I'm sitting here, choking up. No one explained this to me, during my history of depression in my 20s. Steve, you are amazing, funny and frank. I wish there were more ERTs like you out there.
He's not special. All they do is leave you in a hospital room for hours, a psychiatrist asks you some basic questions for about 5 minutes, then they give you some paperwork listing treatment programs you can attend. Then they send you on your way. I'm speaking from experience. I wasn't given any information or help that I couldn't have found with a 30 second Google search. There is nothing you can do for a suicidal person outside of DIRECTLY solving the problem that's making them suicidal in the first place. Otherwise, you're just repeating a bunch of stuff they either already heard or already thought of.
@@jtg1972 whilst that may be what you experienced, that's not how it is for everyone. This one is more so for others than yourself, but if someone was reading your comment they might like to hear from other people's experiences as well. For me I'd spend a very long time waiting in the E.R and in a room, but I would be telling a number of staff the same thing in the room until the psych team would come in and ask the same things again which is fairly frustrating. I think it's to test if your story checks out but maybe it's to eliminate the whole "Chinese whispers" thing. Eventually I'd get transferred to the psych ward to make sure I wouldn't hurt myself. Every psych ward i's different but my overall experience was fairly positive. I haven't personally had anyone try to do anything to hurt me. It's not a great place but you shouldn't be scared to go because if that's where you need to be, then that's where you should be. I'm still alive today thanks to psych wards so take that how you will. Also they see people all the time so don't be embarrassed about your problems, there's always someone they have seen thats worse than you. Things will get better... And worse and better and worse and better, but get help if you need it. When being escorted by the police, try and have a chat with them, most of them are great people when they know you don't want to fight and you just need help, they are waiting until you get seen anyway so even if it's just as a distraction, have a chat, they are still human beings. A lot of them are more caring and empathetic depending on the situation. Hospital food is shit, we would get the same food as every other patient in the hospital. The psych team seems to say the same things every time in regards to self forever sleep.
@@trevormerivale6882 I've been a sitter when I get floated to the ER/ED from my unit. I often times try to make them see the lighter side of things from my perspective and help them see who all cares for them by having them tell me about their best friends/family. Although I am a nurse, I was almost committed tonight when I told my therapist about my suicidal thoughts I have been having. I told her no but that was for professional reasons... I don't want that on my record. Often times there's a hold because if you are held for 24+ hrs, your thought process or level of stress decreases and you are no longer a harm to yourself. Happy to hear you made it through
"I just wanna get better" hit me so hard. Every single person that's ever had a mental health struggle has thought/said/screamed this (likely multiple times) at some point. Thanks for this video.
@@mircat28 yes, let's put all depressed people in a little box.... I have gone off on my own and screamed about the hell inside my head. I've screamed it into a pillow. I've screamed it at my husband. I've screamed it to myself inside my own head. You can't know what every depressed person feels or does.
@@crystalandrews8393 I've sat on a bench for two hours outside the hospital, trying to decide whether to go check myself in. I didn’t, and it was OK for me, but sometimes it’s not for others.
I was taken to the ER once for this problem and this is EXACTLY what happened. I spent 8 hours sitting on the floor in the hallway because they couldn't spare a room... i had NOTHING to do because they took my phone and it made me MUCH more depressed. They really need to figure out a better way to deal with mental health emergencies than trapping someone with their own thoughts for hours on end. A doctor never came and talked to me. Not once. They called my parents who lived 6 hours away and had been drinking and told them to come pick me up. It was literally the worst day of my life AFTER already feeling so depressed.
Totally agree!! Same happened to me except no one sat with me, nor checked on me, did not take my phone. For 8 hours I was scared, couldn't relax and was bored out of mind, when I complained after nothing to eat for 6 hours the nurse yelled at me I couldn't have food because in case I needed to go to surgery. I was having heart related issues too. I told her I was scared and didn't want to be alone but she said she had no one to sit with me, lies...8 hours and I go find the nurse and tell if she doesn't help me I was leaving and she says in a snarky voice your the healthiest patient here!! Wtf?? If any er people are reading this comment...not everyone is a drugged out pill seeking person, some of us actually have real issues like staying awake for two weeks straight and then feeling chest pressure and being told I'm the healthiest person there..ha two months later I had to get a pacemaker put in because my heart rate dropped to 28 and I never got an answer to why I couldn't sleep.
I'm so sorry that happened to you. I hope things have improved since then. My 2 trips to the psych ward were pretty bad. But nothing like this... My heart goes out to you.
Not much I doctor can do if I’m being honest lots of problems that get people to think those things can’t be helped if people try to help they can make it worse and just not help at all honestly it’s hard but we have to accept that this the reality and most people can’t be helped
My sister had been in the hospital for over 6 months and went through 3 massive brain surgeries, when she softly confessed, "I just want it all to end." The staff knew her really well by then and instantly went into comfort mode. I was called, since the staff knew the two of us are close, I'd go and read to her every afternoon after my college classes, so I knew her nurses. I rushed there ASAP and stayed with her all night. They got her a therapist, and the neurosurgeon postponed more surgeries until she was emotionally stable. Despite all she's been through in her life, she's never had depression, but it just finally all crashed on her. Kudos to the loving nurses who took that quiet whisper seriously and made sure she got help. ❤️
Honestly, she's a helluva trooper for it to crash in on her at that point. It would have been post-surgery 1 for me to crack. Bless her heart, I hope she's doing much better.
Therapy is a bad idea and pointless since most likely the issues have a large neurological component. Unfortunately there isnt much for things of that nature (brain damage) but I tried hyperbaric oxygen. Was less degrading than therapy (more pleasant inspite of the minor ear drum damage too reversable so dont worry) it should increase cerebral blood flow and oxygen if that leads to healing or compensantory traits well thats up for debate.
I went through this with my daughter. She was having severe thoughts and had a plan. I took her to the ER. Everything Steve said is true. Everyone was super nice and came in to introduce themselves or to check in The ER doctor even came in said “hello,” assessed her and gave her some anti-anxiety meds. The only opening for her was at a facility 200 miles away. She was transported in an ambulance and we followed her there. As the adult here’s what you need to know, before going: have a packed bag (facilities usually keep the kid for five to seven days), any medications and shoes without laces. The ER will take everything the patient is wearing. You’ll have to go back to the ER and retrieve those items from security. They don’t send those items with you. Be prepared. When you get to the facility they will want a medical history and then ask the patient many questions. This is a crisis intervention, they will start medications and mood stabilizers. The patient is released to your care and with follow up info. If your child needs more help, they will have them transferred to a long term facility. Good luck and you are loved.
My daughter has been through the same thing and you're right...this is spot on. The staff was very good to us, the only exception being I slept all night sitting in a chair with my head on my daughter's bed and then come morning time a nurse said "I guess we could have brought in a bed for you." Like, really? Now you tell me? Lol At one point we were waiting for her to be transferred to the psych facility and I asked if I could go home and get some clothes and stuff for her and the nurse asked in all seriousness if I was going to come back. I was just like, what?? Of course I am. She told me that sometimes parents make up a reason to leave and *they don't come back*. I couldn't believe it. Just the thought of it breaks my heart. How could you just leave your child when they need you the most? Anyway, I hope things get better for your daughter. We've been struggling with my daughter's depression for about 5 years now and it's hard but we're managing. She's 15 but I never leave her unsupervised, even for a 5 min trip to the store. I pray every day that she can find some peace and joy in life.
@@lesliewolfe7643 she will if you address the root cause of her depression :) I am sure she's receiving therapy with a very good and understanding therapist she likes
@@StephanieTips it’s because it’s the quickest way to change the channel so to speak or get a different mindset. It’s temporary and therapy is the long term goal for long term health but they need to access things and create change at an accelerated rate for safety reasons. It’s not a drug em and leave em scenario, it’s a temp situation to establish change for the long term
I know this video is supposed to be reassuring of sorts, but I think all it did was reinforce the idea that I should never, NEVER tell people if I’m suffering. I’d rather spend a few weeks crying in my own room than in a psych ward.
Same with me. Tell your family and therapist instead of the ER doctor… I pretty much had this exact experience with my postpartum depression. It sucked but I’m still getting help. The psych ward didn’t exactly help me either.
The hospital/ER is meant for when people can't stay safe long enough to get help. It doesn't take an emergency provider to treat depression and even some degree of suicidal thoughts. I've taken people to the ER for crisis when I didn't know if they would stay safe without it. Every other time, I try to talk with them about what they need professionally (medication, therapy, support/resources) and non-professionally (friends, hobbies, time to cry). The ER isn't my first choice for mental health care (and some ERs are totally incompetent at it), but it's an option I'd choose in a life or death situation.
As someone who has dealt with major depression for several years now, I truly hate when asking for help immediately turns you into some kind of felon: no phone, no autonomy, no privacy. It really makes you think twice to give that step 🙄
Yep. Last time I was "in", they confiscated my sandal slippers I wear instead of socks, my squishmallow I religiously carry around, my FitBit, my chew necklace and my noise canceling headphones. Items 1, 2, and 4 & 5 are necessary because I am autistic. I can't wear socks, loud noises set me off, and my squishmallow (Waddles the Penguin), is my comfort item. Without the chew necklace, I chew my lips and the inside of my mouth to shreds (i took it off its cord figuring they would have a problem with the cord, they still took the pendant saying i could "choke myself with it") My FitBit is necessary for frequent monitoring because I have POTs.
@@KatieBearGrrr I'm so sorry that happened to you. They should've let you keep those things while you were there. Those staff members were really ignorant to just take all that stuff from you even though you really needed it.
Im an EMT who frequently does transfers from ERs to psych facilities. I have personally struggled with deep depression for years and was once very close to suicide. I have a soft spot in my callous heart towards people in a mental health crisis. This skit is very accurate. The ER is not the best place to get treatment for such a issue but most of the people there, will fight for you in any way they can. Getting help for mental issues can be a frustrating process for a lot of people but it starts the path of healing. For anyone who is struggling with it, go in. We as healthcare workers may come off as cold or uncaring but trust me, we really care when someone is truly hurting physically or mentally.
I don't do as much transfers but I definitely done enough to say it leaves you with a new perspective. I originally started emerg only and I always prepared for the worst but the alot of transfers and it was alot preparing for the worst wasn't working. I left and got a new job where I do little pysch and I am left with a dark understanding of what psych can do to you.
Sean, thank you for deeply understanding the stress and despair of the patient. It’s hard to see a future when your world has been black for awhile. I can only guess that you are a beam of light in the darkness. Thank you again for caring about your patients.
Sean, I'm an OP therapist who has specialized in chronic suicidality the past 12 years. I've heard many a story about people's experiences in the ED and when they have gone IP, many unpleasant. I'm really glad you are there to help; it gives my cynical heart a bit of hope! ❤️
I'm like 99% sure this is in response to the one person talking about how you can be kind of flippant with some serious content... if that's the case, thank you for putting up a video like this. I've got a dark sense of humor, so I get it, but this was a great way for those who don't think the same way ❤
I had similar thoughts actually. Honestly? I really think he DOES care, and he knows people. So, he's put these vids out to educate along with give some chuckles, right? But, for THIS topic, his target audience to help may not respond well to his usual tone. He's a good dude and good at this, so... different tone. 🤷♀️maybe?🤷♀️😉
@@KOKO-uu7yd same, I deal with bipolar disorder, I've dealt with self harm, have tried to unalive myself multiple times, and have dealt with ideations since 6th grade. I found the original video funny and relatable bc my experience was close to that. A psychiatrist told me I was stupid for trying to unalive myself and an ambulance driver told me that they get annoyed with people who they take in for that because they'd prefer to help people who actually want to live (that was a passing conversation not while I was at a hospital)... aaaand to top it off I tried it once, then delayed to just harming myself so I went to a doc to treat the major wounds and when a nurse in the hallway genuinely asked how I was doing he told her I was just looking for attention. Soooooooo... this may be the normal way to handle it, but the original format actually wasn't far from people's truth either. This was all more than 15 years ago, so I do think medicine has become more caring for people... but still. I get both the dark comedy and the need for the nuance as well
Dealing with depression myself and going to the ER when in a crisis. I can’t express how much gratitude I had towards the ER staff. My stand by nurse was very kind and friendly. I’m very thankful for the wonderful people that work in the hospital. Thank you for helping those in need.
ER staff was also always super kind to me and honestly going to a psychiatric facility was always a smart choice and it always helped me when I needed it. Waiting in the ER all day long to get to a mental hospital was always the preferred choice over just going home and hurting myself 😂 but it helped a lot!!!
As a fellow survivor of ongoing chronic major depression and anxiety, I want to applaud you for seeking help and staying the course. So many don’t make it and it’s so hard to imagine ourselves going on without them. It’s true what they say (though it sounds really trite), the darkness doesn’t last forever and the sun WILL come out again. We just have to make sure we learn to first recognize the sunny days, and then learn to value them as the amazing gift they are. As hard as it is to imagine during the bad days, start making “bucket lists” so that when the sun does come out, you’re not at a loss over what to do. Been there, done that waaaaaay too many times. The ‘deer in the headlights’ reference is perfect because suddenly I felt better, but I didn’t know what to do with myself. Then I’d stress out, freeze, and end up losing that precious sunny day(s). And then the guilt, anxiety, and depression would come roaring back. Truly a vicious circle. Maybe you’ve wanted to go to that popular new movie. Or maybe you want ice cream from 31 Flavors. Maybe you’ve dreamed of sky diving, or maybe you want to deep clean your oven. Put on your list easy things like going out on your deck to breathe the fresh air or maybe shell hunting on the beach. Then list things that you’ve wanted to stretch yourself to do (idk, bowling, horseback riding, skydiving?!). And try to list things you can do without having to make reservations well in advance. Anyway, the point is to have faith and make it easy on yourself by having a plan so you’re not suddenly feeling better but haven’t a clue what to do next. By building these good memories, I truly believe the scale will tip and the happy memories will out number the bad. I’m definitely not a psychiatrist/psychologist, or even in the healthcare field whatsoever. But having ‘walked the walk,’ I did figure this much out and it’s taken a lot of stress and anxiety off me in a big way. God bless and definitely know you can dm me anytime if you need someone to talk to who truly understands. ❤️❤️
@@floofypurplefluff9924 this is amazing of you to share this, thank you. I’m so glad you are here. We bring ones who have walked the walk, we understand the most to be able to help others who walk the walk too
No. It’s to keep you safe. They are there to keep you alive. They aren’t shaming you, they are taking every step possible to keep you alive. It’s an ER, not a therapy center.
@@EmeraldWatsyokay but making the situation worse when youre in crisis may keep you alive for the time being but as he said in the video, incidents happen when people lock themselves in the bathroom, meaning the moment theyre alone, they try something. They already decided to present to the ER instead of attempting to take their life but now all od the sudden they want to make that attempt? Obviously something happened between the time they arrived at the ER and their bathroom attempt to make them give up enough to try. What may have happened you may ask to have caused this? This exact situation seen in the video. Sometimes you just need a bit of compassion or to see that someone cares. Instead you get treated like a child who can’t be trusted with any responsibilities which furthers the inner narrative of inadequacy. “I can’t even be trusted to use the bathroom or to hold on to my own phone? Maybe I am just that pathetic.”
Well I didn't expect to be crying so hard first thing on a Monday morning, but here we are. Thank you for making this, it's terrifying dealing with thoughts of self injury and suicide, even when you want to get help. Having an idea of what happens when you go to an ER can be reassuring to some. And for those of you who've been there, or are on a similar road, I wish you all the best. It's a long road, but it can get better.
This is actually a good public service announcement. People need to understand that once you mention even thinking about hurting yourself, you've signed yourself up for most likely a 72 hour hold.
Mine was 3 weeks during christmas and new year 2020. I remember thinking its a new year and im sitting in a psych ward. It can’t possibly get worse than this, then covid happened
Told my parents that I'm suicidal and wanna sh and I never got sent to the hellhole y'all r talking ab and guess what...! I'm still depressed, and definitely considering self harming (told my parents before I could). They won't let me have privacy, and I can't even be alone in a room without them checking on me. I get it, they might be concerned, but it's not helping me. I'm too scared to cry in front of them now because they ask what's wrong, and I don't know what to say. I don't even want to tell them anymore because it's hard. I honestly wanna go to the ward now because I have already done a suicidal attempt, and I DO NOT feel like I'm going to get out of this "phAsE" anytime soon. I'm too scared to ask my parents though again cause they are going to go through every single little thing I have, ask if I need anything, give me a hug, look at me like I'm stupid, and then say I really don't need help. So now I just want somebody to talk to, but I'm one of those people who bottle emotions up and NEVER tell anyone my thoughts or feelings. Shout-out to my sister and my parents for giving me depression!! 😍🥰♥️🤭
@@Number1Buttermine was during COVID the week before Halloween. I didn't fight it and the wait was likely a few hours. Still came into it late because my mom made phone calls to understand what to do in the situation taking some time. No one was even told until like 2-4pm and admitted inpatient at like 9-12
Yes. Seriously. Be careful reaching out for help. Know that you actually want the kind of help you’re going to get- their job is to literally prevent you from topping yourself, not helping you feel better. As far as I know the majority of sui prevention resources available are focused on that singular goal, by any means necessary. Chances are online, *anonymous* peer support is going to be the most effective *feel better* method, followed by formal treatment for the underlying cause of sui urges. Seriously, know what you’re signing up for. You’re trading being forced to stay alive for further trauma/discomfort. *But* if that’s what you feel you need to survive, then by all means reach out.
