful at all. After a couple of days, I would tell them anything to get out.

If psych units were nice places to be, then there would be hundreds of lonely people lined up at the door waiting to get in. Part of the mission of the staff is to make sure that doesn't happen. As it is, they get more people coming to the door than they have any intention of letting in. If you live in town of any size, find one of the places that provides meals to the homeless. Go in and walk around . . . maybe sit for a meal. That will give you some idea of what having your meals in a psych facility is like.

The best "treatment" for depression is to find something interesting to do with your time, and avoid being alone too much. If you've had suicidal thoughts most of your life, then your depression is a chronic condition that will probably recur whenever your mind is not engaged in something meaningful.

I'm sorry you had bad experiences as a child. Try to find some community clinic that will hook you up with someone to talk to. That can be very hard to find, if you have no insurance.

[Hellion]

I've been in the hospital twice for suicidal thinking...the first time I just had a rather rough night but I guess things had been building up for a while up until that point. I was pretty sure I might try something so I told my mom I needed to go to the hospital and she gave me a ride. I was in the ER for a few hours and eventually transferred to the psych unit for about 5 days. The food was not very good and it was a rather small cramped unit just inside a large hospital...so not the most pleasant but I was probably better off going than not.

Then the second time was a better facility, they had a fenced patio we went out on for some group therapy meeting things...and where allowed supervised walked unless on the 72 hour hold which I was at first, there where windows though and the cafeteria was a different building we had to go outside to get to. The food was also pretty good and I had a better over-all experience with the staff that time.

I have it planned to go to that facility if I reach that state of mind again and am concerned of acting on it. It is a good idea to maybe get information about different hospitals/facilities to try and get into one with good conditions...Also some have charity programs to help if you don't have insurance and I know they help people apply for medicaid/medicare if they qualify.

[Alone_and_Afraid]

I went to the ER. They watched me until a bed was available in the Behavioral Hospital. They literally had a person sit in the room all night documenting my behavior. It was kind of awkward especially when the ER nurse recognized me from the last time...

[Nina Simone]

I've been hospitalized twice. The first time I slit my wrists and the second time I was going to stab my co-worker but thankfully I had a moment of clarity and just left. I hated the fact I had to be hospitalized. It made me feel even worse but ultimately it was the best thing for me. I went in through the ER and some of the staff were not very nice. I spent several hours there before being moved to a room in the psych ward where the people were much nicer. I shared a room with another women for 5 days each time. They feed us a lot which I thought was funny. We were told we could order whatever we wanted and as much as we wanted plus there were plenty of snacks around all day.

In addition to meeting with a doctor I also met with a social worker and attended group. They also had activities and lots of tv's. The nicest person was the lady who ran the kitchen. She was like a grandmother and so sweet. We could have visitors but it was strange waving goodbye when they were checked out and onto the elevator. They even offered car service if you didn't have anyone to pick you up when you were discharged. In hind sight I think I was very lucky and my experience was a hell of a lot better then most.

[Rycoon]

I'm sorry that you're going though this right now and I hope you feel better soon. But it is very good that you do want to help yourself and that you are reaching out and considering going to a hospital.

I was hospitalized once back in March for 8 days. I didn't choose to go (my parents forced me into the cab and took me to the ER because I had a complete mental breakdown) and I was just waiting in triage for a while after I got a mental health evaluation and they figured that I needed to go inpatient. I had to spend the night in the hospital so that they could find me a bed in a psychiatric hospital (because the hospital I went to didn't have room on their psych ward). The next morning I was sent by ambulance to the inpatient facility and I actually had a very positive experience there. Although I went to one of the nicer psych hospitals I later found out. I wasn't locked up in a room or restrained or anything like that (but if I ever threatened to harm myself or someone else I would have been restrained).

The people there were overall very nice, although some of the staff were rude. We had a lot of group therapy and there was a common area where we could watch TV at certain times and play card games and stuff. The food wasn't too great, the beds weren't too comfortable, and the shower water was pretty cold, but overall it wasn't bad. I mean, it was a hospital, not a hotel. :P

I am grateful I had a positive experience there and I got my medications adjusted and received the help I needed. And in a lot of cases when you leave you won't just go outpatient; they'll step you down to a partial hospitalization or an IOP which helps a lot. I hope everything works out for you and that you do not need to go to the hospital...but if you do I hope you have a good experience.