Opinion on forced entries into mental hospitals?

I want to know other people's feelings on this. Should people be able to be forced into a mental hospital? Besides the surface "whether or not its okay to make people do things that are good for them", I'm wondering if anyone has found that it IS good for them?

That has not how my experience has been. Though I've seen improvement in a few who went willingly, I have yet to see anyone forced end up improved. In many cases, counting myself, it has created turns for the worse.

The first and main thing that has turned me against them is how they treat minors when it comes to medication. Personally, I refuse to take drugs to deal with my problems, I'd rather (Or would of rathered? Can't figure out how to do double past tense at the moment) learn coping skills. They really don't like it when you refuse to take pills and have no problem pinning you down to a table and sticking them in your rear if you have to. That day has definitely created negative effects for me that I'm pretty sure will never go away.

I have only thought about xand attempted suicide twice, and both of those times were to avoid going back to those places.




Just as an afterthought, I feel i should state these things are the past. I'm not suicidal or depressed anymore.

 

Well, in most cases, it definitely isn't helpful. Personally, I've never been medicated (my family knows I'm too stubborn to fight with) and I never will. I've seen friends deal with forced entries, and they come out even worse than they went in. I've also seen friends medicated on the wrong things and it did A LOT worse than they were to begin with. I've almost lost a couple friends who got the wrong medication for them, and ended up so out-of-it they almost killed themselves without even thinking about it or realizing what they were actually doing.
But, on the other hand, sometimes I think it's necessary. However, these are extremely rare cases. Have you ever seen a schitzophrenic stare off into nowhere and pet a dog that didn't exist? In a case like that, I think they should be, and usually they're just sedated and looked after/cared for in the facilities. The reason I think they should be in facilities is simple. With extreme cases of certain disorders, things can seem just fine and calm for a long time, and one day, they turn. They don't know what they're doing, and become a serious threat to anyone around them. They could also end up getting themselves killed (on accident) without ever knowing what they were doing. Just like, say, alzheimers. I knew a couple, the woman lived with it. Her husband could take care of her to a certain point, but she got to where she would just get up and walk out of the house without knowing it. She could have wandered into a canal, right into traffic, etc. and she'd never realize it. It's no different with some mental disorders in extreme cases.

And now, the book recommendation. "what Difference Does It Make?" by Wendy Funk. It's a true-life horror story set in modern times, something that you read and the entire time, you're thinking you're reading a story from earlier times, but you know you aren't. She went to a doctor for basic problems and he convinced her that, because she was a career woman (he was a strong Christian and believed that she should be a homemaker) she was too stressed. This was followed by medications that numbed her enough to brainwash her, committing her, electroshock "therapy", countless more medications, etc. And then, her eventual recovery after years of torture, not even remembering her own husband or kids, etc. They even had her husband convinced that she NEEDED the medication and therapies. She was too incomprehensive to even know her own husband, let alone tell him about the threats the doctors and nurses made to her to keep her cooperative, and scared of "something worse happening" if she didn't comply.

 

I wasn't really forced into a mental hospital but rather a psychiatric ward, and it helped me snap out of it. My opinion is if you have to go to a place because of your condition and you are forced it may turn out well.

 

I probably should of stated that I meant for conditions such as depression, bipolar, and the others like those. I agree with the schizophrenics and other "serious" illnesses.

 

I think that if they are in a state of mind so out of it that they are a danger to others or themselves, then maybe for a whort period of time someone should intervene and say, "It's time we stop allowing you to hurt yourself or (insert a name), and we are going to get you help." But by help I don't mean force-feeding people drugs to keep them sedated all the time. I mean a combination of drugs (if necessary) and councelling/therapy.

But I think that sometimes you have to hit bottom on your own in order to realize the severity of your issues. I did recently. And if I would've read this question two weeks ago, I may have had a different answer. But the thing is, life is full of ups and downs. When you're up, everything is okay and you can cope, but when things go downhill, if you are falling into deep depression, having anxiety attacks, thinking about suicide, are afraid to be alone for fear of what you might do, then you need help (all personal experience here from the last two weeks). Therefore, I am seeking therapy and maybe meds if necessary to help me get back up to par.