I felt his hesitation, then his terror with him when he couldn’t leave. I choked up when he said they wouldn’t be able to forgive themselves and when he just wanted to get better.. Thank you for this, Steve.
Yes this absolutely confirms I will never EVER tell a healthcare professional if I’m having thoughts of hurting and/or killing myself. They’ll confiscate my belongings, including the the things I use as comfort or coping mechanisms such as my phone so I can actually talk to the friends who help me deal with these thoughts, then they’ll hold me against my will so I’ll wish even harder I were dead just to escape it. This video is pure horror to me. Just makes it infinitely harder to ever reach out when this is the threat hanging over my head.
I told an adult at my school about making a plan to kill myself and this is pretty much what happened it was like 8 hours of hell but that discomfort was worth finally getting the help I needed at the time.
I once was escorted to the ER because a family member claimed I wanted to hurt myself. That's all it took, they took a comment out of context, and I was carted off to the ER. I sat on a gurney in the hallway for what felt like hours listening to people in the rooms losing their minds, while families of patients were literally asking me "why are you here? You don't look crazy to me." When I finally got into a room, I was left by myself nearly the whole time, and when a doctor finally came back, all I had to do to leave was "promise" to schedule an appt with a mental health professional. If I wasn't depressed before I got there, I definitely was by the time I left.
SAME except they didn’t let me leave. I asked why, and they said I mentioned having anxiety. Which of course I had anxiety being carted away against my will! They kept me till insurance ran out and my family is still struggling from payments
@@misterblackhole7864Would it shock you to hear that different people have different experiences and that not all hospitals are identical and some meet standards and some don’t, often because they don’t have the funding?
God I feel this... I had a similar horror experience when I was a teen. I was forced to go via ambulance to an ER over two small cuts I made. I was left alone for hours not allowed to contact my family so they thought I was missing/kidnapped. I remember the sticky blood all over the place, the nurses yelling at homeless people and being forced to sneak gauze and tape to clean my cuts myself. There was so much noise and screaming... And, like you, after 12hrs of sitting there all I had to do was 'promise'' not to do it again to a 'psychiatrist' that had anything better to do that day than give two shits about anyone there.
Was admitted to a psych facility with ED, stayed there for a month. I really appreciated the doctors, even though I was really not impressed with the place heh, but that’s because I was young and had other things on my mind. Thank you for doing your job, you (doctors) have helped me out a whole bunch :)
@@j.h.miretskay3430 that's not alright tho, you were so strong to make the choice of trying to get help. If you go back from there, there's a high chance you'll hurt yourself really, really badly and throw it all away.
@@heather2701 There is no evidence whatsoever that inpatient psychiatric treatment prevents people from proceeding with suicide. A markedly increased likelihood of committing suicide shortly after discharge is a well-known and well-documented risk. Furthermore, several recent papers - including several that analysed many decades worth of data - showed that a significantly elevated risk of suicide persists decades after being discharged from inpatient psychiatric treatment, even when comparing populations with similar demographics and severity of symptoms. Several authors have proposed that inpatient psychiatric treatment itself might actually be suicidogenic by further traumatizing people and making them less likely to seek treatment in the future.
@@heather2701 I agree. It's sad when people tell me they lied to get out. Of course it's not fun, but you'll be thankful for it in the long run. It takes time to realize it though, definitely. I'm very thankful for it because I'm glad that I got the help and that it's available and I've learned so much from my experiences. It may sound weird, but if I'm feeling badly enough, I'll sometimes push for them to keep me longer because I know myself best. If I say I'm not okay, then I'm not.
@@annabellelee4535i'd rather suffer than be in a psych ward honestly. and I'm not talking from a blank point of view, Im literally having a mental breakdown and thats why I'm still watching this video and it did not help whatsoever.
@@connesuir Yes, and alcoholics and drug addicts prefer to not become sober. The mentally ill people and substance addicted people are not in their right minds and cannot make decisions in their own best interest.
Glad you posted this one, this will honestly help so many people. You have been making a difference to people for a while now, mostly thru laughter, but today you saved lives too. Love you brother.
@@yolo-ni5blyeah the response might be considered overboard but it’s appropriate due to to the circumstances. If your heavily depressed and have thoughts of doing harm and potentially death to yourself then these actions are appropriate because it’s to prevent those incidents from happening. Once your brain starts to stabilize then you will understand and be thankful that they went the hardest they did then if they never went as hard as they did
@@Cakemarvelous some won’t. Some will. I don’t think this video will have any negative impact, and as someone who has had major depression for a decade (compounded by cancer taking my wife at age 34, and my dad dying 2 years later) it does actually help. But I take your point, Some might use this knowledge to avoid help.
Honestly, im glad to see him making this into a more serious and better addressed than his normal videos. Its exactly what's going to happen but it is for your own health! Edit: wow this comment really blew up. I was stoned when i wrote it so please excuse the horrible grammar. 3.2k people understood what i meant at least 😂😂😂
@@justanotherchannelhi5326 i enjoyed it sorta because i like dark humor. That's just what he posts. If it isnt your thing, i guess dont watch it but im glad to see something nicer come from him. Especially with the topic
This happened to me back in May. I was going through tough times and well I had no choice but to go to the ER. What Steveio demonstrated was what actually happened and it sure brought me back to that day where I needed help even though my mind said no. After going through a lot of the process at being at the ER I eventually of course talked to a psychiatrist and the was later informed that I’ll be heading to another location which I had to stay for a week without contact from the outside and to be evaluated. Then fortunately I was prescribed and was able to go back home. As of now I’m feeling alot more better than I was all those months ago and I even got a doggie best friend to keep me company. Sorry if it’s long, with lots of sentences without periods and if my grammar is abit of “poop.” I do apologize. Just wanted to leave something here since this video sure made a connection towards me. Anyways have a nice day!
And the doctors will beg you to stay in the ER so that they can charge you more money to pay off when you get out. And you only get out by lying and saying you dont feel like killing yourself anymore. But then you still do want to but now ur stuck with a thousand dollars of ER fees to slave away at ur job to pay off
I was in the ward in October for “self harm” ideation. After spending a week in inpatient and another 2 months in intense outpatient therapy I changed my entire life. I’m still depressed, and I know how to not let it destroy me. I got a job, started eating veggies, and stopped using drugs. Also found out some hidden triggers and traumatic memories that I’ve never acknowledged before. I finally had support. To everyone that is depressed and scared, the ER and their psych and behavioral wards are the best thing that’ll ever happen. Everyday will get a little easier.
@@vainblack9643 that’s a tough one, I totally relate hahaha. I’d say my most annoying trigger is being late. I’m much better now but I have to cope through it otherwise I’ll get a full on 8/10 panic attack. It’s silly hahaha
I'm a psychologist. Steveioe, thank you for showing that ER professionals do their very best to keep patients safe and use compassion and honesty throughout the admission process. It takes a lot of courage for a person to come to the ER during a psychiatric crisis. Compassionate honesty rewards a person's courage. I plan to use this video when I lecture on psychological disorders and treatment. Thank you, sir.
Wished it was like this when I went. They had me in a room with someone watching me that was understandable but when I refused to use the restroom because there was urine and feces all over the seat I was told to either use it and give a urine sample or they’d catheterize me and take it. Told them I had no problem with peeing in a cup but no way was I sitting on that and they needed to clean it first. They handed me chemicals and paper towels said clean it then. SMH no gloves or anything ick. Then when a friend showed up to take my personal items they violated HIPPA telling them personal things I’d rather they not have known. Then there was a nurse talking about someone who tried to give herself an abortion and how all that looked like etc. I raised my voice that’s gross do you mind shutting up? I don’t want nor need to hear all that crap. They threatened to have me restrained etc if I didn’t calm down. I wasn’t even as loud as the man down the hall detoxing threatening to have everyone buried alive…… smh
@@rethalockhart5452 OMFG! where was this!? Completely ignoring the list of legal violations, the lack of compassion, dignity, or even basic manners; they want to throw in a huge list of health risks! where are their housekeepers?
I've been there and seeing how he's trying to ease the patients anxiety is making me cry! It can be very scary and intimidating but the people are really there to help and its not usually like the movies where a bunch of crazy ppl run around and get tied to beds. It's actually a pretty calm quiet place in the psych hospital. And the other patients try to look out for each other sometimes.
Not all mental hospitals are created equally. There are nice ones available (hard to find) but most of them I've been in were more like crazy jail than a place of healing. I don't post this to be scary or to scare anyone off from seeking help. I post this, instead, in hopes that changes can be made as we also work to remove the stigma of mental illness.
@@ellacowin9974 Yep. Only been once, voluntarily after trying to unsubscribe as a teen, and it. Was. *HELL.* They were horrible. I had to fight the nurse/tech to get my meds (that I'd been taking for a few years; chronic illnesses), even though they were all approved by the admitting and attending. Most of the staff were very condescending and just general arses who very clearly didn't actually care. I was regularly woken up by needles, which drastically worsened my trypanophobia and general health anxiety. They were definitely not equipped to deal with autism, either. I'm very glad, and lucky, that I was able to leave quickly. I *really* hope things went better for the others in my group, because I know most of them were stuck there on long and involuntary holds. If you, or someone close, have depression that sometimes gets to some really low or self-harm points, try to make yourself a game plan on one of your good days. If you're able to, do some research into the places around you and see which one seems like the best place for you to go if things get really bad. Even if you go to the ER first, you can ask if they can check whatever facility/ies for availability first. Plus, having a plan in place for what to do and where to go can be a *huge* help if there's anxiety over not knowing what might happen. You can also have a note to let your regular doctor know if you're admitted so they can work with your team and be ready to immediately continue care once you're home. It can take a long while to get out of that tunnel of darkness sometimes, but you can do it. It's a marathon, not a race, so try not to get too down if it's taking a while. Everyone moves at a different rate, and that holds especially true when it comes to mental health. My love, support, and internet ghost hugs to any and all who may need it 🫂💖🫂
@@Catlily5 very true. And now you mention it, I’m recalling one Im particular who was a total douche. But the rest were either super chill or minded their own business
I love how they don't mention the several thousand dollar medical bill and that they sometimes don't even give you your stuff back, like in my case, when I was admitted into the psych hospital I left without my crutches they took away when I arrived, never heard anything after that other than a bill for being treated like less than human for a week, fed like a hamster, and being told that my trauma means nothing because someone else was having a breakdown. It's not about care, it's about control, they isolate you and prevent you from having any security in your life and then give you medication to "fix" the issue you have, never dealing with the trauma that caused it. It's like putting duck tape on a hole on a boat, "but it fixed the problem right?". I was in there for a week because I was forced to, and 5 days in I asked for help finally, and they told me to my face "We can't help you because you might have a relapse and put other patients at risk." MEANWHILE, they were drugging up some crackhead for the 11th time I was there, not at all caring about how him acting like a psycho might affect MY mental health.
Made me cry. When my daughter was 15 and tried to hurt herself, we found her. Once we got to the ER no one explained to her or to me what the process would be , what was going to happen, how long she’d be there, what doctor she’d be talking to, nothing. And the nurse was angry that she’d done what she did. It made a very tense and frightening time even worse. I am very grateful for this. Thank you
The anxiety of even visiting the psychiatric ER made everything so much worse. I got brought in against my will by police when I was 19. I wasn’t allowed to leave, but at the same time they had no room. So they simply just placed me in the waiting room next to a guy with psychosis, a screaming drug addict & a young girl with a panic attack. I was able to talk my way out of there that same night. The answer to that question will always be NO.
This is 100% correct. I was in the ER and diagnosed with acute stress disorder (the precursor to PTSD) after there was a shooting at my school when I was in college. It takes FOREVER to see the psychiatrist and I had someone watch over me the entire time I was in the ER. Not fun. But great video. Very informative.
As a person who has been in the ER with this exact scenario, I can say I wish I had had Rich for a nurse. Nothing was explained to me, I was terrified on so many levels and felt trapped, and even the transfer to a behavioral health facility wasn’t explained. I was terrified. A nurse like this would have made it a LOT less scary. Thanks for demonstrating compassion towards people who have these issues.
So true I've been there I have Bipolar 2 with severe depression and anxiety an used to think I was just to stressed out an over working myself or thought I was losing my mind til I went an got help and when I did I was by myself and terrified but a nurse there made me feel alot better and safe about being there
@@grooving2music thank you, my Mom has the same thing as I do along with something else I can't remember what it's called but apparently bipolar runs in females on my mom's side of the family my Mom is retired and gets her pension but also receives disability for her mental illness. Me I'm only 32 so I still work but I see a therapist twice a week and a psychiatrist once a month an the medication they have me on has worked wonders. I still battle with the depression alone itself but the therapy helps with that alot.
I was severely mishandled by the hospital system (Australia) when I was forced into going to the hospital for my suicidal ideation. It's left me with a phobia of hospitals and I now avoid seeing medical professionals wherever possible. It makes me sad to see what should have happened, and think of how I could have received the care I so desperately needed instead of being sent home with the knowledge that nobody really gave a shit
I'm so sorry you had that experience, I had a similar experience here in the uk. I think our health system is similar to yours. It seems common here for people to be just sent home without much support even when expressing suicidal thoughts. It's shocking! Unfortunately too many are let down. I hope things are better for you now :)
I'm in the US and have the same exact fear and all mine was when I was a minor so I had absolutely 0 say in anything. It still scares me to this day to admit anything or even truly talk to anyone in fears I'll end up back there. :/
@@tinykittenlollipop1look up breaking code silence. It’s a nonprofit that helps victims of the “troubled teen industry” and other mental health centers that hurt people
I was also severely mishandled and I wasn’t even suicidal. I was booked because my parents said I was. The doctors didn’t take my word for it. I was locked up without free contact to the outside world and pumped full of drugs with severe side effects until my insurance ran out. I don’t trust medical staff to this day.
I hate that you had that experience. I will drive people an extra 50 minutes to a hospital I trust because I've lost all confidence in the hospital that's 5 minutes away.
I'm glad this skit takes the subject seriously. As someone who has had to deal with mental health issues for the better part of my life its been hard to get the help I needed from doctors and the people around me. I asked help a number of time but doctors only looked at my physical health and dismissed my mental one. I was pale so my tiredness and lack of enthusiasm was attributed to anemia. I was told I had no reason to be stressed or upset, even thought I had been dealing with ideas of hurting myself ever since I was 9 or 10 and went into a complete shutdown in my early twenties where I could no longer work or go to school and had trouble even taking care of myself. It took me going to an emergency doctor with a friend as escort ( as I didn't trust myself going through with it) to get a doctor to look at me seriously and it led to finally getting a proper diagnosis and treatment plan and now years later my life is great. Mental health is a serious issues and its important that It be taken seriously.
I'm glad you were persistent and advocated for yourself, both with doctors and by asking a friend to help you keep your plan for getting help. That shows how strong you are, and how much of a fighter!
I have a phobia of ER's now because of this. I was having multiple anxiety/panic attacks every day (related to sensory overload, I got help after the ER thing through a different source) and went with my husband to the ER. I just wanted to figure out what was causing the attacks. They asked the self harm question and then proceeded to admit me without any explanation. When they told me I had to change into a hospital gotten I saw that they were planning on admitting me, and I was so confused and scared. I asked to just wear my clothes (I have a history of sexual abuse and have a huge issue with feeling exposed like in a gown) and they said I had to do everything they said. I had never consented to being admitted, I was separated from my husband and in a panic from not knowing what was going on and not having anything explained to me. I said I wanted to leave and they said I couldn't, and if I tried they would call the police. At this point I was hyperventilating and crying uncontrollably, I just ran out and back to the waiting room and clutched my husband while he talked to them. I'm crying now while remembering how terrifying that experience was. If I had been alone I can't imagine what more harm would have been done. I did end up going back in with my husband and talking to a doctor who told me I was fine and prescribing an anti anxiety med that I couldn't take because I was breastfeeding. My husband wrote a review saying that this ER needed better trained employees and advising people not to go there if they have any mental health issues because nobody was helpful or compassionate. It's experiences like this that make it really difficult for me to accept healthcare, although I know that there are legitimate reasons to get help. It's just hard when you feel so uncared for and manipulated in that setting. I watch medical people on RUclips and always wish they actually acted like that in real life. Unfortunately it's very rare to find someone like in this video.
i think i went to this same place, as i saw a review from a guy and it follows along the lines of what you said. it was horrible and i never want to return
Yup, this is exactly how it played out for me. I ended up being in-patient for 6 days. I'm so glad the ER staff took me seriously and explained exactly what is going to happen.
Yeah pretty much what happened when I went to the hospital and got taken there when I revealed i was feeling suicidal. It's the exact same reason why I don't tell my psychiatrist if I self harm, have suicidal ideations or will self harm in the future. I've learned to keep it to myself or just my friends or my mom, who knows just how shitty the psych ward is in the long term. Yes it helped me get to therapy, but that was it. The stay itself was miserable, as was every other time I got sent there. It's not help. It's a punishment. A prison. Even if I feel incredibly alone or suicidal, I'd rather tell someone who I trust won't get me locked up than risk telling a professional who's only out to save their asses from a lawsuit.
