A gift for a mental health inpatient

[SwumMum]

I have a friend going through a horrible time at the moment, separated from friends and family and her children and really poorly in a physical and psychiatric way. She will remain in hospital for Christmas.

I'd love to send her some Christmas love but need to be so careful as to what I send. I'm thinking a book with beautiful illustrations maybe? Like the Lost Words for eg but obviously that's a bit depressing so not that.

Any ideas?

Snacks are nice because the food can be a bit shit.

Coloring pens and book.

Cosy blanket

Luxurious smellies, shower gel and handcream particularly. Avoid bath stuff as more likely to have a shower in room rather than regular access to a bath.

Cashmere socks or any kind of slipper socks.

And just a message of love really.

Nice Coffee or tea but it might be removed if mania is an issue due to caffeine. We have decaf only!

Nothing sharp, glass, or with anything that could be a ligature risk would be allowed in the patients room.

Hope your friend is well looked after and makes a good recovery💐

When my friend was sectioned, I bought her a colouring book, knickers, fluffy socks, plastic bottles of soft drinks, shower gel, lip balm, hand cream and a few other bits. Also topped up the credit on her phone.

@SwumMum - sounds lovely. They won't be allowed the pencil sharpener unsupervised or atall but OT will be able to sharpen them or supervise.

If they are allowed their own laundry detergent then a favourite one is a good idea but just check as in some acutes you have to use what is provided.

I have always been allowed to unwrap a present under supervision. Gift bags might not be allowed because of the ribbon so best to check.

A sleep mask is a great idea as no matter how you're doing you will be checked on in the night. Some shine torches, some turn the bathroom light on, some turn the main light on!! I found if they actually used the night light it wouldn't wake me but as I say different staff have different practices!

@Sonata13 - there are locks on bathroom doors but a patient may need to be supervised by a member of staff for their own safety.

@SmaugMum - when I was home on leave I always used to burn my mouth as I wasn't used to properly hot teas and coffees!

There's a fairly long list of things that aren't allowed on wards-to avoid;

Glass items
Metal cans
Wire-bound notebooks
Alcohol
Anything with wires, drawstrings (hoodies/dressing gowns/jogging bottoms/pyjamas will have the cords cut off).
Any personal bedding or blankets

Things that are like golddust;

Snack foods-must be factory sealed
Nice toiletries in plastic bottles
Nice drinks in plastic bottles
Slippers because the floors get grubby
Pyjamas not nighties
And tobacco if they smoke and the ward allows it because getting it on the ward is a complete nightmare
Magazines

We were allowed our own bedding on one ward I was on. And always been allowed my own blankets. It's always best to check with the individual ward what is/isn't allowed.

@NoEffingWay - why couldn't you get tobacco? Did they not allow another patient to get it for you while on leave (presuming you had no leave)?

@UndertheCedartree I am a hcsw in acute care. On our wards, there is no shop anywhere near apart from the hospital shop which doesn't sell tobacco. We used to have a portable shop via a trolley man but they stopped him from coming .

Some of the wards have banned smoking altogether, and some wards are entirely ward-based so the smokers suffer. For those that can find someone to bring it in, it's sort of okay, but for others it's a real pain.

Us staff feel for the smokers, the trust has got it's policies but really it's the last time someone needs to stop smoking!

I'd check if an eye mask is allowed because of the ligature risk (I have known some people not be allowed shoe laces for this reason).

I'd go for shower gels, comfortable clothes etc.

Adult colouring book and tin of pencils plus chocolates perhaps?

[quote UndertheCedartree]@SmaugMum - when I was home on leave I always used to burn my mouth as I wasn't used to properly hot teas and coffees![/quote]
@UndertheCedartree, my brother may (depending on a PCR result and the Crisis Team availability) be allowed to visit his own home on Monday for the first time since July. He says that the first thing he wants to do is make a proper brew! And one that is piping hot.

My brother was hospitalised 200 miles from his home and has been in two markedly different units in terms of their attitudes to patients. He was transferred to his home authority late last week and is awaiting the intervention and support of his local crisis team before he can be discharged.

It’s been a hell of a roller-coaster ride, as my brother has been sectioned on a handful of occasions and was a whisker away from a Section 3 order. We are all praying that he can begin to rebuild his life now.

He is really looking forward to the simple pleasures of sleeping in his own bed, supping a hot cuppa and having a shave with a decent razor.

OP, good luck to your friend, I sincerely hope that she has a brighter 2022. This thread has been very humbling for me; it’s a reminder that there but for the grace of god/God go I.

@NoEffingWay - ah, I see! I hadn't thought of that as all the hospitals I've been in have been urban! What a nightmare! I completely agree an acute admission is not the time to stop smoking. I honestly think there should be some provision for people to smoke on the ward. The amount of aggro and violence that happens on admission due to not being able to smoke is crazy and could be prevented by allowing the patient a cigarette!

@SmaugMum - oh that's great progress! Just remind him to be careful and not burn his mouth!! It can be difficult to adjust to life outside hospital and you miss things you didn't think you would! You do appreciate the simple things though - for me after my last admission it was choosing my own meals and not having to use plastic plates and cutlery, being able to go outside after 7pm and not having bars on the windows. Good luck to your brother.

Puzzle, crosswords, activity books, colouring book for adults. A lovely plant.

Adult colouring books and some nice pencils, the works do some lovely themes such as Harry potter, tarot, places around the world.

My close friend said that adult colouring books really cheered her up when an inpatient x