I was admitted to a psych ward on Thursday cos I had made a suicidal plan. It was good and was helping, My outpatient Dr. Admitted me. Today I saw one of the DRs. from the unit and he told me that I wasnt sick enough to be on the unit - because i only have depression and am suicidal. He told me that the ward is for those who have been sectioned, are delusional or psychotic.
He also told me that because i am none of these, It is not his responsibility to keep me safe from myself. So now I am back home as suicidal as ever and really confused. I always thought that if you had a suicidal plan and told a health proffessional then they would do there best to help keep you safe.
Guess i just feel lost and confused about the whole thing. The Dr. also tolde me that in the future I would not be admitted to hospital because it doesnt help me. This was my fourth admission.... and I believe the other times did help cos I am still alive right now arent I, so it must have helped
DO you think it is right that you have to be psychotic, delusional or sectioned to recieve help from a hospital???
I don't think it's right. I know I've been told my a friend who knows a psychiatrist, that I wouldn't be admitted at times when I feel really vulnerable and frightened of the world and other people [although stuck on a ward with other people at those times would probably not be ideal at all, but still....].
The sad fact is that hospital places are limited, and they are kind of forced to take the, what they believe, are the more seriously ill people.
What support are you having to help you overcome your suicidal depression? What is the source of it? What help have you had in hospital to help you keep yourself safe long term, outside of hospital?
Absolutely not! Obviosuly I dont know your exact circumstances or history but it sounds like your doctor is a complete pratt. I am recently out of psych hospital, and I certainly wouldnt consider myself psychotic, I wasnt under section ( although I would have been if I hadnt agreed to go voluntarily, so I dont know if that counts) and ok perhaps I was a bit delusional but the main reason for my admission was exactly what you said- they considered me too much of a danger to myself to be left in the community because they considered me a suicide risk.
Looking at it from a slightly different perspective, in general in the UK ( dont know where you're from??) there has been a move of emphasis away from hospital admission towards trying to keep people in the community as much as possible, hence an increasing number of home treatment/ crisis intervention services etc. Also like lots of mental health, I think hospital is pretty controversial- some doctors are more keen on it than others. And different wards specialise in different things- I was on an acute admissions ward, some of us were under section, some werent. But any one like majorly psychotic or anything when into a seperate high security ward at the hospital. I dont know what your ward was like, but perhaps part of the reason was the ward they had to admit you to wasnt the most appropriate for you? I am in no way trying to condone what your doctor has done here, Im just trying to provide some thoughts about the situation.
Is there another doctor you could discuss hospital with for a second opinion? The fact that you were admitted suggests that your ourpatient doctor at least believed that you needed to be there, because they wouldnt have admitted you unless they believed it necessary. You could try making a list of all the arguments why you think hospital is helpful to you and taking them to an appointment to discuss. Also have you considered other options such as the home treatment team, who might be able to help you in the meantime? Perhaps the doctor thinks there are other better ways they can help you outside the hospital environment. Did you ask him what he would suggest you do to keep yourself safe instead of hospital?
Although the ultimate responsibility for keeping yourself safe is unfortunately in your own hands, doctors do have a duty of care to try and help you find ways to manage that responsibility. In terms of in future not being admitted to hospital, I dont think he can say that. Hospital admissions should be managed on a case by case basis, and a day by day basis, depending on your risk at any given time. So I really wouldnt read too much into that, because they simply cant say if you are ever in such a position " oh we think you need to be sectioned because your risk is so high, however because before you didnt benefit we're not going to section you". It just wouldnt ( I hope) ever happen.
Im sorry that this has upset you so much. Your doctor does seem pretty insensitive. Do try discussing it with someone- your GP, CPN??? And dont be afraid to ask for a second opinion. At the end of the day, he says you need to take responsibility for your own safety. Well to me, one big argument you have is that you are demostrating responsibility by saying "ok, I dont feel safe enough to manage myself outside, therefore I am going to ask t be placed in an environment where I am safe", which is by no means an easy option.
Please try and stay safe and please if you feel like acting on your plan, get in touch with someone quickly. Suicide is permanent, whatever is going on for your in life right now is temporary and will pass, even if you dont feel like it ever will.
Thank you both for your replies. I dont really understand it really, usually the inpatient unit is full and it takes ages to get a bed. But it wasnt even full there were heaps of spare beds.
I was in there last year and had a bad run in with a dr. he took me off all my meds and told me that i was making everything up. SO i complained and it has been being investigated ever since.
The Dr today brought that back up and told me that it was an unjustifiable complaint and that i am the one with the problem. He even said that i could make a complaint against him if i so wished but that it would never equate to anything. He made it sound like i complain all the time, which is untrue as i only have laid this one complaint.
It is so stupid... people say that if you are feeling unsafe then you should tell someone... but what is the point if you end up being marginalised and told to go kill yourself anyway????