A great video. Anyone who has been in a position, where life feels so hard to live, will understand what is going through this persons head. It hurts to admit it, but it does get better, though it is a difficult journey. Thank you for your hard work and for this video to help those in need.
@@v.crowley 52 years later and some days it is better, and some days it is not. I have a mild bipolar disorder. I don't think I get manic(maybe?), but I always have this low background hum of depression. It's under control with meds, and I see a therapist. Because of them, I am able to live a fairly normal life. I hope with all my heart that it gets better for you.
@@KellyTheReiss as a bipolar person who's tried to unalive myself and dealt with self harm... joking about it is how I cope with that darkness. Honestly, if I all of a sudden seem real serious people need to be concerned about me.
Yeah this was why I learned to _not_ go to the ER. They took all my stuff, left me in pain and refused to help, left me unsupervised in a room full of hoses, refused to let me meet my modesty standards, and helped themselves to my lorazepam. Perhaps if it had be done with kindness and gentleness that would have been one thing. But telling a non-violent patient with NO history of any crimes or physical attacks they can't have their bra back "because you could be hiding a bomb in it" told me everything I needed to know. They treated me like an animal and I received no help. Just a social worker I had to lie to in the morning so I could escape and have access to my medication that I needed. I get that this comment will get a bad response but I'm not going to pretend this didn't happen. I stopped trusting the hospital after that and would just drink heavily or use weed (legal state) to drown out the suicidal ideation. That said you don't strike me as someone who would mistreat a suicidal patient and I appreciate that.
This happened to me a few months ago. I was in the ER for something else when I had a panic attack and said to the nurse “I just want this to end”. I meant the panic attacks but they thought I was going to self harm and they put me in a bed and took all my belongings and had a security guard with me at all times. He fell asleep at times but that’s besides the point. I just kept telling them I was okay and wanted to go home because being in the hospital is a huge trigger for me but they wouldn’t let me leave. They just kept saying I had to wait for the social worker and it took about 7 hours for anyone to come talk to me. They asked me questions and called my husband to ask him a few questions about my mental state. Then they gave me a list of phone numbers I could call if I had a “mental health emergency “ and they let me go. My husband is not fluent in English and he said he didn’t understand what they asked him and didn’t answer much and then they just gave up and hung up. I understand it’s not a perfect system and I am sure there are many obstacles that need to be overcome to put better practices in place but hospitals need to step it up when it comes to mental health emergencies. As someone who used to frequent the ER before I learned to manage my panic attacks I can say that almost every time going to the ER made me feel worse before it made me feel Better because I felt judged and like they just wanted me to calm down and leave. I had doctors literally ask “what do you want me to do about it?” And one even told me to just deal with the panic attacks at home. For anyone who has struggled with panic attacks you know how gut-wrenching it would feel to hear these words mid panic attack. I know some hospitals are better than others but I wish there was a better system in place.
Agreed. When I was about 14 I went to the hospital for a mental emergency and was going to be put in a psych ward, which I had already been to before and thoroughly hated it. That was/is still a big trigger for me so I was having one of the worst panic attacks I’ve had. A nurse came in and I was trying to talk to her through my hiccups and hyperventilating and told her that mental hospitals took away everything I use to cope/calm down (friends, music, digital art, videos, games) and she straight up told me none of those were coping mechanisms and that ‘real coping mechanisms are inside you’. The place they brought me ended up punishing me and sending me to pretty much a less intense version of solitary confinement just because I didn’t think they taught me anything. It really feels like these things are made to make people scared to reach out for help sometimes and it’s sad because so many people I’ve seen at psych wards get pushed around or picked on by staff that’re supposed to be there to help
I've had one doctor ask me simply, “what do you want me to do about it?” in the kindest tone I've heard from someone when I was in the middle of a panic attack once. I kept telling him "I don't know, I don't know!" but when he would move to leave my anxiety would get worse. He went out of his way to at least make sure I wasn't alone and had a nurse always within my line of sight. I do remember he told me, "Now if anyone leave you alone without a good reason, darlin', you be sure to let me know." Which thankfully didn't happen, all the nurses that were in and out always tried to get me to talk with them to distract me from my anxiety and one woman even offered me her sprite and crackers she got from the vending machine.
I always feel it's a trick when a doctor asks me "What do you want me to do about it?" I want to answer "I don't know. You're the expert- that's why I am here." But I have often felt too submissive in the face of their authority, Lovely video Steve
Holy shit. My mom and I have had horrible experiences at the ER for her panic attacks. It’s really the WORST place to be when you’re having a panic attack. People asking you questions left and right like there’s something wrong with you, and if you had even a single bottle of beer or a glass of wine, they treat you like an alcoholic and dehumanize you even more for it. Cause at that point they’re treating you like you’re a severe alcoholic in denial, and giving ME shit because I’m the only one that lives with her. And it takes FOREVER to get anxiety meds. Like, it takes so fucking long, her panic attack is essentially over by then and can leave, but you can’t leave because the doctors think you’re a raging alcoholic and want to take blood work. Have you ever tried convincing someone who’s terrified of needles, mid-panic attack, to get a blood sample? Fuck, it pisses me off so much. The hospital is literally a life or death last resort when she’s having panic attacks now, because of how horrible they’ve treated her every. Single. Fucking. Time.
This made me tear up so much. I had a friend who was very suicidal. I brought her to the hospital and was allowed to visit with her for a few days. I was the only one on her list. She got better, but we still talk about that time. We were only 19 years old and had no clue how the hospital handles everything. Thank you Steve for explaining this to people who don’t know.❤️❤️
Right, so they're going to take your phone...because I'm sure the best thing for a severely depressed person is to just have them staring at the wall for hours. That's known to produce good mental health, right? Stuff like this is why I didn't go to the hospital when I was suicidal.
Do not get too overwhelmed by the difficult side of getting help, if you need it. It might even need more then one try, but there's always someone out there who knows how it is and really want to help. You are worth it. We are all worth it.
This legit made me cry as I have been in this situation so many times before. Thanks for being serious about mental health. You're amazing and I hope you never forget it, Steveioe. ❤️
thank you so much for making this. as a teen that has struggled and still struggles with this stuff, it means so much to me. when i was taken to the psych ward, the staff were horrible. they treated us like prisoners, even if we started crying they would tell us to stop it or they would put us in the ‘quiet room’, which is just an isolation room the size of a large closet. i was just 14. now i’m 16 and terrified of going back, because it didn’t even help. it made me feel inferior, and the only reason i got out was because i got on good meds. they kept me there 17 days. i missed most of February and had to make up my school work. a psych ward should be a place for healing, not a place to be treated like dirt. thank you, this puts a bit of my faith back into the system. :)
Yeah, no place is perfect but that's really bad. If you ever need help again, go somewhere different if possible. I've been to a few places, they are all different.
HUGS to all out there who suffer with depression especially during the holiday season. Take your time and seek out help. We'll all be there to hold your hands and walk through it all with you!
I'm a therapist. Thank you for explaining what happens. It can be frightening to have SI, and not knowing what's going to happen when you ask for help can make it even scarier. If you're reading this and need help, please please please go get it. You are deserving and worth it ❤️. I'm currently an outpatient trauma therapist but worked inpatient several years. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have to the best of my ability.
I honestly don't get how people don't see that going through that experience will make a huge trauma by itself. Have any if the doctors ever tried to experience that procedure, just to understand what feelings it can bring to a human. The humiliation and tortures are immense. I have suicidal thoughts sometimes, but if I knew that I would go through being restrained, naked in a empty room with no covers I would definitely make sure I kill myself before getting to this situation
@@Onlichka that does sound terrifying, and if that was your experience I am genuinely sorry. That's not what happens in our hospital, but I think people believe that's what happens and that can prevent them from coming in. There are some things we have to do, like take shoelaces and strings from hoodies so people don't strangle themselves and keep a good eye on you. I try to explain to patients that it's not just about them, someone could take their laces and hurt themselves. As for restraints and nakedness, we encourage being clothed at all times, but some of our more psychotic patients don't always agree. I have been invited to a "no pants party" by patients on our acute unit. I politely declined and invited them my own "let's put on pajamas if we don't want to wear pants" party 🥳. As far as restraints go, they are physical holds that are the very, very last resort we use as a safety measure when patients become physically violent toward themselves or others. They only last until the patient is no longer a danger to themselves or others and I've only seen it a handful of times on the acute unit when patients were super psychotic and trying to attack staff or other patients. Most people that come in are on the open unit, which several of my patients described as feeling like a "mental health sleepover with good snacks".
Hey! Do have a question of my own. I sometimes deal with very intense suicidal feelings and thoughts, and over time have come to choose a method for it. I've gotten very close at times, but usually convince myself to somehow wait until the storm passes. Is it worth it to go get help at a hospital during these periods, or is it better to do as I have and wait things out? One worry for me with going is money. I have insurance but I'll get concerned it's going to cost a lot to get inpatient care, and just to visit the ER in general.
@@kazimirtheblessed5719 I hate to hear that you're struggling, and wish you peace and love. I hear words that worry me, including intense, method, and "usually". I absolutely encourage you to go to the hospital if/when you feel like this because you never know when your "usually" will run out. I can't speak for all hospitals, but I know ours has a very affordable payment plan for copays, as well as a patient fund and a generous write off/charity program. We want safety to be a priority over financial worries. Again, that's our hospital and maybe not every one, although I'd like to believe it's the case across-the-board. Stay safe, don't take a chance with your life. It's the only one you've got. ❤️
@@thejessica-est What do you do if you fear you have multiple severe undiagnosed issues and want to get help, but you are stuck in a spot where going to get help will actually make things worse. I still live with my parents (who really don’t seem to understand or even care how serious this has gotten), and I quite literally can’t do anything on my own without support. It’s gotten that bad, but it feels like everyone just brushes it off as no big deal, and it really frustrates me. Edit: I wanna be clear in case anyone gets confused. No, I’m not being abused. My family is good to me. It’s just they don’t seem to really understand mental illness all that well (or at least, understand me), so it’s really hard to open up to them about it. I know they love me, it’s just my mind feels like a war zone at times, so it’s hard to think clearly. I’m hoping that I can make it till after I finish up school and then I’ll start looking for help. I wanted to wait till I lived alone, but I don’t think I have enough time now, because I’ve come to understand how unpredictable I am. I’m just really scared and I don’t know what to do or where to go.
Very accurate to the many many many times I've gone to the hospital due to mental health issues. Some nurses and doctors are ignorant and aren't as nice as you, wish we just had more of that so we didn't feel like such a burden.
@@KhadijahW. for most it’s not a lack of compassion. For most it’s compassion fatigue and for a lot of ER staff it’s dealing with burnout having to perform under circumstances and environments they shouldn’t have to (too short staff, they deal with a lot of violence on them in the ER by patients and families, etc)
I had a bad reaction from an iud and went to the ER convinced I was having a heart attack…ended up being a hormone induced panic attack. I begged the doctors to remove it because I felt very depressed. They asked me if I had thoughts of hurting myself and I said no. They locked me in a room anyways and didn’t tell me what was happening. They also would not let my boyfriend in for two hours. They had a miscommunication and thought I was supposed to be isolated. I was terrified and still sobbing and what the staff did made it even worse. Finally they realize I’m not in any danger just needing help from unbalanced hormones and they give me muscle relaxers to help. I also had severe back pain and found out my strings were missing. Got it removed a day later and felt normal again almost instantly.
I don't recommend IUD's to anyone. There is such a laundry list of serious medical complications surrounding them. I suppose if someone has an existing condition with literally no other option at all it is the only option left but I can't think of any.
Feels close to home. I had to send a friend to the ER to get him help, the day of his birthday he wanted to suicide. It felt terrible because he spent all his birthday in the hospital and many months as psych patient. He couldn't forgive me. But I knew he was going to get better. He is strong, and nowadays he is doing great. I can't blame him for not wanting go talk to me but I prefer him to be alive and well without me than to have him dead. He has his family and plenty other people. And I'm happy for him.
I don't know how long ago this happened, but maybe he doesn't know how to talk to you about it? If he's better now, actually doing better, then maybe he just doesn't know how to address what went on that day. Maybe he's forgiven you and just doesn't know what to say.
You don't deserve to feel good about yourself because of this. Your friend wasn't "strong", he simply didn't have any other choice. Also, no, you couldn't know if he was going to be okay, you don't even know if he really is okay now, you're not in his life anymore, you don't know anything about it or how unbearable and traumatic it truly was. This will probably affect him for the rest of his life even if he seems "happy" on the outside. You have no right to be glad for him or to think everything is fine, if you're not inside his head or with him everyday through every battle then you have no idea of how he is doing.
@@mariaeugenia578 I don't feel good about myself, never said I was proud. I'm happy for him, yes (I have the right to feel whatever I feel. There is no legal barriers for me to be happy about someone's recovery). I didn't know if he was going to ever recover but all I could do at the moment is anything any other health worker would have done which is hope that in better care with medical and psychological treatment he would do well. I know how he is cause we still have friends in common (that includes his brothers) that testify of his wellbeing...You are right that I don't know how it feels, because even though I've indulged in self harm practices too we all have different experiences with it. But why would I be afraid or reject hope of him getting better? If you would have suggested him to do as he pleased and let a friend of yours kill himself then power to you for respecting his choice, or not, I don't know what your base values are (it might be pretty relative). I just did what I could at the moment with the information I had, I'm nor proud nor beating myself up for what I did. I appreciate the empathy you show for him, I trust you have the best intentions at heart. Maybe you had a similar experience that went down differently or you would have done something I didn't, but regardless I'm sorry if I touched a nerve or poked a wound of yours that made you upset though. If that is the case it must have been rough. Hope it is all better now.
So what you're saying is I should never, ever tell a doctor if I'm suicidal? Never had serious suicidal intent, but change, especially sudden change, and being left alone with my thoughts are the two biggest triggers for my anxiety. I'd think I'd die of a fright-induced heart attack in this situation.
One tip, never tell anyone what your going through, they try to help, but they choose the worst ways, my advice would be finding peace with yourself, like going on walks or doing something to escape reality, maybe art, or even just spending time with family or doing something you wanted to do. I find this helpful, at least for me, but I’ve learned that I shouldn’t tell anyone what’s wrong with me.
This process is honestly something that has been added to my long list of things I go to therapy for. I was already extremely anxious and depressed when I arrived to the ER. No nurse had time to stay with me and talk.. I was stuck in a room full of drugees and highly aggressive individuals who were disturbed. It was 9hrs till I was taken to a facility and it was very hard to come out my room because of fear once I was there. No nurse wanted to spend time with me there either. I have nightmares about it sometimes and it’s made me afraid to go to the hospital sometimes for even small things.
I'm sorry that your attempt to get help ended up being so traumatic. I work on a behavioral health unit and we try to give our patients the time and attention they need when they need it. But I am very aware of the problems that the system has and I know that you're not alone in your experiences. Please see if your therapist knows of any facilities in your area (area can be kind of broad) that have a better reputation. If they do, maybe you can request the facility (or facilities) as a preference, if you find you having to bring yourself back in. Again, I'm sorry you had such a traumatic experience for what should have been therapeutic for you.
In the many hospitals I have been in most of the other patients won't harm you. But a few are scary To be honest I have had more problems with people at the bus stops.
I've been in this exact position, and I'm in the UK, and it did help me. Thankfully I didn't act on how I was feeling. Thanks for posting this Steve. I've a feeling that you've just saved some lives 🙂🔥👍
I remember when I was admitted post suicide attempt and it was terrifying. All my familiar things got taken away, suddenly guards appeared, and I was whisked off to a facility. I wish they had someone that could be your guide through all of that.
No some of them might care about you “getting better” but in reality they only care about not getting sued and or charging your insurance by forcing you into a mental hospital. Don’t @ me I know from personal experience.
Yes yes yes 👍. If there was a “love” button, I’d press that too. Keep going with this stuff occasionally Steve. It’s still as stigmatized as ever and not all ERs are so professional and kind. This moves me to tears with approval and relief.
The fear of this happening to me is why I avoid hospitals like the plague and when I go, I lie about my S/H and hide as much as I can. Glad to know my fear is justified.
That was sweet in a way. I am Bipolar with cPTSD, Body Dysmorphic Disorder and severe anxiety and tend to hypervigilance, dissociation and visual/aural/olfactory hallucinations with PTSD episodes, trauma breaks and have many times had self ending ideation. I have found the nursing and psychiatric staff at my hospital to be the same absolutely caring yet realistic people, and I couldn't be more grateful and admiring of them.
I have had to do this twice in my life. Having it explained to people this way should be a more common practice. I love this. It takes so much courage to walk up to triage and tell them you want to harm yourself and you aren’t ok. But that doesn’t mean it’s going to be so scary on the other side. Everyone is going to be there to support you and help you get to where you need to go.
I love this video. After watching a lot of his videos I was waiting for the punchline of the joke but I was glad it never came. This is such a serious situation and people need to know that they can go to the ER for help. People don’t think of it as an emergency but it really is.
This is why I dont go. Looking up memes or videos or music helps ease it. I cant go to the bathroom if someone is there with me. I suffer alone because its the only way that can accommodate my actual needs. Its sad but there is nothing else i can do.
