I am waiting for a mental health hospital bed...

[Littleyellowbowl]

to become available.

Im going in on a voluntary basis. Its my first time going in for my mental health and im not really sure what to expect? Or if there's anything I should take with me other than the obvious, clothes and wash stuff. Is there anything I really shouldn't take with me?

Im a bit scared but I know its the right thing to do. Hopefully a bed becomes available tomorrow.

Any hand holds or words of advice would be appreciated.

Thank you

Hope a bed becomes available soon op

Don't take in anything with strings. I know my mum had her dressing gown belt removed. She also wasn't allowed plastic carrier bags either

I would also take plenty of change for shop runs ,socks and underwear whilst there should be a washing machine and dryer on the ward it might be in demand,and do you smoke ? Because I know the mental health unit I used to work on went smoke free last year ( not sure I agree with that ) but it's something you might need to be prepared for ,I'm not sure how they manage it now or wether E cigs are allowed .

Hi, OP

I work on a low secure mental health ward so any questions please ask

If you're going to bring in socks, I recommend short ones, as often long socks are deemed to be contraband due to being a ligature risk.

Depending on what kind of ward you go on, I recommend taking safety pens. (E.g pens that have no metal... I think berol is a good brand of pens for this)

Jigsaws are very popular too.

Hope this helps, all the best OP

Oh pound coins for the vape machine if you will need it.

All the best

Hi op,
I've had quite a few MH admissions some informal some under mental helath act and I'll be honest it really depends on where you go. Some doctors don't like people with eupd in hospital -which is a massive over estimation of everybody and massively unfair, some are very noisy and have very unwell people. There might be screaming etc, the staff may not always have time etc. It really depends what kind of patients are in and your area. Type of hospital some have mixed wards, some single sex, some with one ward some with 10. It can also sometime be a wait to go in depending on the bed situation.
On the other hand admission s have really helped me sometimes. The staff can be lovely, I've really built up a rapport with some, it's a great way of finding new coping strategies, finding what thepray/meds might be working/not working. There's people there 24/7, so if your struggling at 2 in the morning it's great. Most wards you have your own room, tv bathroom but it varies. There's sometimes OT, activities, cooking, art etc. Also I've made some good friends in units which I've kept.
Sometimes even informally they don't let you have leave so take anything you might need for a few days. Drinks, savoury snacks (the foods not great), sweets. If you smoke there's not always a garden to smoke on ward I would recomend taking a few drinks, food that doesn't need to go in fridge. Cloths for a few days, Inclusing comfy things. Comfort items I take a cuddly toy with me! Photos. Stuff to do as time can occasionally drag. Colouring, books, diamond painting, jigsaw puzzle. Phone a must, defo headphones and ear plugs. If you feel comfortable bringing them laptop/tablet/kindle are great. Especially to watch tv/movies. Nice shampoo/soap to make you feel nice. That's what I do anyway :)
Things you can't bring (this is a genral list from units I've been in ) you can bring some of this stuff in and they'll put it in a locker to use surpervised (like cans of deodorant , razors) Anything sharp, tweezers, any can this includes drinks and deodorant/hairspray cans. Sometimes things like chargers they risk asses you but this varies.
I hope this helps and dosent make you worry I just want you to have some idea. But as I said it varies by unit. Wards can really help, save/change lives and stabilise you. Some people get on with wards others not. But I wish you best of luck any questions please ask !

Really great post @foreverfrustrated09 gives a really balanced account of an inpatient admission

Sometimes even informally they don't let you have leave so take anything you might need for a few days.

Its been a few years since I worked in mental health but I didn't think it was legal to stop informal patients from leaving? Unless an RMN uses their 'holding powers' (section 5.4?)

TheFormerPorpentinaScamander I always thought that to however there was man who was in with ds who was informal but refused leave after an incident on the ward. They did let him out eventually though due to the fact he was informal.

If you’re informal you should not be denied going out
Obvs there are busy times and you may need to wait To have door opened but no you shouldn’t be declined to go out

Thank you everyone, you've made me feel a bit more at ease. And thank you @foreverfrustrated09 thats brilliant.

I have some comfy clothes, pyjamas, slippers, 2 bags of sweets. Hoping my short charger will be delivered before I leave! Really don't want to be relying on staff to charger my phone for me as it will be my main source of entertainment and also my only way on contacting my children.

I dont imagine ill be able to go anywhere soon, im staying with a friend whos looking after me, keeping me well insight.

My main issues im having is the CPTSD, low mood and intrusive thoughts. Something big has triggered off my CPTSD and just sent me into a very dark depressed place.

Ive got ear phones, and ill see if we can go to the shop tomorrow to get some magazines and savoury snacks.