 

no they shouldnt be forced,nor should the goverment pay for it, nor should attempted suicides be saved,they should be allowed to die.

if one cant cope,then society is better off without them.

 

What a cruel and ridiculous idea. That's no different than saying someone with cancer shouldn't be saved because they are weak or they wouldn't have gotten the disease.

I can tell you, firsthand, that anyone who is dealing with mental issues on a daily basis is strong, or else they would not be here, and I think that they deserve all the help they can get. It's an illness, not just some weak and babified person who can't cope. You're an idiot.

 

please refrain from personal attacks as they are against forum guidelines.

if someone wishes to die for whatever reason they should be allowed to do so. it is not society's job to dictate that someone live when they wish not to.

in my opinion for you to wish to save them and pump them full of drugs for the rest of there life(inevitably that is what they face when saved from a suicide attempt) to attempt to make them what you deem normal and productive is not only cruel its egotistical and selfish.

who are you to dictate who lives or who dies? especially when one is choosing to take there own life?you label it as a illness because you see no other way to justify it in your minds eye,then you force them to do what you deem necessary for them because you feel they are ill?

you say they are strong but you dont think they can think for themselves.you feel they dont know what they are doing so you must intervene. sounds like you belittle them far more than i.


you enjoy playing god do you??


and yes if someone with cancer or any other illness wishes to take there own life they should be allowed.

just because someones opinion differs from yours is no justification for personal attacks.it only gos to show your arrogance,as you are judging others because there opinions differ from yours..


have a great day .

 

I just wanted to say I REALLY agree with this. I had a friend who committed suicide when I was in high school (he had just graduated) and while he was a VERY hard person to lose, I didn't find myself greiving over him all that much, because I saw his situation. He seeked help, and got it, it just wasn't what he was looking for. He attempted suicide and failed, and was forced into a facility for months... the entire time, I just kept thinking, "That's not right, it's not going to do him any good". Not long at all after he got out, he killed himself. While I felt for his family and other friends, I also felt for him A LOT. It was a kind-of relief, that he was living with something he couldn't handle and he had finally set himself free. I've seen so many situations where someone attempts suicide and they're forced into a facility, watched closely by family and friends, etc. They grow up, get jobs and apartments, and basically become robots. They'll never be happy - that isn't right.

 

People who are admitted involuntarily usually do not know that they are ill and may pose a risk to themselves or others. Of course it is best if people seek help themselves, but sometimes people refuse to admit they are unwell or may not realise. In that case it only helps them and in some cases can save their lives.

 

Only helps? I've seen lives destroyed by those places. I was phobic of men for three years after that place, and I'm still uncomfortable. About all those places teach you is to cut in more hidden places, if you decide to attempt suicide, to make sure you succeed, and that drugs are a valid way to cope with your problems.


Slightly off topic but slightly on. Being upset or mood swingy while a teenager is NOT an illness, its perfectly normal and expected. The only problem is how they deal with these hormanal rages, and thats behavioral, not psychological. Telling these kids that they are sick when they aren't is awful, exspecially when they begin to beleive it.

 

a lot of you are under the impression that these places are forcing you to be admitted because these institutions somehow care about you. Sure, there are definitely staff members that care... but you're not being admitted for that reason. You're force admitted because you're either a danger to yourself or others and it's a liability to let you leave. I know it's cynical, but that's how it is. If you're not a danger then by all means you'd be free to leave. Unless of course, you're a minor. That's an entirely different issue because parents and guardians have a say in what happens.

BTW... those that are suicidal are statistically more likely to be homicidal as well. This is partly why it's dangerous to allow a suicidal individual to just pack up and go home.

 

If you dive off the Navesink River Bridge in The Highlands, you WILL be
taken in for clinical obversation for a 24 hr period by the authorities as a police matter. Its a huge dive but was typical in the 1970's

One of the big debates in NYC is over forced incaration of MICA's
Mentaly Ill Crack Addict's and other street types who pose a danger to themselves. With freezing weather, those who refuse the shelter system are left in a state of exposure and could perish. Tremendous debate concerning states responsibility and individual rights.