And this is how I learned to never tell anyone how I was feeling and to lie my way out of certain situations. If I already feel terrible, how is holding me against my consent (in short, the equivalent of a prisoner) supposed to make me feel better? And heaven knows you're not paying the medical bills that will incur. You'd think mental health professionals would be capable of recognizing debt and job loss caused by a psych ward stay will WORSEN depression. Idiots.
But, as he said in the video, they gotta CYA! Who cares if being forced to do nothing but stare at the wall for hours and having the added stress of outrageous medical bills (and possibly losing your job) contributes to the patient's already extremely poor mental health? Gotta make sure the hospital can't be sued!
I have the same problem. Better to lie and to be free. The only way to get better is to be free. The trauma I would get from a psych ward would just guarantee that I would never get better. Maybe there’s a risk of my dying out here but if I would be forced into these places I would definitely die. In freedom I at least got a chance to get better. If you’re mentally I’ll it feels like you’re completely in your own to get better. The system just won’t.
@@ylvaseason As someone who was forced to go to a psych ward, please, lying is definitely the way to go. I never want to go back there; I now have night terrors from my stay and am still dealing with the mental fallout. The whole experience told me to NEVER tell the truth to people you can't absolutely trust not to ship you away to a glorified insane asylum. What a terrible experience it was. Absolutely nobody was helpful. I'll admit, when I got out, I contemplated killing myself, jumping in front of a car from how absolutely awful it was. What a broken fucking system. Not to mention the medical bills. "Oh, well for your own safety we're going to send you to prison and force you to spend thousands of dollars you don't have while you're already in a vulnerable mental state! That'll make you better!" I hate the feeling of losing control of my own body. I practiced ways to escape restraint holds for weeks after I got out. I will never be violated like that again.
Yeah, I’ve been bad ways, and _real_ bad ways before, but ain’t once have I considered being admitted to a mental health hole. I don’t care what anyone says, I don’t care what anyone heard. I may be going through it right now (well not _right now_ just speaking hypothetically), but I don’t need _their_ kind of help, and if I do end up having to give an evaluation, then congratulations, you’ve just idly stressed me out more and wasted my day when I could be working through things on my own. And it kills me when people say “You need to talk to a professional about that.” No, no I don’t! I need people in my life who give a crap enough to just listen and not run away or randomly vanish. But I guess that’s too damn much these days, so screw it. I’ll deal with it all myself, and whatever happens, just happens. The one good thing about knowing that everyone either doesn’t care enough or doesn’t have worth a shit advice is that I’ve learned a lot about coping and self help. No way taking my shit and locking me in a room is gonna aid anything. You’re just gonna put me in a worse state than I already am.
Inpatient psych RN here-thank you for making this video. A lot of my patients tell me they didn’t know what they were going to experience in the ED, having only the gruesome and really incorrect portrayals of psychiatric care in television and movies to inform them. And while it varies site to site and state to state (for example, our assessment and referral process actually is housed in the ED and we have telehealth capabilities for evenings/weekends/holidays) the wait can still be extremely long and stressful for the patient due to the limited supply and astronomical demand for inpatient beds, It’s nice to have a matter-of-fact, compassionate, and realistic view of the ED experience for a patient presenting with those safety concerns. I hope everyone who sees this appreciates what a good, realistic portrayal this really is.
Thank you for making this video. Not only raising awareness for thoughts some patients who are in this scenario, but also what to expect if one of us ever decides to get help.
I still think about how kind the ER team was to me the 36 hours I was in the ER before being transferred to a psych ward after a suicide attempt. Y'all are the real MVP's ❤️
Thank you for going to the ER for help!!!! And glad you're ok now. I wish more people would ask for help when they feel depressed, hurting themselves or others or suicidal!!Take care of yourself and stay safe♥️
Last spring in my area, that wait could be doubled! And if you went to a hospital that was part of a large corporate hospital network, you could be transferred across the state because that's where the open bed was. I was doing a 2 month clinical rotation on a ward where someone in crisis would be admitted to. It was the most emotionally draining but simultaneously the most rewarding experience to be able to help people in crisis (there were people there who wanted nothing to do with getting better as well).
@@pinkrose5796 thank you! This was over 2 years ago now and I'm doing much better! So grateful I got the help I needed and have convinced people multiple times since to get help ❤️
@@Catlily5 depends on what they came in for, but most often the staff on a CSU who aren't completely burnt out and numb to it all can tell who is there to get help and who is going to be back next month. We do have patients we hope like crazy we don't see back but know that we will due to their diagnoses
Having been through this a few years ago with my son, I’m honestly teary. But also grateful that medical professionals absolutely take this seriously and compassionately.
Let me say this: saying "I have ideation of death" is better than "I have suicidal thoughts" you HAVE to play semantics to get therapy. Does it even work? No clue. Maybe?
Got me over here in tears mufkr 🥺. The amount of compassion and honesty used here is what ALL patients experiencing mental health issues should receive. Before I finished school for my RN my nephew was suffering serious mental health issues and we would sit in the ED for 2-3 days waiting for placement or them to send him home. I wish someone explained things to us as clearly and directly as you did.
There’s been several really REAL type situations addressed recently. This, domestic violence, racism… they aren’t funny, but they are sometimes something that people need to see and hear. Thank you for your candor!💕
Thank you for remaking this. It shows so much more compassion and calm, and I can already tell that it will help people to see something so scary presented this way.
I can’t even count the number of times I have repeated the line “I just want to get better” to myself in tear drowned nights thinking about what I’ve done wrong what is to come and what people thought.😢
This was my case not long ago. The people that took care of me in my darkest weeks were absolutely amazing. I am forever in their debt. Thank you for doing this video. With much love and respect. You are an amazing human.
I deal with anxiety, depression and ptsd. I’ve always wondered what would have happened if I had gone to the doctor instead of just dealing with this all on my own. I heard if you tell a doctor that you are suicidal or call the suicide hotline, they take your kids away and that alone has stopped me from trying to talk to someone.
Thank you for showing content of a mental health emergency. It doesn’t look like other health emergencies and often people don’t even know you can go to the hospital for help. You’re an awesome nurse!!
You can, but judging from this skit I definitely wouldn't recommend it. If I wasn't having a mental health crisis in the first place, taking away my phone, clothes and everything else and not even letting me pee in privacy would definitely send me into one. If a doctor or cop asks if I'm suicidal when I am, I'm gonna lie to them and do my best to act fine until I can get away and find some *actual* help instead.
Like hundreds of other people said, it was good you made this one. When people get to that point and don't know that this is an option. I've got a panic disorder and when I lost my insurance when I was taken off of my parents because I turned 26, it took me a while to get the courage to get it myself. It gets that bad. The panic attacks got so bad that my muscles cramped up and I was stuck on the bathroom floor for over an hour. I thought I was dying (again). But I found out I could go to urgent care or the ER. I've had to do it on and off since then, and some doctors and nurses are awesome, and some think you're there just for the meds. But they can see if you have a history or not. Saved me quite a few times. Do not hesitate to go even for mental emergencies. It's still your health.
Used to work as an ED Tech. It always hurt to run folks through the process. It wasn't anything we wanted to do and some of it had to be so dehumanizing for the folks involved. I can't help but think it's looks and feels like going to jail when you already feel horrible and haven't really done anything wrong. That said, it really is about keeping folks safe. I've heard of and seen desperate, sad, and confused people do the wildest things. I hope some day someone comes up with a better way.
This made me tear up. As someone who's had depression her whole life & who once felt lk she beat it...& now is back to being depressed after being diagnosed with brain cancer, this shit me. The toughest thing a person can do is ask for help but do it! Like he said, they are there to help. Mental health is important! You are important! Pls don't be afraid to seek help 🙏🏻
Right? Unfortunately even if I knew I needed help I’d never ever admit it because the process I’d high anxiety embarrassment and I would just feel like I’m being punished for no feeling better.
um, yeah please dont say that to people. when its between harm and getting help, lets not endorse the former. if a person has other options, those should be exercised first, but if not, this is terrible advice.
@@herrforehead1279Tell your therapist. But I wouldn’t tell the hospital. If the response to ‘I might hurt myself someday at some point’ is to take away everything and leave me feeling really exposed (gown that opens in the back instead of real clothing) and alone with my thoughts without a phone or any activity to distract me, and completely unable to leave, feeling trapped and helpless? That would make all my problems worse. Plenty of people have thoughts about hurting themselves and this is overkill for most of them. Thoughts about hurting yourself do not mean you’re immediately going to do it. And it’s harmful overkill. Problem is, because most people are scared to talk about it, the person who comes in for mild self-harm thoughts is probably way worse and is scared to say it.
@@someperson5506 i get what youre saying. the word choice in the og comment was very wrong though. telling people to absolutely never tell a healthcare worker (this also includes therapists, right?) that you may hurt yourself (usually when people say this in the medical field they mean when youre suicidal) is wrong. its dangerous to say that. i agree that for the average self-harmer, going to the er just to tell them this does not make sense and is not going to get you help that you need. absolutely people should tell their therapists if theyre lucky enough to have one but if not they are really hard to access. as someone who has been self-harming for about a year and a half, i agree with most of your comment but i think the original comment got it wrong and we also need to mention that when youre actively suicidal you should *always* tell your therapist, er nurse, whoever.
@herrforehead1279 harm yourself or getting "help". I've been there as an inpatient and outpatient. Maybe I'm just not compatible for the system but in my experience you force yourself to be happy or they'll keep you longer
For me, this experience has made me afraid to tell others I’m suffering. In 2020, I went to a mental health hospital where I had limited contact with the outside, no in person visits, and constant fear for my safety. They paired depressed teens with homicidal teen. They also took away 99% of my coping mechanisms, and didn’t want to help much, and as someone with autism, this caused some serious problems. I never want to go back.
This is very tough for sure. My girlfriend went through this. It was a very rough couple of weeks while she was in the hospital. She got the help she needed and that's what matters
I honestly never thought about someone struggling emotionally going to the E.R. ... But it's great to know that you won't be turned away if you need help
I too didn't entire know how the processed worked. Like I have heard of hospitals treating mental illness and having a ward for the mental patients but didn't know how that process got started.
Almost every ER is overwhelmed a lot with pts with mental health issues. My local ER has roughly 40 beds. On a average night, 5- 10 of those beds are pysch pts. The sad part is the workers want to fix the pt and make it better but for the most part ER staff are highly trained in the physical side of healthcare and we are not nearly qualified to treat the mental side. And pysch pts tie up a lot of resources in the ER. Techs or nurses have to watch the pt which limits what they can do for the other pts in the ER. Pysch facilities are not nearly as abundant as ERs and are usually full as well so pt transfers to them can be slow. I have dealt with pts who were in the ER for 7 days before a bed opened somewhere. The situation is improving but has a long way to go.
I could be wrong but I am assuming from the name you are of Middle Eastern decent? My bffs fiancé is Bilal and my fiance is Achraf. I lived in an Islamic country for a couple of years and a girl I went to church with tried to go to the hospital for this and they were very confused. She had not attempted suicide but had a plan. My French sucks so I kept trying to explain in Arabic, but between the confusion of an American speaking Arabic and not French and her not having attempted yet they didn't know what to do. They kept asking me "Did she take poison?! Where is she bleeding? Did she jump off her building? Hit her head? Hit her head?..." NOOOOOOOOher head us messed up INSIDE!! OH She is bleeding INSIDE her head. Round and round.
I interned for 2 months on a crisis stabilization unit (short term psych ward) and maybe 1/4 to 1/3 of the patients were walk-in; most were BIBA/BIBPD (brought in by ambulance/brought in by PD). Sometimes those were OD's rushed into the ER or a recent veteran having a panic attack while driving; the alcoholics just wanting a warm bed were always interesting. It was very rewarding to see a patient making clear progress day to day but as someone who is more sensitive to others' emotions and moods, it was VERY draining. I will forever know instantly what "Code Grey" means over a hospital PA
I had tried to leave my home a couple years ago, my family found me and brought me to the hospital. I had to get checked for self harm, asked many questions and such, I had to be watched at all times (the bathroom was very awkward) and I was there for almost 12 hours while they found a psych ward my insurance would cover. I spent two weeks in the psych ward and I'm now getting therapy. I'm doing so much better and despite the fact during the time it was scary, I'm so glad it happened. To anybody who is struggling, and having thoughts about harming yourself, go check in at a hospital and get the help you need if you can't do therapy at that time, going to a psych ward will be scary, but you'll get help, and they'll find you a therapy place who will take your insurance (at least mine did) and you'll meet people who have been through similar things. It was the best thing to happen to me, and I'm sure it'll be good for you too
I'm sitting here, choking up. No one explained this to me, during my history of depression in my 20s. Steve, you are amazing, funny and frank. I wish there were more ERTs like you out there.
He's frank? I thought he was Steve?
@@Tlam5210 LMAO
He's not special. All they do is leave you in a hospital room for hours, a psychiatrist asks you some basic questions for about 5 minutes, then they give you some paperwork listing treatment programs you can attend. Then they send you on your way. I'm speaking from experience. I wasn't given any information or help that I couldn't have found with a 30 second Google search. There is nothing you can do for a suicidal person outside of DIRECTLY solving the problem that's making them suicidal in the first place. Otherwise, you're just repeating a bunch of stuff they either already heard or already thought of.
@@jtg1972 whilst that may be what you experienced, that's not how it is for everyone. This one is more so for others than yourself, but if someone was reading your comment they might like to hear from other people's experiences as well. For me I'd spend a very long time waiting in the E.R and in a room, but I would be telling a number of staff the same thing in the room until the psych team would come in and ask the same things again which is fairly frustrating. I think it's to test if your story checks out but maybe it's to eliminate the whole "Chinese whispers" thing. Eventually I'd get transferred to the psych ward to make sure I wouldn't hurt myself. Every psych ward i's different but my overall experience was fairly positive. I haven't personally had anyone try to do anything to hurt me. It's not a great place but you shouldn't be scared to go because if that's where you need to be, then that's where you should be. I'm still alive today thanks to psych wards so take that how you will. Also they see people all the time so don't be embarrassed about your problems, there's always someone they have seen thats worse than you. Things will get better... And worse and better and worse and better, but get help if you need it. When being escorted by the police, try and have a chat with them, most of them are great people when they know you don't want to fight and you just need help, they are waiting until you get seen anyway so even if it's just as a distraction, have a chat, they are still human beings. A lot of them are more caring and empathetic depending on the situation. Hospital food is shit, we would get the same food as every other patient in the hospital. The psych team seems to say the same things every time in regards to self forever sleep.
@@trevormerivale6882 I've been a sitter when I get floated to the ER/ED from my unit. I often times try to make them see the lighter side of things from my perspective and help them see who all cares for them by having them tell me about their best friends/family. Although I am a nurse, I was almost committed tonight when I told my therapist about my suicidal thoughts I have been having. I told her no but that was for professional reasons... I don't want that on my record. Often times there's a hold because if you are held for 24+ hrs, your thought process or level of stress decreases and you are no longer a harm to yourself. Happy to hear you made it through
"I just wanna get better" hit me so hard. Every single person that's ever had a mental health struggle has thought/said/screamed this (likely multiple times) at some point. Thanks for this video.
That felt very real.
Yah hit me so hard
No they don’t! I worked in a psychiatrists office and a lot of our patients got hospitalized. Depressed people don’t yell for help.
@@mircat28 yes, let's put all depressed people in a little box.... I have gone off on my own and screamed about the hell inside my head. I've screamed it into a pillow. I've screamed it at my husband. I've screamed it to myself inside my own head. You can't know what every depressed person feels or does.
@@crystalandrews8393 I've sat on a bench for two hours outside the hospital, trying to decide whether to go check myself in. I didn’t, and it was OK for me, but sometimes it’s not for others.
I was taken to the ER once for this problem and this is EXACTLY what happened. I spent 8 hours sitting on the floor in the hallway because they couldn't spare a room... i had NOTHING to do because they took my phone and it made me MUCH more depressed. They really need to figure out a better way to deal with mental health emergencies than trapping someone with their own thoughts for hours on end. A doctor never came and talked to me. Not once. They called my parents who lived 6 hours away and had been drinking and told them to come pick me up.
It was literally the worst day of my life AFTER already feeling so depressed.
I couldn't agree more. I just pray they give you something for the anxiety that lets you sleep the day away.
Totally agree!! Same happened to me except no one sat with me, nor checked on me, did not take my phone. For 8 hours I was scared, couldn't relax and was bored out of mind, when I complained after nothing to eat for 6 hours the nurse yelled at me I couldn't have food because in case I needed to go to surgery. I was having heart related issues too. I told her I was scared and didn't want to be alone but she said she had no one to sit with me, lies...8 hours and I go find the nurse and tell if she doesn't help me I was leaving and she says in a snarky voice your the healthiest patient here!! Wtf?? If any er people are reading this comment...not everyone is a drugged out pill seeking person, some of us actually have real issues like staying awake for two weeks straight and then feeling chest pressure and being told I'm the healthiest person there..ha two months later I had to get a pacemaker put in because my heart rate dropped to 28 and I never got an answer to why I couldn't sleep.
They should put something in there so you could past the time. Like rubik cubes, origami paper or some magazines
I can imagine.
I'm so sorry that happened to you. I hope things have improved since then.
My 2 trips to the psych ward were pretty bad. But nothing like this... My heart goes out to you.
We really need a better solution for people with suicidal thoughts.
