No Flowers on the Psych Ward

Hellion · Aug 10, 2014, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by growlycat

From what I understand of Bridgewater State, the patients are usually if not always those who have actually been arrested but not mentally fit to stand trial or sentenced but too ill to be in the regular prison population.

The goal there is to get people "well" enough to stand trial. It is a sad situation as our jails have become places to warehouse addicts and the mentally ill. At least MA acknowledges the mentally ill suspects/criminals by providing this facility.

But if it were me, I think I would prefer actual prison. Prisoners have more rights than the forcibly hospitalized.

Seems like a pretty ineffective set up, also not sure MA is doing a good job of 'acknowledging' the issue by putting these people in a place described as being worse than regular prison. I would think mental illness would be taken into consideration....but why would the way that system works actually make sense? that would just be ridiculous.

growlycat · Aug 10, 2014, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellion

Seems like a pretty ineffective set up, also not sure MA is doing a good job of 'acknowledging' the issue by putting these people in a place described as being worse than regular prison. I would think mental illness would be taken into consideration....but why would the way that system works actually make sense? that would just be ridiculous.

My point is, the system doesn't work. Some states just throw the mentally ill in with the general prison population, where they can be used and abused and untreated. In states like Texas, there are few qualms about executing the mentally ill. When Bridgewater state is considered "progressive", yes, that is a problem.

Lauliza · 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by growlithing

I was in a locked ward in Boston last year that wasn't a private hospital. It was basically exactly how this was described. I was in there for three weeks. The only exception is that after I pestered for about two weeks, my psychiatrist decided that completely not allowing me to practice was greatly worsening my anxiety and they worked it out that my friends could bring my instruments, they locked them up and with special permission, I could play a little bit with a mute in. That was great. I calmed down so much when I didn't have to worry about the negative progress I was making.

My roommate was forced to take her meds against her will. They held her down and gave her a shot in her butt. I think she set it up that way or something legal happened where she gave some sort of consent in some capacity while in there. But still, if she wouldn't take it orally, they would physically restrain her and give her a shot. And she wasn't the only one they did that to. She was in there for bipolar disorder. She had been there for almost 2 months when I left and she still didn't know when she was going to leave the morning I left. She was talking about the day after. I don't know what happened with that.

Even still, I still remember how bright the sun was when I got out and how weird the world looked. The leaves had changed colors and there were so many things to look at. I couldn't even have crayons except from 12-1 on art days. I couldn't even listen to music at all until my roommate eventually stole the radio from art class. We somehow got away with playing it even with the checks every 15 mins. But all we had was an awful hospital bed, a composition notebook, and a pen. You could read, but there was only one group a day and it was always bad so that leaves the rest of the day empty. People would finish their books in a few hours and then be screwed. You couldn't sleep all day because then the doctors would think you are even more depressed and need to stay longer. Everyone just counted the hours until we could take a PRN and forget how bored we were. The boredom was so mind numbing. It was actual torture. It was the longest three weeks of my life and I never knew if I was leaving for sure or not until the last day. But to be honest, I did somehow make some improvement and they did discharge me to the right place.

I didn't know there were any more state hospitals open in Massachusetts although one was just recently closed and I remember now another was opened a year or two ago. So I am sorry if I was misinformed about that. I know they are not nice places to be and the state run ones had reputations as being pretty horrific which is why there are so few left.

The one I was in for almost a year, which is not state run, had had charges brought up against it over the years and I do remember people being put in restraints on a daily basis. I also never knew when I was going to leave and tried my best to convince the staff I was better every few months when they'd review my "case". I honestly was afraid they'd never let me leave. They kept me for 9 months when I presume my insurance finally stopped paying them. Though overall the staff were decent (if you were compliant) it was a terrifying place and more a traumatic experience than anything else.

Lauliza · Aug 10, 2014, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellion

They should eliminate there being a 'worst place' to go as a patient...if someone is getting treatment the goal should be to improve their condition right? How the hell are they going to do that in a facility described as being a step up from a prison?

'Oh only people with mental problems who have committed crimes go there' well they still should be getting proper treatment a facility one step above a prison does not seem like a good way to do that.

What I meant is that this is a facility especially for criminals who would otherwise be in prison been deemed too mentally ill. These people are sent to Bridgewater State instead. As far as I know it does not house any patients outside the criminal justice system.

Lauliza · 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calista+12

Hi Lauliza
There is another State hospital in Massachusetts. Bridgewater is more for criminal offenses than straight psych. The other hospital is Tewkesbury. (or is that the VA?)
BTW, McLeans isn't for the rich. Unless you go to the Pavillion, thet accept Medicare/Medicaid. It is private as is Westwood Lodge, but they have all changed for the worse.
I was always allowed flowers in any psych hospital including Danvers State (when it was still open)

That's true there is a state hospital in Tewksbury but I believe it is general medical with a separate psych unit. I think Boston Medical Center has a psych unit too, I think. As far as straight up psychiatric hospitals I believe there is now a newer one in Worcester. I know there were others like Danvers and more recently Taunton state hospital that have been closed, I was just referring to those currently open. As far as McLeans I didn't mean to sound snarky. I know it takes insurance like all the other private hospitals like Westwood Lodge, Bournwood, Arbour and the others I was really thinking more about long term programs they have and the especially the Arlington school, which is a private school for kids with psychiatric, autism spectrum and other disorders. As far as I know those would be private pay and can cost a fortune.

When I was at Arbour I don't remember whether or not we could have flowers, but there were lots of windows so we could always see outside. It was so boring - people sat around and ate and smoked most of the day. It was effective in keeping you safe from hurting yourself or others, but for treatment of depression and anxiety not so much. I agree they have changed for the worse at least from the perspective of insurance, which would impact treatment. Except for drug/alcohol abuse they don't seem designed for real treatment but more for crisis intervention

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