Unfortunately my county's mental health services has been in special measures, or whatever its called, for a long time and ive been let down a lot. They said I may have to go out of county, which isn't too much of a problem.

Thank you so much for giving me advice everyone, I appreciate it

Don't worry about long socks in a local ward.

Something to read would be wise. Unfortunately you're likely to be isolated until your covid swab is back, even if this has been done already.

Good luck OP. MH hospitals tend to be abiut maintaining immediate safety in the short term, so try not to expect something very therapeutic.

Refuse to leave until you feel safe to do so: you need that bed as much as the next person.

Yeah! Send that floridly psychotic patient out of area, even though they're unsafe to travel and are too unwell to understand what's happening. But let's encourage the person who who articulate enough to use MN to have a long admission.

Hi Op, I hope you get a bed soon & close to where you live. I work in MH. Take all of the above, toiletries, clothing ect these will be a great comfort to you While on the ward. Also take any current prescribed medication you are on, it will make it quicker process for drs prescribing your meds to know exactly what you take, pls be honest about what you actually take as well just in case you take it differently from what is on the label ie different times or amounts. If you take meds with you nurses can administer from your own supply.

Yes it is a legal they should let you out unless they put a 5:4/5:2 on. But some wards say as your informal you need to keep with treatment program which involves staying in for initial assment, some wards have bad practice and will threaten to section. The amount of times I've said 'but I'm informal' and they've turned round and said I don't feel I shoudl let you out wait to speak to doctor. Or the doctor hasn't said you can have grounds/ship leave yet and leave it at that. It depends on the ward but a lot on the nurse. A lot of newer nurses won't let an informal patient out if there worried.
I'm not saying it's right. I'm just saying it happens. Especially as wards are (mostly) locked. It shouldn't happen and if it does past the first couple of days which I can understand. There is advocates on the ward (some are for people just under MCA/MHA.) they are great to speak to and are separate from ward.
I do find being informal you get leave quicker and of ground leave a lot quicker.

*aleagal and shop !
Again op for mean to worry you just wards can be diffcuilt environments and they can be amazing environments. They really won't send you out if county unless a bed dosent come available for a bit. They'll look at private providers first. Then out of county as it's about funding. But I sympathise my first county was in special measures just had one massive hospital in county plus a couple private places. My county know has a couple very smal wards, medium sized wards and big hospitals ?

Good luck, hopefully you have good friends that can bring stuff in for you and do your washing

Hi OP, I have nothing useful to add, but I want you to know how brave you are for doing this. I wish you the best, and I hope you have a much needed and well deserved respite.

Hi OP I have no experience to offer but wanted to wish you well. Take care of yourself.

Mine is a secure unit so might be very, very different to a voluntary unit. We can't have aerosols, razors, anything sharp like nail files or nail scissors , no hoods, scarves, no caffeine, alcohol, own medication. Our service users have safes in their rooms for money. Vapes are locked in ward security cupboard and chargers kept in ward office. We are a smoke free site so no cigarettes, no lighters. No blue tak, superglue, solvents. No glass, china, metal cutlery...

Higher obs on admission and yes as another poster has said, a covid swab so isolation until test results come back negative.
Hope you feel better and more settled soon xx

I was in for a month. Don't take any phones or anything which can give you information about outside world. Unfortunately the things that required hospitalization still give me massive anxiety but medication has helped somewhat.

Best of luck OP. I know that this admission can provide great help, assistance and support to you and your family xx

Thank you every one.

I dont really like going out anyway. My head just desperately needs a break, everywhere I look there methods and dark thoughts. Sometimes I disassociate and don't feel real.

Im still waiting for a bed. Ive picked up a few more snacks, some magazines and some colouring books.

Do you think ill be allowed to take my weighted blanket with me? It does help me a lot.

I dont smoke so thats OK.

I desperately want to be the mum my kids need but with so much black in my head it makes it so so difficult.

Im also absolutely exhausted. Mentally and physically, when I'm talking to the crisis team they just watch me wilt as it takes so much effort to hold my head up and talk sometimes.

I've been waiting since Sat afternoon for a bed. I hope I dont have to wait much longer.

Littleyellowbowl My ds took his weighed blanket when he’s been in hospital. I’m sure you’re an amazing mum but you need support to focus on getting yourself better and that’s okay.hope the bed doesn’t take too much longer Monday is often discharged day on units.

Thank you, thats good to hear. I find my weighted blanket helpful, and its a comfort too.

Im still waiting and getting quite agitated. There's times in the day I just curl up into a ball and lose a big chunk of time. Earlier I felt like someone else was in my brain.

Im staying with a friend who is helping to keep me safe, and we've ordered fish and chips, so ill try to eat some of that.