Not much I doctor can do if I’m being honest lots of problems that get people to think those things can’t be helped if people try to help they can make it worse and just not help at all honestly it’s hard but we have to accept that this the reality and most people can’t be helped
Maybe just let them?
@@X_ctacy wtf!?
@@Muichro_ ?
@@X_ctacy your basically saying “let them die” like wtf was that even supposed to mean?
My sister had been in the hospital for over 6 months and went through 3 massive brain surgeries, when she softly confessed, "I just want it all to end." The staff knew her really well by then and instantly went into comfort mode. I was called, since the staff knew the two of us are close, I'd go and read to her every afternoon after my college classes, so I knew her nurses. I rushed there ASAP and stayed with her all night. They got her a therapist, and the neurosurgeon postponed more surgeries until she was emotionally stable. Despite all she's been through in her life, she's never had depression, but it just finally all crashed on her. Kudos to the loving nurses who took that quiet whisper seriously and made sure she got help. ❤️
Honestly, she's a helluva trooper for it to crash in on her at that point. It would have been post-surgery 1 for me to crack. Bless her heart, I hope she's doing much better.
Kudos to those nurses indeed. 💕
I hope she’s doing Ok. I have had brain surgery before and I know it can be hard so I am so glad they got her the help she needed.
Kudos to everyone-her for reaching out, the staff for their response and you, for being her instant rock. Quiet heroes.
Therapy is a bad idea and pointless since most likely the issues have a large neurological component. Unfortunately there isnt much for things of that nature (brain damage) but I tried hyperbaric oxygen. Was less degrading than therapy (more pleasant inspite of the minor ear drum damage too reversable so dont worry) it should increase cerebral blood flow and oxygen if that leads to healing or compensantory traits well thats up for debate.
I went through this with my daughter. She was having severe thoughts and had a plan. I took her to the ER. Everything Steve said is true. Everyone was super nice and came in to introduce themselves or to check in The ER doctor even came in said “hello,” assessed her and gave her some anti-anxiety meds. The only opening for her was at a facility 200 miles away. She was transported in an ambulance and we followed her there. As the adult here’s what you need to know, before going: have a packed bag (facilities usually keep the kid for five to seven days), any medications and shoes without laces. The ER will take everything the patient is wearing. You’ll have to go back to the ER and retrieve those items from security. They don’t send those items with you. Be prepared. When you get to the facility they will want a medical history and then ask the patient many questions. This is a crisis intervention, they will start medications and mood stabilizers. The patient is released to your care and with follow up info. If your child needs more help, they will have them transferred to a long term facility.
Good luck and you are loved.
My daughter has been through the same thing and you're right...this is spot on. The staff was very good to us, the only exception being I slept all night sitting in a chair with my head on my daughter's bed and then come morning time a nurse said "I guess we could have brought in a bed for you." Like, really? Now you tell me? Lol At one point we were waiting for her to be transferred to the psych facility and I asked if I could go home and get some clothes and stuff for her and the nurse asked in all seriousness if I was going to come back. I was just like, what?? Of course I am. She told me that sometimes parents make up a reason to leave and *they don't come back*. I couldn't believe it. Just the thought of it breaks my heart. How could you just leave your child when they need you the most? Anyway, I hope things get better for your daughter. We've been struggling with my daughter's depression for about 5 years now and it's hard but we're managing. She's 15 but I never leave her unsupervised, even for a 5 min trip to the store. I pray every day that she can find some peace and joy in life.
Thank you for the info! Lots of love to your family
medication and mood stabilizers instead of therapy? That is the saddest thing I have ever heard :(
@@lesliewolfe7643 she will if you address the root cause of her depression :) I am sure she's receiving therapy with a very good and understanding therapist she likes
@@StephanieTips it’s because it’s the quickest way to change the channel so to speak or get a different mindset. It’s temporary and therapy is the long term goal for long term health but they need to access things and create change at an accelerated rate for safety reasons. It’s not a drug em and leave em scenario, it’s a temp situation to establish change for the long term
I know this video is supposed to be reassuring of sorts, but I think all it did was reinforce the idea that I should never, NEVER tell people if I’m suffering. I’d rather spend a few weeks crying in my own room than in a psych ward.
Tell people you love! But no psych wards aren’t always the best way to help. It wasn’t for me
Exactly, and if after a few days in my room don't help. I would rather end it than talk to another unhelpful psychiatrist or psychologist
Same with me. Tell your family and therapist instead of the ER doctor… I pretty much had this exact experience with my postpartum depression. It sucked but I’m still getting help. The psych ward didn’t exactly help me either.
The hospital/ER is meant for when people can't stay safe long enough to get help. It doesn't take an emergency provider to treat depression and even some degree of suicidal thoughts. I've taken people to the ER for crisis when I didn't know if they would stay safe without it. Every other time, I try to talk with them about what they need professionally (medication, therapy, support/resources) and non-professionally (friends, hobbies, time to cry).
The ER isn't my first choice for mental health care (and some ERs are totally incompetent at it), but it's an option I'd choose in a life or death situation.
I simply don’t know how I could possibly recover mentally if I’m in a setting where I feel constantly threatened and stressed.
As someone who has dealt with major depression for several years now, I truly hate when asking for help immediately turns you into some kind of felon: no phone, no autonomy, no privacy. It really makes you think twice to give that step 🙄
Same, like I've never been to a mental hospital before or anything but just by the sounds of it it sounds like hell.
Yep. Last time I was "in", they confiscated my sandal slippers I wear instead of socks, my squishmallow I religiously carry around, my FitBit, my chew necklace and my noise canceling headphones. Items 1, 2, and 4 & 5 are necessary because I am autistic. I can't wear socks, loud noises set me off, and my squishmallow (Waddles the Penguin), is my comfort item. Without the chew necklace, I chew my lips and the inside of my mouth to shreds (i took it off its cord figuring they would have a problem with the cord, they still took the pendant saying i could "choke myself with it") My FitBit is necessary for frequent monitoring because I have POTs.
@@KatieBearGrrr I'm so sorry that happened to you. They should've let you keep those things while you were there. Those staff members were really ignorant to just take all that stuff from you even though you really needed it.
not saying your wrong because youre not, but its protocall
@@nigward.1018yea its protocol, but i sure would love to know the reasons FOR that protocol.
Im an EMT who frequently does transfers from ERs to psych facilities. I have personally struggled with deep depression for years and was once very close to suicide. I have a soft spot in my callous heart towards people in a mental health crisis. This skit is very accurate. The ER is not the best place to get treatment for such a issue but most of the people there, will fight for you in any way they can. Getting help for mental issues can be a frustrating process for a lot of people but it starts the path of healing. For anyone who is struggling with it, go in. We as healthcare workers may come off as cold or uncaring but trust me, we really care when someone is truly hurting physically or mentally.
I don't do as much transfers but I definitely done enough to say it leaves you with a new perspective. I originally started emerg only and I always prepared for the worst but the alot of transfers and it was alot preparing for the worst wasn't working. I left and got a new job where I do little pysch and I am left with a dark understanding of what psych can do to you.
Sean, thank you for deeply understanding the stress and despair of the patient. It’s hard to see a future when your world has been black for awhile. I can only guess that you are a beam of light in the darkness. Thank you again for caring about your patients.
Sean, I'm an OP therapist who has specialized in chronic suicidality the past 12 years. I've heard many a story about people's experiences in the ED and when they have gone IP, many unpleasant. I'm really glad you are there to help; it gives my cynical heart a bit of hope! ❤️
Thank you!
Thank you for your critical work. I hope you keep rising. God loves you or the universe, if that makes you more comfortable. Stay well and rock on💪🏿
I'm like 99% sure this is in response to the one person talking about how you can be kind of flippant with some serious content... if that's the case, thank you for putting up a video like this. I've got a dark sense of humor, so I get it, but this was a great way for those who don't think the same way ❤
oh, you mean FootlessJoe?
I had similar thoughts actually. Honestly? I really think he DOES care, and he knows people. So, he's put these vids out to educate along with give some chuckles, right? But, for THIS topic, his target audience to help may not respond well to his usual tone. He's a good dude and good at this, so... different tone.
🤷♀️maybe?🤷♀️😉
@@tatjanamarusic3529 that was one of them, though I guess a few people have made comments about it
@@KOKO-uu7yd same, I deal with bipolar disorder, I've dealt with self harm, have tried to unalive myself multiple times, and have dealt with ideations since 6th grade. I found the original video funny and relatable bc my experience was close to that. A psychiatrist told me I was stupid for trying to unalive myself and an ambulance driver told me that they get annoyed with people who they take in for that because they'd prefer to help people who actually want to live (that was a passing conversation not while I was at a hospital)... aaaand to top it off I tried it once, then delayed to just harming myself so I went to a doc to treat the major wounds and when a nurse in the hallway genuinely asked how I was doing he told her I was just looking for attention.
Soooooooo... this may be the normal way to handle it, but the original format actually wasn't far from people's truth either.
This was all more than 15 years ago, so I do think medicine has become more caring for people... but still. I get both the dark comedy and the need for the nuance as well
@@singingsiren82 Thanks for sharing your story and perspective on this. I appreciate your bravery.
Dealing with depression myself and going to the ER when in a crisis. I can’t express how much gratitude I had towards the ER staff. My stand by nurse was very kind and friendly. I’m very thankful for the wonderful people that work in the hospital. Thank you for helping those in need.
ER staff was also always super kind to me and honestly going to a psychiatric facility was always a smart choice and it always helped me when I needed it. Waiting in the ER all day long to get to a mental hospital was always the preferred choice over just going home and hurting myself 😂 but it helped a lot!!!
I am so happy to hear this. I’m with you, I understand how this feels and I’m so glad you found them to be so nice and helpful. That’s truly amazing.
Thank you all for sharing. 😸
As a fellow survivor of ongoing chronic major depression and anxiety, I want to applaud you for seeking help and staying the course. So many don’t make it and it’s so hard to imagine ourselves going on without them. It’s true what they say (though it sounds really trite), the darkness doesn’t last forever and the sun WILL come out again. We just have to make sure we learn to first recognize the sunny days, and then learn to value them as the amazing gift they are.
As hard as it is to imagine during the bad days, start making “bucket lists” so that when the sun does come out, you’re not at a loss over what to do. Been there, done that waaaaaay too many times. The ‘deer in the headlights’ reference is perfect because suddenly I felt better, but I didn’t know what to do with myself. Then I’d stress out, freeze, and end up losing that precious sunny day(s). And then the guilt, anxiety, and depression would come roaring back. Truly a vicious circle.
Maybe you’ve wanted to go to that popular new movie. Or maybe you want ice cream from 31 Flavors. Maybe you’ve dreamed of sky diving, or maybe you want to deep clean your oven. Put on your list easy things like going out on your deck to breathe the fresh air or maybe shell hunting on the beach. Then list things that you’ve wanted to stretch yourself to do (idk, bowling, horseback riding, skydiving?!). And try to list things you can do without having to make reservations well in advance.
Anyway, the point is to have faith and make it easy on yourself by having a plan so you’re not suddenly feeling better but haven’t a clue what to do next. By building these good memories, I truly believe the scale will tip and the happy memories will out number the bad.
I’m definitely not a psychiatrist/psychologist, or even in the healthcare field whatsoever. But having ‘walked the walk,’ I did figure this much out and it’s taken a lot of stress and anxiety off me in a big way. God bless and definitely know you can dm me anytime if you need someone to talk to who truly understands. ❤️❤️
@@floofypurplefluff9924 this is amazing of you to share this, thank you. I’m so glad you are here. We bring ones who have walked the walk, we understand the most to be able to help others who walk the walk too
I hate it how it’s all about shaming people who are suicidal like they’re a naughty kid at daycare
No. It’s to keep you safe. They are there to keep you alive. They aren’t shaming you, they are taking every step possible to keep you alive. It’s an ER, not a therapy center.
exactly. nobody can ever sympathize with people who are suicidal anymore.
No hate, but it’s not exactly their problem, or job to sympathize with people.@@breannaismissing
@@EmeraldWatsyokay but making the situation worse when youre in crisis may keep you alive for the time being but as he said in the video, incidents happen when people lock themselves in the bathroom, meaning the moment theyre alone, they try something. They already decided to present to the ER instead of attempting to take their life but now all od the sudden they want to make that attempt? Obviously something happened between the time they arrived at the ER and their bathroom attempt to make them give up enough to try. What may have happened you may ask to have caused this? This exact situation seen in the video. Sometimes you just need a bit of compassion or to see that someone cares. Instead you get treated like a child who can’t be trusted with any responsibilities which furthers the inner narrative of inadequacy.
“I can’t even be trusted to use the bathroom or to hold on to my own phone? Maybe I am just that pathetic.”
Fr most psych ward doctors are heartless monsters
Well I didn't expect to be crying so hard first thing on a Monday morning, but here we are.
Thank you for making this, it's terrifying dealing with thoughts of self injury and suicide, even when you want to get help. Having an idea of what happens when you go to an ER can be reassuring to some.
And for those of you who've been there, or are on a similar road, I wish you all the best. It's a long road, but it can get better.
This is actually a good public service announcement. People need to understand that once you mention even thinking about hurting yourself, you've signed yourself up for most likely a 72 hour hold.
Mine was 3 weeks during christmas and new year 2020. I remember thinking its a new year and im sitting in a psych ward. It can’t possibly get worse than this, then covid happened
Told my parents that I'm suicidal and wanna sh and I never got sent to the hellhole y'all r talking ab and guess what...! I'm still depressed, and definitely considering self harming (told my parents before I could). They won't let me have privacy, and I can't even be alone in a room without them checking on me. I get it, they might be concerned, but it's not helping me. I'm too scared to cry in front of them now because they ask what's wrong, and I don't know what to say. I don't even want to tell them anymore because it's hard. I honestly wanna go to the ward now because I have already done a suicidal attempt, and I DO NOT feel like I'm going to get out of this "phAsE" anytime soon. I'm too scared to ask my parents though again cause they are going to go through every single little thing I have, ask if I need anything, give me a hug, look at me like I'm stupid, and then say I really don't need help. So now I just want somebody to talk to, but I'm one of those people who bottle emotions up and NEVER tell anyone my thoughts or feelings. Shout-out to my sister and my parents for giving me depression!! 😍🥰♥️🤭
@@Number1Buttermine was during COVID the week before Halloween. I didn't fight it and the wait was likely a few hours. Still came into it late because my mom made phone calls to understand what to do in the situation taking some time. No one was even told until like 2-4pm and admitted inpatient at like 9-12
@@darianbarber3763 that sounds really unpleasent, sorry you had to go through that and I hope youre doing better now friend
Yes. Seriously. Be careful reaching out for help. Know that you actually want the kind of help you’re going to get- their job is to literally prevent you from topping yourself, not helping you feel better.
As far as I know the majority of sui prevention resources available are focused on that singular goal, by any means necessary.
Chances are online, *anonymous* peer support is going to be the most effective *feel better* method, followed by formal treatment for the underlying cause of sui urges.
Seriously, know what you’re signing up for. You’re trading being forced to stay alive for further trauma/discomfort. *But* if that’s what you feel you need to survive, then by all means reach out.
I felt his hesitation, then his terror with him when he couldn’t leave. I choked up when he said they wouldn’t be able to forgive themselves and when he just wanted to get better.. Thank you for this, Steve.
Yes this absolutely confirms I will never EVER tell a healthcare professional if I’m having thoughts of hurting and/or killing myself. They’ll confiscate my belongings, including the the things I use as comfort or coping mechanisms such as my phone so I can actually talk to the friends who help me deal with these thoughts, then they’ll hold me against my will so I’ll wish even harder I were dead just to escape it. This video is pure horror to me. Just makes it infinitely harder to ever reach out when this is the threat hanging over my head.
I agree 100%
There are suicide hotlines, you get help at home.
I told an adult at my school about making a plan to kill myself and this is pretty much what happened it was like 8 hours of hell but that discomfort was worth finally getting the help I needed at the time.
@@sarahpalmer411
You say that like suicide hotlines haven't been an absolute joke.
@@RJLiams Why is that? I don’t have any experience with them so don’t know what they are like.
I once was escorted to the ER because a family member claimed I wanted to hurt myself. That's all it took, they took a comment out of context, and I was carted off to the ER. I sat on a gurney in the hallway for what felt like hours listening to people in the rooms losing their minds, while families of patients were literally asking me "why are you here? You don't look crazy to me." When I finally got into a room, I was left by myself nearly the whole time, and when a doctor finally came back, all I had to do to leave was "promise" to schedule an appt with a mental health professional. If I wasn't depressed before I got there, I definitely was by the time I left.
SAME except they didn’t let me leave. I asked why, and they said I mentioned having anxiety. Which of course I had anxiety being carted away against my will! They kept me till insurance ran out and my family is still struggling from payments
No offense but based on my experience your story isnt adding up at all
@@misterblackhole7864Would it shock you to hear that different people have different experiences and that not all hospitals are identical and some meet standards and some don’t, often because they don’t have the funding?
What a monster family member
God I feel this... I had a similar horror experience when I was a teen. I was forced to go via ambulance to an ER over two small cuts I made. I was left alone for hours not allowed to contact my family so they thought I was missing/kidnapped. I remember the sticky blood all over the place, the nurses yelling at homeless people and being forced to sneak gauze and tape to clean my cuts myself. There was so much noise and screaming... And, like you, after 12hrs of sitting there all I had to do was 'promise'' not to do it again to a 'psychiatrist' that had anything better to do that day than give two shits about anyone there.
