Amy Manion Article
“If you needed intensive mental health care, would you go to the hospital? Why or why not? Would you take care of yourself in some other way? How?”
I've actually had to consider this question because I'm a transitional age youth (kind of over the hump, if you ask me) who is in transitional housing. IN order to receive this housing, I needed to fill out paperwork regarding what I'd like to happen to me in case of a crisis. I immediately knew of the hospital I did not want to go to (only been to 2 and a half). Then I thought, I didn't like any of them. I heard from someone SSMH (South Shore Mental Hospital) is not bad. Also, according to a survey, the hospitals in Belmont and Brockton: Mclean Hospital and actually visited a friend in the one in Brockton several times and the treatment seemed pretty good. I know someone who went to Bournewood and it seemed pretty good but they didn't like it. Also, I know of someone who wa at Shattuck, Westborough and other places I don't remember. Brockton wasn't that bad. Quincy MEdical Center was fine but Arbour Hospital in Jamaica Plain I'd never want to go back to. Truth be told, I don't think any one wants to go to the hospital. I read a book that looks critically at the Psychiatric system (written by a PSychiatrist himself). They mentioned a place that used to be in Cambridge but has since moved to Somerville called the (Mplf) Ruby Rogers Center at 71 (also listed under64)Union Sq in Somerville, 02114
for more information about the Ruby Rogers Center,
please contact George Enos,
Program Director at (617) 625-9933;
fax (617) 625-8374
Ruby Rogers Center
(for more info, see: http://www.baycove.org/pdf/Ruby%20Rogers.pdf
and http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles
/2009/02/20/ruby_rogers_helped_win_key_rights_for_
mentally_ill/?page=2 and http://madpride.org/ruby.html and rubyrogerscenter-subscribe@yahoogroups.com)
According to the Mad Pride (written in 2005, however) link, it's open to those at risk for psych hospitalization and run by psych survivors and it's open 7 days a week from 11am until 5pm. What about if a crisis situation needs to be dealt with outside of those times? Could a person's family and the person herself hold off until that time?
If this happens, there is a Crisis team at SSMH which offers short-term overnight stays. Granted, this cold probably be isolating and heard it was a weird experience. Truth be told, no alternative will probably be comfortable. I know of someone who was going to go to Psych hospital as they had done many times before but received spiritual intervention from a religious leader. I find spiritual leadership is very important. I know of someone who's a Wiccan and says that helps her. To each their own I guess.
The reason I don't want to go back to hospital may be two-fold. First of all, I was in really bad shape during those times. Also, I felt that being around others in bad shape made it worse if not hard. I don't feel comfortable rooming with a stranger, not having freedom, not even being able to have a weekly therapy session (unless yu call the group therapy therapy. I guess in some ways it was helpful but I didn't always want to speak in front of everyone else. It think being diagnosed with social anxiety a while back had something to do with my discomfort.
Other ways I'd take care of myself, would be like I said earlier: go to Ruby Rogers Drop-in Center, SSMH Crisis Team, then probably Mclean or SSMH inpatient if absolutely necessary. Perhaps before all this, I'd call my therapist, housing counselor, and Pastor and other spiritual leaders in my church and or the Messianic temple I occasionally go to. I would also talk to a Peer Counselor or someone from TRACS program. I want to get an Advance Directive completed ASAP so I will go to the place I want to go to. You just feel so powerless. A PsychiatricAdvance Directive can shorten the hospital stay, ensure you have what you want stated, and things like that.
I might try and see where I can go related to the freedom-center.org which is an alternative to the Psychiatric system.
Hope that helps. Feel free to publish my responses and use my first name. I could make it more concise and researched if you need it to be.
Sincerely,
Amy Manion