Life gets more punative as we go along.

 

This is only true one way. They can help keep you in longer, but when my mom tried to get me out or at least off the pill cocktails, she was completely ignored.


Also, do you have a link to this study that suicidal people are more likely to be homicidal? I've never heard that before. Not saying your wrong, but I'd rather look at it than just take your word for it.

 

it's just sort of a known thing hun... they are closely linked in epidemiological studies as they come from similar violent and impulsive urges. I'm not saying all suicidal individuals are homicidal... homicide is of course very rare... but the two are closely linked. For instance, if you look at negative side effects of prozac... there is a risk of suicide and homicide. The two just go hand in hand.

...and yes, parents and guardians always have a say in treatment for their children... the problem is that the system can be very coercive and threatening... making the parent feel as though they are being neglectful for not medicating their child. It's absolutely disgusting because the effect of medication cocktails has NEVER EVEN BEEN STUDIED.... NO ONE KNOWS THE SIDE EFFECTS (with adults let alone with a teenager who's still developing mentally and physically). It's truly an outrage.

 

Actually, I do apologize for the personal attack. That wasn't right. So I am sorry.

Here's the thing, I have depression. I have anxiety. Among other things. I have hit the bottom where I thought about suicide for days at a time and I was afraid to be alone because of what I might do to myself.

That wasn't my fault, and in that state of mind, I couldn't trust myself to make rational and intelligent decisions. Does that mean that my family should just let me die? Had I chosen, in my muddled and unwell state of mind, to try and kill myself? Should they stand by and watch it happen? I am ill. I justify nothing. I battle depression, anxiety, and other things daily. But I know that my quality of life can improve with help. Drugs, temporarily. I stress temporarily because I don't want to be a zombie.

I believe in Euthanasia when the person is of sound mind and is able to make that decision. I would've wanted nothing more than to see my mother not suffer for the last two weeks of her life in a comatose state because she was snowed by morphine while her body slowly shut down. And she made sure that when she did go, she was allowed to by signing a DNR order.

Who are you to dictate that a person is in a well enough state to decide that they want to die? There's too much gray area in the subject.

And no, I don't play God. God was created by man, anyway, so what's the point in this statement? It's not like I'm the person out here taking all the depressed/suicidal people I can find and having them committed against thier will. Don't be so overly-dramatic with your statements.

They are strong to endure. That has nothing to do with mental stability or decision-making abilities. Please don't twist my comments.

 

nice post des. I don't think hippiehillbilly understands what being suicidal actually means or feels like. No offense to you hippie... it can be very difficult to understand if you haven't been through it. When a person is suicidal something takes over... sort of a depersonalization... kind of an out of body experience for lack of a better explanation. They don't always know what they're doing nor the consequences because they are not themselves at the time. It's also completely false to assume that someone who has attempted suicide requires being "pumped full of drugs" for the rest of his or her life. Sure, some may because they have a lifelong mental disorder such as schizophrenia who do better on medication for their lifetime... but there are ways to overcome depression and anxiety without medication (that's a personal preference and many do want medications to initially jolt them out of the despair). Suicide and attempted suicide is a far more complicated issue than someone with a terminal illness wishing to be euthanized.

 

True, gaiabee, until you've lived through the issues yourself or have watched others suffer with it, you really don't have any place to judge it from, at least not with a compassion and knowing. I can look at this "clinically" or even "statistically" and remove myself from the emotion of it, but I choose to look at the people who suffer... better yet, the individuals.

Not to say hippiehillbilly doesn't have compassion. Just maybe not in this case.

 

oh i full well know what its like to deal with a suicidal,"mentally unstable person".. its the exact reason i feel the way i do..

i care not to elaborate as its just airing dirty laundry.. trust me i do.

if a person wants to end there life,for whatever reason,they should be allowed,they should not be resuscitated or revived,and the whole "attempted" shit should be dealt with..

if ones gonna do it,,they should do it,.. not just half ass it for attention...