ED doc here. This video is incredibly accurate. Patients don’t always take, “you can’t leave” as well. But this is 100% how it goes.
Was admitted to a psych facility with ED, stayed there for a month. I really appreciated the doctors, even though I was really not impressed with the place heh, but that’s because I was young and had other things on my mind. Thank you for doing your job, you (doctors) have helped me out a whole bunch :)
The “cheat code” for getting out is to say that you’re malingering - and not actually depressed or suicidal. Lol.
@@j.h.miretskay3430 that's not alright tho, you were so strong to make the choice of trying to get help. If you go back from there, there's a high chance you'll hurt yourself really, really badly and throw it all away.
@@heather2701 There is no evidence whatsoever that inpatient psychiatric treatment prevents people from proceeding with suicide. A markedly increased likelihood of committing suicide shortly after discharge is a well-known and well-documented risk. Furthermore, several recent papers - including several that analysed many decades worth of data - showed that a significantly elevated risk of suicide persists decades after being discharged from inpatient psychiatric treatment, even when comparing populations with similar demographics and severity of symptoms. Several authors have proposed that inpatient psychiatric treatment itself might actually be suicidogenic by further traumatizing people and making them less likely to seek treatment in the future.
@@heather2701 I agree. It's sad when people tell me they lied to get out. Of course it's not fun, but you'll be thankful for it in the long run. It takes time to realize it though, definitely. I'm very thankful for it because I'm glad that I got the help and that it's available and I've learned so much from my experiences. It may sound weird, but if I'm feeling badly enough, I'll sometimes push for them to keep me longer because I know myself best. If I say I'm not okay, then I'm not.
Huh, no wonder why people don't go to the hospital when they feel suicidal
They should go to the hospital and it's for their own good to have people watch them and keep them from hurting themselves.
I just die
@@annabellelee4535i'd rather suffer than be in a psych ward honestly. and I'm not talking from a blank point of view, Im literally having a mental breakdown and thats why I'm still watching this video and it did not help whatsoever.
@@connesuir Yes, and alcoholics and drug addicts prefer to not become sober. The mentally ill people and substance addicted people are not in their right minds and cannot make decisions in their own best interest.
@@connesuir i have to agree this sounds like an imprisonment . and makes you feel crazy.
Oh yeah involuntary mental hospital stays definitely "help" me out big time. If i didn't go in suicidal, I definitely was when i left.
Glad you posted this one, this will honestly help so many people. You have been making a difference to people for a while now, mostly thru laughter, but today you saved lives too. Love you brother.
no he just scared me off of ever doing this.
(going to the ER if I'm in danger)
@@yolo-ni5blyeah the response might be considered overboard but it’s appropriate due to to the circumstances. If your heavily depressed and have thoughts of doing harm and potentially death to yourself then these actions are appropriate because it’s to prevent those incidents from happening. Once your brain starts to stabilize then you will understand and be thankful that they went the hardest they did then if they never went as hard as they did
Most people with depression or anxiety will more like not tell anyone after watching this video
@@Cakemarvelous some won’t. Some will. I don’t think this video will have any negative impact, and as someone who has had major depression for a decade (compounded by cancer taking my wife at age 34, and my dad dying 2 years later) it does actually help. But I take your point, Some might use this knowledge to avoid help.
Honestly, im glad to see him making this into a more serious and better addressed than his normal videos. Its exactly what's going to happen but it is for your own health!
Edit: wow this comment really blew up. I was stoned when i wrote it so please excuse the horrible grammar. 3.2k people understood what i meant at least 😂😂😂
Yeah because he got so much hate for it before
@@justanotherchannelhi5326 yeah I didn't understand it
@@justanotherchannelhi5326 i enjoyed it sorta because i like dark humor. That's just what he posts. If it isnt your thing, i guess dont watch it but im glad to see something nicer come from him. Especially with the topic
Sameeeee!
Serious when he needs to be and humorous when he can
This happened to me back in May. I was going through tough times and well I had no choice but to go to the ER. What Steveio demonstrated was what actually happened and it sure brought me back to that day where I needed help even though my mind said no. After going through a lot of the process at being at the ER I eventually of course talked to a psychiatrist and the was later informed that I’ll be heading to another location which I had to stay for a week without contact from the outside and to be evaluated. Then fortunately I was prescribed and was able to go back home. As of now I’m feeling alot more better than I was all those months ago and I even got a doggie best friend to keep me company.
Sorry if it’s long, with lots of sentences without periods and if my grammar is abit of “poop.” I do apologize. Just wanted to leave something here since this video sure made a connection towards me. Anyways have a nice day!
Stop apologizing for existing.
Your comment is valued. Thank you.
I hope you’re feeling much better and you got your message across just fine don’t worry about the grammar ❤️
Thank you for sharing your story. I’m so glad you were heard and got help and even have a doggo friend.
Doggo friends are the best. 🥰 Glad you had a good experience
This is exactly why nobody tells anyone how they actually feel
And the doctors will beg you to stay in the ER so that they can charge you more money to pay off when you get out. And you only get out by lying and saying you dont feel like killing yourself anymore. But then you still do want to but now ur stuck with a thousand dollars of ER fees to slave away at ur job to pay off
I was in the ward in October for “self harm” ideation. After spending a week in inpatient and another 2 months in intense outpatient therapy I changed my entire life. I’m still depressed, and I know how to not let it destroy me. I got a job, started eating veggies, and stopped using drugs. Also found out some hidden triggers and traumatic memories that I’ve never acknowledged before. I finally had support.
To everyone that is depressed and scared, the ER and their psych and behavioral wards are the best thing that’ll ever happen.
Everyday will get a little easier.
Wishing you the Very Best on your Journey through Life and Many, Many Blessings!
My most annoying trigger is cleaning. I just wanna eat off a clean plate, Cheryl... no? Fine. Paper towel toast it is!
@@vainblack9643 that’s a tough one, I totally relate hahaha. I’d say my most annoying trigger is being late. I’m much better now but I have to cope through it otherwise I’ll get a full on 8/10 panic attack. It’s silly hahaha
@@melissawolfenstein8174 thank you 🙏 so much
Was it terribly expensive?
I'm a psychologist. Steveioe, thank you for showing that ER professionals do their very best to keep patients safe and use compassion and honesty throughout the admission process. It takes a lot of courage for a person to come to the ER during a psychiatric crisis. Compassionate honesty rewards a person's courage.
I plan to use this video when I lecture on psychological disorders and treatment.
Thank you, sir.
Our hospital needs to see this the staff is awful and has no compassion.
Wished it was like this when I went. They had me in a room with someone watching me that was understandable but when I refused to use the restroom because there was urine and feces all over the seat I was told to either use it and give a urine sample or they’d catheterize me and take it. Told them I had no problem with peeing in a cup but no way was I sitting on that and they needed to clean it first. They handed me chemicals and paper towels said clean it then. SMH no gloves or anything ick. Then when a friend showed up to take my personal items they violated HIPPA telling them personal things I’d rather they not have known. Then there was a nurse talking about someone who tried to give herself an abortion and how all that looked like etc. I raised my voice that’s gross do you mind shutting up? I don’t want nor need to hear all that crap. They threatened to have me restrained etc if I didn’t calm down. I wasn’t even as loud as the man down the hall detoxing threatening to have everyone buried alive…… smh
@@rethalockhart5452 OMFG! where was this!? Completely ignoring the list of legal violations, the lack of compassion, dignity, or even basic manners; they want to throw in a huge list of health risks! where are their housekeepers?
@@fzyturtle Nashville TN.
@@fzyturtle I agree with you, but in hospitals there isn’t housekeeping, it is called environmental services.
I've been there and seeing how he's trying to ease the patients anxiety is making me cry! It can be very scary and intimidating but the people are really there to help and its not usually like the movies where a bunch of crazy ppl run around and get tied to beds. It's actually a pretty calm quiet place in the psych hospital. And the other patients try to look out for each other sometimes.
Not all mental hospitals are created equally.
There are nice ones available (hard to find) but most of them I've been in were more like crazy jail than a place of healing.
I don't post this to be scary or to scare anyone off from seeking help.
I post this, instead, in hopes that changes can be made as we also work to remove the stigma of mental illness.
@@ellacowin9974 Yep. Only been once, voluntarily after trying to unsubscribe as a teen, and it. Was. *HELL.* They were horrible. I had to fight the nurse/tech to get my meds (that I'd been taking for a few years; chronic illnesses), even though they were all approved by the admitting and attending. Most of the staff were very condescending and just general arses who very clearly didn't actually care. I was regularly woken up by needles, which drastically worsened my trypanophobia and general health anxiety. They were definitely not equipped to deal with autism, either. I'm very glad, and lucky, that I was able to leave quickly. I *really* hope things went better for the others in my group, because I know most of them were stuck there on long and involuntary holds.
If you, or someone close, have depression that sometimes gets to some really low or self-harm points, try to make yourself a game plan on one of your good days. If you're able to, do some research into the places around you and see which one seems like the best place for you to go if things get really bad. Even if you go to the ER first, you can ask if they can check whatever facility/ies for availability first. Plus, having a plan in place for what to do and where to go can be a *huge* help if there's anxiety over not knowing what might happen. You can also have a note to let your regular doctor know if you're admitted so they can work with your team and be ready to immediately continue care once you're home.
It can take a long while to get out of that tunnel of darkness sometimes, but you can do it. It's a marathon, not a race, so try not to get too down if it's taking a while. Everyone moves at a different rate, and that holds especially true when it comes to mental health.
My love, support, and internet ghost hugs to any and all who may need it 🫂💖🫂
When I was in a psych hospital the other patients and myself we totally looked out for each other.
@@sedonarose7563 I agree that most of the patients are ok. But not all.
@@Catlily5 very true. And now you mention it, I’m recalling one Im particular who was a total douche. But the rest were either super chill or minded their own business
I love how they don't mention the several thousand dollar medical bill and that they sometimes don't even give you your stuff back, like in my case, when I was admitted into the psych hospital I left without my crutches they took away when I arrived, never heard anything after that other than a bill for being treated like less than human for a week, fed like a hamster, and being told that my trauma means nothing because someone else was having a breakdown. It's not about care, it's about control, they isolate you and prevent you from having any security in your life and then give you medication to "fix" the issue you have, never dealing with the trauma that caused it. It's like putting duck tape on a hole on a boat, "but it fixed the problem right?". I was in there for a week because I was forced to, and 5 days in I asked for help finally, and they told me to my face "We can't help you because you might have a relapse and put other patients at risk." MEANWHILE, they were drugging up some crackhead for the 11th time I was there, not at all caring about how him acting like a psycho might affect MY mental health.
Made me cry. When my daughter was 15 and tried to hurt herself, we found her. Once we got to the ER no one explained to her or to me what the process would be , what was going to happen, how long she’d be there, what doctor she’d be talking to, nothing. And the nurse was angry that she’d done what she did. It made a very tense and frightening time even worse. I am very grateful for this. Thank you
The anxiety of even visiting the psychiatric ER made everything so much worse. I got brought in against my will by police when I was 19. I wasn’t allowed to leave, but at the same time they had no room. So they simply just placed me in the waiting room next to a guy with psychosis, a screaming drug addict & a young girl with a panic attack. I was able to talk my way out of there that same night.
The answer to that question will always be NO.
I feel this. There is no help besides yourself
Agreed. Even got warned by a nurse of what will happen if I said that to a doctor. Noped out
As a person with misophonia. I would've killed myself right after.
This is 100% correct.
I was in the ER and diagnosed with acute stress disorder (the precursor to PTSD) after there was a shooting at my school when I was in college.
It takes FOREVER to see the psychiatrist and I had someone watch over me the entire time I was in the ER.
Not fun.
But great video. Very informative.
I'm sorry that happened to you. I've only seen the recaps of events like this on the news, which is NOT the same. Praying you are healing🙏🏻
@@giraffeNana2023 thank you!
How are you doing now??
@@1298blaster I still have a lot of issues.
I'm so sorry that happened to you. I hope you're doing fine!
This experience would definitely make my situation ten billion times worse.
As a person who has been in the ER with this exact scenario, I can say I wish I had had Rich for a nurse. Nothing was explained to me, I was terrified on so many levels and felt trapped, and even the transfer to a behavioral health facility wasn’t explained. I was terrified. A nurse like this would have made it a LOT less scary. Thanks for demonstrating compassion towards people who have these issues.
That was very tactful, and extremely true. I've been that patient, and it can be very scary. But nurses like him, make it easier.
So true I've been there I have Bipolar 2 with severe depression and anxiety an used to think I was just to stressed out an over working myself or thought I was losing my mind til I went an got help and when I did I was by myself and terrified but a nurse there made me feel alot better and safe about being there
I'm feel for you both. I was admitted in July and I'm still on disability.
@@grooving2music thank you for your kindness.
@@grooving2music thank you, my Mom has the same thing as I do along with something else I can't remember what it's called but apparently bipolar runs in females on my mom's side of the family my Mom is retired and gets her pension but also receives disability for her mental illness. Me I'm only 32 so I still work but I see a therapist twice a week and a psychiatrist once a month an the medication they have me on has worked wonders. I still battle with the depression alone itself but the therapy helps with that alot.
I was severely mishandled by the hospital system (Australia) when I was forced into going to the hospital for my suicidal ideation. It's left me with a phobia of hospitals and I now avoid seeing medical professionals wherever possible. It makes me sad to see what should have happened, and think of how I could have received the care I so desperately needed instead of being sent home with the knowledge that nobody really gave a shit
I'm so sorry you had that experience, I had a similar experience here in the uk. I think our health system is similar to yours. It seems common here for people to be just sent home without much support even when expressing suicidal thoughts. It's shocking! Unfortunately too many are let down. I hope things are better for you now :)
I'm in the US and have the same exact fear and all mine was when I was a minor so I had absolutely 0 say in anything. It still scares me to this day to admit anything or even truly talk to anyone in fears I'll end up back there. :/
@@tinykittenlollipop1look up breaking code silence. It’s a nonprofit that helps victims of the “troubled teen industry” and other mental health centers that hurt people
I was also severely mishandled and I wasn’t even suicidal. I was booked because my parents said I was. The doctors didn’t take my word for it. I was locked up without free contact to the outside world and pumped full of drugs with severe side effects until my insurance ran out. I don’t trust medical staff to this day.
I hate that you had that experience. I will drive people an extra 50 minutes to a hospital I trust because I've lost all confidence in the hospital that's 5 minutes away.
As someone with depression myself, I once seeked help in a hospital . . .
That they wouldn't let me go was the reason I never came back.
I'm glad this skit takes the subject seriously. As someone who has had to deal with mental health issues for the better part of my life its been hard to get the help I needed from doctors and the people around me. I asked help a number of time but doctors only looked at my physical health and dismissed my mental one. I was pale so my tiredness and lack of enthusiasm was attributed to anemia. I was told I had no reason to be stressed or upset, even thought I had been dealing with ideas of hurting myself ever since I was 9 or 10 and went into a complete shutdown in my early twenties where I could no longer work or go to school and had trouble even taking care of myself. It took me going to an emergency doctor with a friend as escort ( as I didn't trust myself going through with it) to get a doctor to look at me seriously and it led to finally getting a proper diagnosis and treatment plan and now years later my life is great. Mental health is a serious issues and its important that It be taken seriously.
I'm glad you were persistent and advocated for yourself, both with doctors and by asking a friend to help you keep your plan for getting help. That shows how strong you are, and how much of a fighter!
I have a phobia of ER's now because of this. I was having multiple anxiety/panic attacks every day (related to sensory overload, I got help after the ER thing through a different source) and went with my husband to the ER. I just wanted to figure out what was causing the attacks. They asked the self harm question and then proceeded to admit me without any explanation. When they told me I had to change into a hospital gotten I saw that they were planning on admitting me, and I was so confused and scared. I asked to just wear my clothes (I have a history of sexual abuse and have a huge issue with feeling exposed like in a gown) and they said I had to do everything they said. I had never consented to being admitted, I was separated from my husband and in a panic from not knowing what was going on and not having anything explained to me. I said I wanted to leave and they said I couldn't, and if I tried they would call the police. At this point I was hyperventilating and crying uncontrollably, I just ran out and back to the waiting room and clutched my husband while he talked to them. I'm crying now while remembering how terrifying that experience was. If I had been alone I can't imagine what more harm would have been done. I did end up going back in with my husband and talking to a doctor who told me I was fine and prescribing an anti anxiety med that I couldn't take because I was breastfeeding. My husband wrote a review saying that this ER needed better trained employees and advising people not to go there if they have any mental health issues because nobody was helpful or compassionate. It's experiences like this that make it really difficult for me to accept healthcare, although I know that there are legitimate reasons to get help. It's just hard when you feel so uncared for and manipulated in that setting. I watch medical people on RUclips and always wish they actually acted like that in real life. Unfortunately it's very rare to find someone like in this video.
We all want doctor house. We get ... nothing.
i think i went to this same place, as i saw a review from a guy and it follows along the lines of what you said. it was horrible and i never want to return
if it was in texas i know exactly where
so sorry for you angel
@@WoahItsKris what was the place called?