Am just about to go to a hospital appointment but I wanted you to know I'd read your response and I'll reply when i get back. Thinking of you, please keep strong and keep safe. x
Ok you say an out patient doctor admitted you. They obviously must have thought you needed to be in there. Was this the same doctor that you saw on the ward? if not could you discuss with him/ her your concerns about thie reaction to you and hospital admission. Perhaps they could talk to the doctors on the ward about why they thought you needed to be there?
You could always talk to PALs about your situation and see what they say. When I felt that I was waiting too long for treatment and my team were just being a bit of a shambles, I contacted them and they were really good- low and behold after months of waiting my and miscommunications, my appointment suddenly appeared.
I know negative reactions from medical professionals can make you feel like you are worthless, but you mustn't think that because you are not! The doctors certainly do not want you to go and kill yourself, they obviously just, for some reason best known to themseves, think that hospital is not the right place for helping you. However if you feel it is, its important you stand up for yourself. Could you seek a second opinion?
hey,
i think you need to have a discussion with your doctor about why you were discharged and about your feelings towards being in hospital
when i was in last year i was discharged cus i tried to kill myself on the ward and it was seen that the ward wasnt keeping me any safer than being at home was...also my doctor thought the longer i stayed in hospital the harder it would be for me to have coping mechanisms back home and the more reliant on the hospital id be..
basically what im trying to say is you really need to discuss with someone why you were discharged and why you think it was the wrong move. cus in the end your the only one who knows how unsafe u really are
we're all here for you, take care of yourself
xxxxx
This is not an unusual experience, but it is not one I think is fair. I have had a similar response - that it is my responsibility, not the doctors'. However, when one ASKS for help, is that not taking responsibility? It is the asking, that I believe is the responsible part. If what you need is to be on a psychiatric ward, then I don't see why asking for that and being admitted to the ward suddenly puts responsibility in the doctors' hands. I am very inarticulately saying that I don't personally feel that doctors have an accurate understanding of what "taking responsibility" means. I spent a year in a therapeutic community and they taught me that taking responsibilty should mean "asking for what you need", not "doing it all on your own".
That said, psychiatric wards do run the risk of de-skilling you if you are admitted for too long or too frequently. You can also run the risk of becoming dependent upon them, and so begins the revolving-door syndrome.
Also, to say that a psychiatric ward is purely for people who have psychosis is a very, very exclusive and narrow-minded thing to say. That pretty much rules out all psychiatric illnesses other than things on the psychosis spectrum, and how can a doctor generalise like that?! Silly doctor, but also a fairly typical response.
Last edited by whirlpools : 03-07-2008 at 01:17 PM.
Reason: thought of something else :)
I think it's absolutely disgusting that the Doctor told you this.
But am i surprised?
No.
The NHS in the UK is going downhill in regards to the Mental Health Service.
I was told something similar back in November when i had a breakdown.
It shouldn't be a case of having to hear voices/being psychotic to be admitted. I think it's disgusting that people like yourself (and, admittedly - myself as well) shouldn't be treated the exact same as anyone else with a mental illness/depression.
I do not care if "the hospital(s) have limited places" - as far as i'm concerned, anyone who is seriously considering taking there own life should be kept out of harms way until they're in a stable enough condition to look after themselves.
I saw a psychiatrist around 3 months ago who laughed in my face (litrali) asking what i was doing there "wasting his time" because i was obviously not "hearing voices".
Despite the fact some people on here have recieved good care - the majority i have spoken to/read about in posts, have been treated appaulingly by the NHS mental health service.
This is why i get so worked up and have litrali given up on myself in regards to getting help because i have recieved nothing from the service even after practically begging for help.
I really sympathise with you hun, but let it be known you're not alone in your upset/confusion to the way you have been treated.
*Big huge hugs*
Please keep yourself safe hun
xxxx
Thanks for all the support guys. It means heaps. I am not in the UK but the mental health system sucks here too. I saw my psych today, he wasnt happy about what happened either but i am starting on a new medication today.
He told me that it is important to let him know if i am suicidal and something else could be worked out like respite, or admission to a different hospital
so feeling alot beta, still have the thoughts but i think i am strong enough to let them remain as thoughts
So i'm in aus, don't know where you are. I've been admitted under the mental health act and that's like being sectioned and that was the 72 hr one and i was in beacsue when the crisis assessment team asked what i was going to do when I was going home (was in emeregency) i told them i'd do it properly next time. I was still groggy from od. SO I was admitted for being suicidal. The last time I was int he pysch ward it was because i couldn't handle the world and was suicidal. I saw 4 different doctors there adn 3 of them told me i was wasting their space and shouldn't be there so i tried to kill myself becasue i was so hurt. The 4th one who saw me after that to patch me up and stuff, told me i had just as muchr ight to help as anyone. So stuff the hosp doc and talk to to your doc who admitted you. You have every right to get help!!!! every right!
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