Yup, this is exactly how it played out for me. I ended up being in-patient for 6 days. I'm so glad the ER staff took me seriously and explained exactly what is going to happen.
Yeah pretty much what happened when I went to the hospital and got taken there when I revealed i was feeling suicidal. It's the exact same reason why I don't tell my psychiatrist if I self harm, have suicidal ideations or will self harm in the future. I've learned to keep it to myself or just my friends or my mom, who knows just how shitty the psych ward is in the long term. Yes it helped me get to therapy, but that was it. The stay itself was miserable, as was every other time I got sent there.
It's not help. It's a punishment. A prison. Even if I feel incredibly alone or suicidal, I'd rather tell someone who I trust won't get me locked up than risk telling a professional who's only out to save their asses from a lawsuit.
I agree
i like that this is a more gentle version of the other video
A great video. Anyone who has been in a position, where life feels so hard to live, will understand what is going through this persons head.
It hurts to admit it, but it does get better, though it is a difficult journey.
Thank you for your hard work and for this video to help those in need.
24yrs later... still waiting for "it to get better"
@@v.crowley Two words,
Glock
Perfection
@@v.crowley 52 years later and some days it is better, and some days it is not. I have a mild bipolar disorder. I don't think I get manic(maybe?), but I always have this low background hum of depression. It's under control with meds, and I see a therapist. Because of them, I am able to live a fairly normal life. I hope with all my heart that it gets better for you.
@@delta8388 WTF. You first.
This touches deep. Thank you for not turning mental health into a joke! It’s so tastefully done I’m almost in tears ♥️
It's disgusting how people think that mental illness, self-harm, and suicide is a joke. This isn't a joke!
@@KellyTheReiss as a bipolar person who's tried to unalive myself and dealt with self harm... joking about it is how I cope with that darkness. Honestly, if I all of a sudden seem real serious people need to be concerned about me.
@@singingsiren82 I'm sorry that you had to go through that. I hope that you're feeling okay.
@@KellyTheReiss I am, honestly a dark sense of humor is what gets me through it.
@@singingsiren82 Dark humor helps me with my mental illness too.
Lesson learned: never tell anyone you're struggling
I tried that but someone who cares about u will find out eventually
You can't mention your thoughts, or they'll lock you up. I always just say I have never thought of harming myself, so I can leave. They have to ask.
@@brianmarshall5261 I’ve went through the hospital process because of suicide attempts and it doesn’t matter what u tell them they know the truth
@@ansjeliek I told my parents! (they told me if i didnt stop trying to get attention, they will throw me into a mental health facility
@@ansjeliek I thought i could trust them but oh well perhaps not
Yeah this was why I learned to _not_ go to the ER. They took all my stuff, left me in pain and refused to help, left me unsupervised in a room full of hoses, refused to let me meet my modesty standards, and helped themselves to my lorazepam. Perhaps if it had be done with kindness and gentleness that would have been one thing. But telling a non-violent patient with NO history of any crimes or physical attacks they can't have their bra back "because you could be hiding a bomb in it" told me everything I needed to know. They treated me like an animal and I received no help. Just a social worker I had to lie to in the morning so I could escape and have access to my medication that I needed.
I get that this comment will get a bad response but I'm not going to pretend this didn't happen. I stopped trusting the hospital after that and would just drink heavily or use weed (legal state) to drown out the suicidal ideation. That said you don't strike me as someone who would mistreat a suicidal patient and I appreciate that.
I am appalled but not surprised.
The “bomb bra” was a new one tho.
This happened to me a few months ago. I was in the ER for something else when I had a panic attack and said to the nurse “I just want this to end”. I meant the panic attacks but they thought I was going to self harm and they put me in a bed and took all my belongings and had a security guard with me at all times. He fell asleep at times but that’s besides the point.
I just kept telling them I was okay and wanted to go home because being in the hospital is a huge trigger for me but they wouldn’t let me leave. They just kept saying I had to wait for the social worker and it took about 7 hours for anyone to come talk to me. They asked me questions and called my husband to ask him a few questions about my mental state. Then they gave me a list of phone numbers I could call if I had a “mental health emergency “ and they let me go. My husband is not fluent in English and he said he didn’t understand what they asked him and didn’t answer much and then they just gave up and hung up.
I understand it’s not a perfect system and I am sure there are many obstacles that need to be overcome to put better practices in place but hospitals need to step it up when it comes to mental health emergencies.
As someone who used to frequent the ER before I learned to manage my panic attacks I can say that almost every time going to the ER made me feel worse before it made me feel Better because I felt judged and like they just wanted me to calm down and leave. I had doctors literally ask “what do you want me to do about it?” And one even told me to just deal with the panic attacks at home. For anyone who has struggled with panic attacks you know how gut-wrenching it would feel to hear these words mid panic attack.
I know some hospitals are better than others but I wish there was a better system in place.
I am so sorry for the legacy of doctors that have not been caring to those of us in need 😞
Agreed. When I was about 14 I went to the hospital for a mental emergency and was going to be put in a psych ward, which I had already been to before and thoroughly hated it. That was/is still a big trigger for me so I was having one of the worst panic attacks I’ve had. A nurse came in and I was trying to talk to her through my hiccups and hyperventilating and told her that mental hospitals took away everything I use to cope/calm down (friends, music, digital art, videos, games) and she straight up told me none of those were coping mechanisms and that ‘real coping mechanisms are inside you’. The place they brought me ended up punishing me and sending me to pretty much a less intense version of solitary confinement just because I didn’t think they taught me anything. It really feels like these things are made to make people scared to reach out for help sometimes and it’s sad because so many people I’ve seen at psych wards get pushed around or picked on by staff that’re supposed to be there to help
I've had one doctor ask me simply, “what do you want me to do about it?” in the kindest tone I've heard from someone when I was in the middle of a panic attack once. I kept telling him "I don't know, I don't know!" but when he would move to leave my anxiety would get worse. He went out of his way to at least make sure I wasn't alone and had a nurse always within my line of sight. I do remember he told me, "Now if anyone leave you alone without a good reason, darlin', you be sure to let me know." Which thankfully didn't happen, all the nurses that were in and out always tried to get me to talk with them to distract me from my anxiety and one woman even offered me her sprite and crackers she got from the vending machine.
I always feel it's a trick when a doctor asks me "What do you want me to do about it?" I want to answer "I don't know. You're the expert- that's why I am here." But I have often felt too submissive in the face of their authority, Lovely video Steve
Holy shit. My mom and I have had horrible experiences at the ER for her panic attacks. It’s really the WORST place to be when you’re having a panic attack. People asking you questions left and right like there’s something wrong with you, and if you had even a single bottle of beer or a glass of wine, they treat you like an alcoholic and dehumanize you even more for it. Cause at that point they’re treating you like you’re a severe alcoholic in denial, and giving ME shit because I’m the only one that lives with her. And it takes FOREVER to get anxiety meds. Like, it takes so fucking long, her panic attack is essentially over by then and can leave, but you can’t leave because the doctors think you’re a raging alcoholic and want to take blood work. Have you ever tried convincing someone who’s terrified of needles, mid-panic attack, to get a blood sample? Fuck, it pisses me off so much. The hospital is literally a life or death last resort when she’s having panic attacks now, because of how horrible they’ve treated her every. Single. Fucking. Time.
This made me tear up so much. I had a friend who was very suicidal. I brought her to the hospital and was allowed to visit with her for a few days. I was the only one on her list. She got better, but we still talk about that time. We were only 19 years old and had no clue how the hospital handles everything. Thank you Steve for explaining this to people who don’t know.❤️❤️
Right, so they're going to take your phone...because I'm sure the best thing for a severely depressed person is to just have them staring at the wall for hours. That's known to produce good mental health, right?
Stuff like this is why I didn't go to the hospital when I was suicidal.
Do not get too overwhelmed by the difficult side of getting help, if you need it.
It might even need more then one try, but there's always someone out there who knows how it is and really want to help.
You are worth it.
We are all worth it.
Oh yes because treating people like fucking children is for sure gonna help them. Fuck this.
This legit made me cry as I have been in this situation so many times before. Thanks for being serious about mental health. You're amazing and I hope you never forget it, Steveioe. ❤️
thank you so much for making this. as a teen that has struggled and still struggles with this stuff, it means so much to me. when i was taken to the psych ward, the staff were horrible. they treated us like prisoners, even if we started crying they would tell us to stop it or they would put us in the ‘quiet room’, which is just an isolation room the size of a large closet. i was just 14. now i’m 16 and terrified of going back, because it didn’t even help. it made me feel inferior, and the only reason i got out was because i got on good meds. they kept me there 17 days. i missed most of February and had to make up my school work. a psych ward should be a place for healing, not a place to be treated like dirt. thank you, this puts a bit of my faith back into the system. :)
Some psych wards help and some don't. Sorry you got a bad one.
Yeah, no place is perfect but that's really bad. If you ever need help again, go somewhere different if possible. I've been to a few places, they are all different.
That is horrible, did you report them?
@angelagibbs1717 what they experienced was also the most recommended treatment for autism, ABA. It's literal torture
i'm so sorry that happened to you. There're a lot of people out there (and online!) who are also survivors of psychiatric abuse, you are not alone
So... dont go to the hospital if I'm in a crisis. Got it. Thanks for the honesty
HUGS to all out there who suffer with depression especially during the holiday season. Take your time and seek out help. We'll all be there to hold your hands and walk through it all with you!
I'm a therapist. Thank you for explaining what happens. It can be frightening to have SI, and not knowing what's going to happen when you ask for help can make it even scarier. If you're reading this and need help, please please please go get it. You are deserving and worth it ❤️. I'm currently an outpatient trauma therapist but worked inpatient several years. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have to the best of my ability.
I honestly don't get how people don't see that going through that experience will make a huge trauma by itself. Have any if the doctors ever tried to experience that procedure, just to understand what feelings it can bring to a human. The humiliation and tortures are immense. I have suicidal thoughts sometimes, but if I knew that I would go through being restrained, naked in a empty room with no covers I would definitely make sure I kill myself before getting to this situation
@@Onlichka that does sound terrifying, and if that was your experience I am genuinely sorry. That's not what happens in our hospital, but I think people believe that's what happens and that can prevent them from coming in. There are some things we have to do, like take shoelaces and strings from hoodies so people don't strangle themselves and keep a good eye on you. I try to explain to patients that it's not just about them, someone could take their laces and hurt themselves. As for restraints and nakedness, we encourage being clothed at all times, but some of our more psychotic patients don't always agree. I have been invited to a "no pants party" by patients on our acute unit. I politely declined and invited them my own "let's put on pajamas if we don't want to wear pants" party 🥳. As far as restraints go, they are physical holds that are the very, very last resort we use as a safety measure when patients become physically violent toward themselves or others. They only last until the patient is no longer a danger to themselves or others and I've only seen it a handful of times on the acute unit when patients were super psychotic and trying to attack staff or other patients. Most people that come in are on the open unit, which several of my patients described as feeling like a "mental health sleepover with good snacks".
Hey! Do have a question of my own. I sometimes deal with very intense suicidal feelings and thoughts, and over time have come to choose a method for it. I've gotten very close at times, but usually convince myself to somehow wait until the storm passes. Is it worth it to go get help at a hospital during these periods, or is it better to do as I have and wait things out? One worry for me with going is money. I have insurance but I'll get concerned it's going to cost a lot to get inpatient care, and just to visit the ER in general.
@@kazimirtheblessed5719 I hate to hear that you're struggling, and wish you peace and love. I hear words that worry me, including intense, method, and "usually". I absolutely encourage you to go to the hospital if/when you feel like this because you never know when your "usually" will run out. I can't speak for all hospitals, but I know ours has a very affordable payment plan for copays, as well as a patient fund and a generous write off/charity program. We want safety to be a priority over financial worries. Again, that's our hospital and maybe not every one, although I'd like to believe it's the case across-the-board. Stay safe, don't take a chance with your life. It's the only one you've got. ❤️
@@thejessica-est What do you do if you fear you have multiple severe undiagnosed issues and want to get help, but you are stuck in a spot where going to get help will actually make things worse. I still live with my parents (who really don’t seem to understand or even care how serious this has gotten), and I quite literally can’t do anything on my own without support. It’s gotten that bad, but it feels like everyone just brushes it off as no big deal, and it really frustrates me.
Edit: I wanna be clear in case anyone gets confused. No, I’m not being abused. My family is good to me. It’s just they don’t seem to really understand mental illness all that well (or at least, understand me), so it’s really hard to open up to them about it. I know they love me, it’s just my mind feels like a war zone at times, so it’s hard to think clearly.
I’m hoping that I can make it till after I finish up school and then I’ll start looking for help. I wanted to wait till I lived alone, but I don’t think I have enough time now, because I’ve come to understand how unpredictable I am. I’m just really scared and I don’t know what to do or where to go.
Very accurate to the many many many times I've gone to the hospital due to mental health issues. Some nurses and doctors are ignorant and aren't as nice as you, wish we just had more of that so we didn't feel like such a burden.
You're never a burden, it's their lack of training and compassion, not you. You're not a burden. You deserve the best and a hope you get it. ♥️
@@KhadijahW. Thank you so much, I appreciate that. I just wish they were more compassionate so I didn't have to feel like that
@@KhadijahW. for most it’s not a lack of compassion. For most it’s compassion fatigue and for a lot of ER staff it’s dealing with burnout having to perform under circumstances and environments they shouldn’t have to (too short staff, they deal with a lot of violence on them in the ER by patients and families, etc)
They don’t hate you they hate themselves for not be able to help you asap
You’re never a burden.
This happened to me. It’s exactly how it’s shown. Never again.
Never seen him so serious before... Glad to see him take the situation as such, depression is no joke!
I had a bad reaction from an iud and went to the ER convinced I was having a heart attack…ended up being a hormone induced panic attack. I begged the doctors to remove it because I felt very depressed. They asked me if I had thoughts of hurting myself and I said no. They locked me in a room anyways and didn’t tell me what was happening. They also would not let my boyfriend in for two hours. They had a miscommunication and thought I was supposed to be isolated. I was terrified and still sobbing and what the staff did made it even worse. Finally they realize I’m not in any danger just needing help from unbalanced hormones and they give me muscle relaxers to help. I also had severe back pain and found out my strings were missing. Got it removed a day later and felt normal again almost instantly.
I don't recommend IUD's to anyone. There is such a laundry list of serious medical complications surrounding them. I suppose if someone has an existing condition with literally no other option at all it is the only option left but I can't think of any.
Feels close to home. I had to send a friend to the ER to get him help, the day of his birthday he wanted to suicide. It felt terrible because he spent all his birthday in the hospital and many months as psych patient. He couldn't forgive me. But I knew he was going to get better. He is strong, and nowadays he is doing great. I can't blame him for not wanting go talk to me but I prefer him to be alive and well without me than to have him dead. He has his family and plenty other people. And I'm happy for him.
I don't know how long ago this happened, but maybe he doesn't know how to talk to you about it? If he's better now, actually doing better, then maybe he just doesn't know how to address what went on that day. Maybe he's forgiven you and just doesn't know what to say.
@@smol-one yeah. He could be embarrassed
You don't deserve to feel good about yourself because of this. Your friend wasn't "strong", he simply didn't have any other choice. Also, no, you couldn't know if he was going to be okay, you don't even know if he really is okay now, you're not in his life anymore, you don't know anything about it or how unbearable and traumatic it truly was. This will probably affect him for the rest of his life even if he seems "happy" on the outside. You have no right to be glad for him or to think everything is fine, if you're not inside his head or with him everyday through every battle then you have no idea of how he is doing.
@@mariaeugenia578 I don't feel good about myself, never said I was proud. I'm happy for him, yes (I have the right to feel whatever I feel. There is no legal barriers for me to be happy about someone's recovery). I didn't know if he was going to ever recover but all I could do at the moment is anything any other health worker would have done which is hope that in better care with medical and psychological treatment he would do well. I know how he is cause we still have friends in common (that includes his brothers) that testify of his wellbeing...You are right that I don't know how it feels, because even though I've indulged in self harm practices too we all have different experiences with it. But why would I be afraid or reject hope of him getting better? If you would have suggested him to do as he pleased and let a friend of yours kill himself then power to you for respecting his choice, or not, I don't know what your base values are (it might be pretty relative). I just did what I could at the moment with the information I had, I'm nor proud nor beating myself up for what I did. I appreciate the empathy you show for him, I trust you have the best intentions at heart. Maybe you had a similar experience that went down differently or you would have done something I didn't, but regardless I'm sorry if I touched a nerve or poked a wound of yours that made you upset though. If that is the case it must have been rough. Hope it is all better now.
If you were my "friend" and did that to me you would be typing this comment from 6 feet under. 😁
So what you're saying is I should never, ever tell a doctor if I'm suicidal? Never had serious suicidal intent, but change, especially sudden change, and being left alone with my thoughts are the two biggest triggers for my anxiety. I'd think I'd die of a fright-induced heart attack in this situation.
One tip, never tell anyone what your going through, they try to help, but they choose the worst ways, my advice would be finding peace with yourself, like going on walks or doing something to escape reality, maybe art, or even just spending time with family or doing something you wanted to do. I find this helpful, at least for me, but I’ve learned that I shouldn’t tell anyone what’s wrong with me.
@@Iseenothingosome people learn this the hard way like I did I wish I knew this earlier
This process is honestly something that has been added to my long list of things I go to therapy for. I was already extremely anxious and depressed when I arrived to the ER. No nurse had time to stay with me and talk.. I was stuck in a room full of drugees and highly aggressive individuals who were disturbed. It was 9hrs till I was taken to a facility and it was very hard to come out my room because of fear once I was there. No nurse wanted to spend time with me there either. I have nightmares about it sometimes and it’s made me afraid to go to the hospital sometimes for even small things.
Oh no! That was a bad hospital then, i would try to go to a different one if you ever need to again. Some are MUCH better than others
I'm sorry that your attempt to get help ended up being so traumatic. I work on a behavioral health unit and we try to give our patients the time and attention they need when they need it. But I am very aware of the problems that the system has and I know that you're not alone in your experiences. Please see if your therapist knows of any facilities in your area (area can be kind of broad) that have a better reputation. If they do, maybe you can request the facility (or facilities) as a preference, if you find you having to bring yourself back in. Again, I'm sorry you had such a traumatic experience for what should have been therapeutic for you.
Yeah, my experience was...not like the video, either 😬 just sending some good thoughts your way
In the many hospitals I have been in most of the other patients won't harm you. But a few are scary
To be honest I have had more problems with people at the bus stops.
I've had a similar experience. You're not alone.
I've been in this exact position, and I'm in the UK, and it did help me.
Thankfully I didn't act on how I was feeling. Thanks for posting this Steve.
I've a feeling that you've just saved some lives 🙂🔥👍
I remember when I was admitted post suicide attempt and it was terrifying. All my familiar things got taken away, suddenly guards appeared, and I was whisked off to a facility. I wish they had someone that could be your guide through all of that.
It happened to me too, i get what you mean..
No some of them might care about you “getting better” but in reality they only care about not getting sued and or charging your insurance by forcing you into a mental hospital.
Don’t @ me I know from personal experience.
Yes yes yes 👍. If there was a “love” button, I’d press that too. Keep going with this stuff occasionally Steve. It’s still as stigmatized as ever and not all ERs are so professional and kind. This moves me to tears with approval and relief.
The fear of this happening to me is why I avoid hospitals like the plague and when I go, I lie about my S/H and hide as much as I can. Glad to know my fear is justified.
And the reason I mainly sh is bc I’m actually scared of ppl I don’t know, even doctors.
I was very touched by this one and the Compassion Rich showed the patient. I think you did a great job with this one💗
That was sweet in a way. I am Bipolar with cPTSD, Body Dysmorphic Disorder and severe anxiety and tend to hypervigilance, dissociation and visual/aural/olfactory hallucinations with PTSD episodes, trauma breaks and have many times had self ending ideation. I have found the nursing and psychiatric staff at my hospital to be the same absolutely caring yet realistic people, and I couldn't be more grateful and admiring of them.
I have had to do this twice in my life. Having it explained to people this way should be a more common practice. I love this. It takes so much courage to walk up to triage and tell them you want to harm yourself and you aren’t ok. But that doesn’t mean it’s going to be so scary on the other side. Everyone is going to be there to support you and help you get to where you need to go.
Help like this is what alot of us need these days.
I love this video. After watching a lot of his videos I was waiting for the punchline of the joke but I was glad it never came. This is such a serious situation and people need to know that they can go to the ER for help. People don’t think of it as an emergency but it really is.
This is why I dont go. Looking up memes or videos or music helps ease it. I cant go to the bathroom if someone is there with me. I suffer alone because its the only way that can accommodate my actual needs. Its sad but there is nothing else i can do.
And this is how I learned to never tell anyone how I was feeling and to lie my way out of certain situations.
If I already feel terrible, how is holding me against my consent (in short, the equivalent of a prisoner) supposed to make me feel better? And heaven knows you're not paying the medical bills that will incur.
You'd think mental health professionals would be capable of recognizing debt and job loss caused by a psych ward stay will WORSEN depression. Idiots.
But, as he said in the video, they gotta CYA!
Who cares if being forced to do nothing but stare at the wall for hours and having the added stress of outrageous medical bills (and possibly losing your job) contributes to the patient's already extremely poor mental health?
Gotta make sure the hospital can't be sued!
I have the same problem. Better to lie and to be free. The only way to get better is to be free. The trauma I would get from a psych ward would just guarantee that I would never get better.
Maybe there’s a risk of my dying out here but if I would be forced into these places I would definitely die.
In freedom I at least got a chance to get better. If you’re mentally I’ll it feels like you’re completely in your own to get better. The system just won’t.
@@ylvaseason As someone who was forced to go to a psych ward, please, lying is definitely the way to go. I never want to go back there; I now have night terrors from my stay and am still dealing with the mental fallout. The whole experience told me to NEVER tell the truth to people you can't absolutely trust not to ship you away to a glorified insane asylum.
What a terrible experience it was. Absolutely nobody was helpful. I'll admit, when I got out, I contemplated killing myself, jumping in front of a car from how absolutely awful it was. What a broken fucking system.
Not to mention the medical bills. "Oh, well for your own safety we're going to send you to prison and force you to spend thousands of dollars you don't have while you're already in a vulnerable mental state! That'll make you better!"
I hate the feeling of losing control of my own body. I practiced ways to escape restraint holds for weeks after I got out. I will never be violated like that again.
Yeah, I’ve been bad ways, and _real_ bad ways before, but ain’t once have I considered being admitted to a mental health hole.
I don’t care what anyone says, I don’t care what anyone heard. I may be going through it right now (well not _right now_ just speaking hypothetically), but I don’t need _their_ kind of help, and if I do end up having to give an evaluation, then congratulations, you’ve just idly stressed me out more and wasted my day when I could be working through things on my own.
And it kills me when people say “You need to talk to a professional about that.”
No, no I don’t! I need people in my life who give a crap enough to just listen and not run away or randomly vanish. But I guess that’s too damn much these days, so screw it. I’ll deal with it all myself, and whatever happens, just happens.
The one good thing about knowing that everyone either doesn’t care enough or doesn’t have worth a shit advice is that I’ve learned a lot about coping and self help.
No way taking my shit and locking me in a room is gonna aid anything. You’re just gonna put me in a worse state than I already am.
What a sad world we live in… ❤
This skit makes me feel so much better about our healthcare system! 😭
Ikr
Inpatient psych RN here-thank you for making this video. A lot of my patients tell me they didn’t know what they were going to experience in the ED, having only the gruesome and really incorrect portrayals of psychiatric care in television and movies to inform them. And while it varies site to site and state to state (for example, our assessment and referral process actually is housed in the ED and we have telehealth capabilities for evenings/weekends/holidays) the wait can still be extremely long and stressful for the patient due to the limited supply and astronomical demand for inpatient beds, It’s nice to have a matter-of-fact, compassionate, and realistic view of the ED experience for a patient presenting with those safety concerns. I hope everyone who sees this appreciates what a good, realistic portrayal this really is.
Thank you for making this video.
Not only raising awareness for thoughts some patients who are in this scenario, but also what to expect if one of us ever decides to get help.
I still think about how kind the ER team was to me the 36 hours I was in the ER before being transferred to a psych ward after a suicide attempt. Y'all are the real MVP's ❤️
Thank you for going to the ER for help!!!! And glad you're ok now. I wish more people would ask for help when they feel depressed, hurting themselves or others or suicidal!!Take care of yourself and stay safe♥️
Last spring in my area, that wait could be doubled! And if you went to a hospital that was part of a large corporate hospital network, you could be transferred across the state because that's where the open bed was. I was doing a 2 month clinical rotation on a ward where someone in crisis would be admitted to. It was the most emotionally draining but simultaneously the most rewarding experience to be able to help people in crisis (there were people there who wanted nothing to do with getting better as well).
@@pinkrose5796 thank you! This was over 2 years ago now and I'm doing much better! So grateful I got the help I needed and have convinced people multiple times since to get help ❤️
@@rsqddogmom Staff can't always tell who wants to get better.
@@Catlily5 depends on what they came in for, but most often the staff on a CSU who aren't completely burnt out and numb to it all can tell who is there to get help and who is going to be back next month. We do have patients we hope like crazy we don't see back but know that we will due to their diagnoses
Having been through this a few years ago with my son, I’m honestly teary. But also grateful that medical professionals absolutely take this seriously and compassionately.
The majority don’t.
@@KaiLucasZachary In my 40+ psych hospitalizations the majority care but there are some a**holes who try to tear you down.
love the honesty and respect
This just discourages me to get help. Now I feel so hopeless.
Let me say this: saying "I have ideation of death" is better than "I have suicidal thoughts" you HAVE to play semantics to get therapy. Does it even work? No clue. Maybe?
Got me over here in tears mufkr 🥺. The amount of compassion and honesty used here is what ALL patients experiencing mental health issues should receive. Before I finished school for my RN my nephew was suffering serious mental health issues and we would sit in the ED for 2-3 days waiting for placement or them to send him home. I wish someone explained things to us as clearly and directly as you did.
There’s been several really REAL type situations addressed recently. This, domestic violence, racism… they aren’t funny, but they are sometimes something that people need to see and hear. Thank you for your candor!💕
Thank you for remaking this. It shows so much more compassion and calm, and I can already tell that it will help people to see something so scary presented this way.
I can’t even count the number of times I have repeated the line “I just want to get better” to myself in tear drowned nights thinking about what I’ve done wrong what is to come and what people thought.😢
As an acute inpatient psych nurse who literally just sat down from a looong and heavy nightshift (Aus).... thank you 🙏
I agree!
I’m an acute inpatient psych nurse too (day shift)
* hugs you*
As a nurse assistant at my local hospital and a LOT of times I work in the ER wit patient(s) like dis. Dis was PERFECT
Acute impatient torturer of suicidal people
@@tupakkaonhyvaa sure, whatever floats your boat
This was my case not long ago. The people that took care of me in my darkest weeks were absolutely amazing. I am forever in their debt. Thank you for doing this video. With much love and respect. You are an amazing human.
I deal with anxiety, depression and ptsd. I’ve always wondered what would have happened if I had gone to the doctor instead of just dealing with this all on my own. I heard if you tell a doctor that you are suicidal or call the suicide hotline, they take your kids away and that alone has stopped me from trying to talk to someone.
exactly why alot of people DONT get help.
being locked up like a criminal does not make it better!
Thank you for showing content of a mental health emergency. It doesn’t look like other health emergencies and often people don’t even know you can go to the hospital for help. You’re an awesome nurse!!
You can, but judging from this skit I definitely wouldn't recommend it. If I wasn't having a mental health crisis in the first place, taking away my phone, clothes and everything else and not even letting me pee in privacy would definitely send me into one. If a doctor or cop asks if I'm suicidal when I am, I'm gonna lie to them and do my best to act fine until I can get away and find some *actual* help instead.
Like hundreds of other people said, it was good you made this one. When people get to that point and don't know that this is an option. I've got a panic disorder and when I lost my insurance when I was taken off of my parents because I turned 26, it took me a while to get the courage to get it myself. It gets that bad. The panic attacks got so bad that my muscles cramped up and I was stuck on the bathroom floor for over an hour. I thought I was dying (again). But I found out I could go to urgent care or the ER. I've had to do it on and off since then, and some doctors and nurses are awesome, and some think you're there just for the meds. But they can see if you have a history or not. Saved me quite a few times. Do not hesitate to go even for mental emergencies. It's still your health.
That was really informative, and really supportive. The “I just want to get better” hurt me.
"At this point, it's better to act happy."
Sounds like masking... I've been there before.
Used to work as an ED Tech. It always hurt to run folks through the process. It wasn't anything we wanted to do and some of it had to be so dehumanizing for the folks involved. I can't help but think it's looks and feels like going to jail when you already feel horrible and haven't really done anything wrong.
That said, it really is about keeping folks safe. I've heard of and seen desperate, sad, and confused people do the wildest things. I hope some day someone comes up with a better way.
This made me tear up. As someone who's had depression her whole life & who once felt lk she beat it...& now is back to being depressed after being diagnosed with brain cancer, this shit me. The toughest thing a person can do is ask for help but do it! Like he said, they are there to help. Mental health is important! You are important! Pls don't be afraid to seek help 🙏🏻
This is EXACTLY why you NEVER tell a healthcare worker that you may hurt yourself. NEVER.
Right? Unfortunately even if I knew I needed help I’d never ever admit it because the process I’d high anxiety embarrassment and I would just feel like I’m being punished for no feeling better.
um, yeah please dont say that to people. when its between harm and getting help, lets not endorse the former. if a person has other options, those should be exercised first, but if not, this is terrible advice.
@@herrforehead1279Tell your therapist. But I wouldn’t tell the hospital. If the response to ‘I might hurt myself someday at some point’ is to take away everything and leave me feeling really exposed (gown that opens in the back instead of real clothing) and alone with my thoughts without a phone or any activity to distract me, and completely unable to leave, feeling trapped and helpless? That would make all my problems worse.
Plenty of people have thoughts about hurting themselves and this is overkill for most of them. Thoughts about hurting yourself do not mean you’re immediately going to do it. And it’s harmful overkill. Problem is, because most people are scared to talk about it, the person who comes in for mild self-harm thoughts is probably way worse and is scared to say it.
@@someperson5506 i get what youre saying. the word choice in the og comment was very wrong though. telling people to absolutely never tell a healthcare worker (this also includes therapists, right?) that you may hurt yourself (usually when people say this in the medical field they mean when youre suicidal) is wrong. its dangerous to say that.
i agree that for the average self-harmer, going to the er just to tell them this does not make sense and is not going to get you help that you need. absolutely people should tell their therapists if theyre lucky enough to have one but if not they are really hard to access. as someone who has been self-harming for about a year and a half, i agree with most of your comment but i think the original comment got it wrong and we also need to mention that when youre actively suicidal you should *always* tell your therapist, er nurse, whoever.
@herrforehead1279 harm yourself or getting "help". I've been there as an inpatient and outpatient. Maybe I'm just not compatible for the system but in my experience you force yourself to be happy or they'll keep you longer
For me, this experience has made me afraid to tell others I’m suffering. In 2020, I went to a mental health hospital where I had limited contact with the outside, no in person visits, and constant fear for my safety. They paired depressed teens with homicidal teen. They also took away 99% of my coping mechanisms, and didn’t want to help much, and as someone with autism, this caused some serious problems. I never want to go back.
This is very tough for sure. My girlfriend went through this. It was a very rough couple of weeks while she was in the hospital. She got the help she needed and that's what matters
I honestly never thought about someone struggling emotionally going to the E.R. ... But it's great to know that you won't be turned away if you need help
I too didn't entire know how the processed worked. Like I have heard of hospitals treating mental illness and having a ward for the mental patients but didn't know how that process got started.
Almost every ER is overwhelmed a lot with pts with mental health issues. My local ER has roughly 40 beds. On a average night, 5- 10 of those beds are pysch pts. The sad part is the workers want to fix the pt and make it better but for the most part ER staff are highly trained in the physical side of healthcare and we are not nearly qualified to treat the mental side. And pysch pts tie up a lot of resources in the ER. Techs or nurses have to watch the pt which limits what they can do for the other pts in the ER. Pysch facilities are not nearly as abundant as ERs and are usually full as well so pt transfers to them can be slow. I have dealt with pts who were in the ER for 7 days before a bed opened somewhere. The situation is improving but has a long way to go.
I could be wrong but I am assuming from the name you are of Middle Eastern decent? My bffs fiancé is Bilal and my fiance is Achraf. I lived in an Islamic country for a couple of years and a girl I went to church with tried to go to the hospital for this and they were very confused. She had not attempted suicide but had a plan. My French sucks so I kept trying to explain in Arabic, but between the confusion of an American speaking Arabic and not French and her not having attempted yet they didn't know what to do. They kept asking me "Did she take poison?! Where is she bleeding? Did she jump off her building? Hit her head? Hit her head?..." NOOOOOOOOher head us messed up INSIDE!! OH She is bleeding INSIDE her head. Round and round.
I interned for 2 months on a crisis stabilization unit (short term psych ward) and maybe 1/4 to 1/3 of the patients were walk-in; most were BIBA/BIBPD (brought in by ambulance/brought in by PD). Sometimes those were OD's rushed into the ER or a recent veteran having a panic attack while driving; the alcoholics just wanting a warm bed were always interesting.
It was very rewarding to see a patient making clear progress day to day but as someone who is more sensitive to others' emotions and moods, it was VERY draining. I will forever know instantly what "Code Grey" means over a hospital PA
@@rsqddogmom Is that the takedown code?
I had tried to leave my home a couple years ago, my family found me and brought me to the hospital. I had to get checked for self harm, asked many questions and such, I had to be watched at all times (the bathroom was very awkward) and I was there for almost 12 hours while they found a psych ward my insurance would cover. I spent two weeks in the psych ward and I'm now getting therapy. I'm doing so much better and despite the fact during the time it was scary, I'm so glad it happened. To anybody who is struggling, and having thoughts about harming yourself, go check in at a hospital and get the help you need if you can't do therapy at that time, going to a psych ward will be scary, but you'll get help, and they'll find you a therapy place who will take your insurance (at least mine did) and you'll meet people who have been through similar things. It was the best thing to happen to me, and I'm sure it'll be good for you too
You are so wonderful at explaining things. Everything you said was true and said in such a kind way.