Any experience of private mental health care?

[maktaitai]

A couple of years ago my dh had an acute crisis (he has a long-term mental health problem) and went into our local hospital. I was hoping that it would help him, and tbh I was hoping for a break at the time, but he lasted 3 hours there and when I went to pick him up, he just looked in such a state. I promised him at the time that he would never have to go into hospital again if I could prevent it. I just couldn't see how anyone could actually get better there, and I have worked for a mental health trust in the past, and their unit was just as bad (in fact, worse if anything).

The promise preys on my mind rather. It might be impossible for us to cope at home again in the future, and I wondered what it was like in a private mental health hospital. Is it any better, or is it equally as horrible but with nicer curtains? Is it just that if you're suffering that much in your mind, anywhere is a prison?

no personal experience myself but there are people on here that have used private care so I hope they will be along soon to give you some advice. From what I remember the experience was a very positive one!

What was it that was so bad?

Depends entirely on the unit our NHS hospital is lovely brand new PFI, looks great with lots of new facilitys care is the same thou from when it was an old falling down building (infact care was better back then)
You only go private here if you want to pumped full of unlicensed high dose drugs.

When I was hospitalised, it was hideous, and I felt trapped, imprisoned, like the walls were closing in on me, horrifically bored, anxious, low, frightened, couldn't sleep etc.

It was terrible.

With hindsight I can see that most of this was due to the fact I was suffering mental illness - not because of the ward, or the staff.

I have since been back to visit (they have Christmas parties for ex-patients) and it really isn't that bad. It's basic, but it's clean, you have your own room, you can have a bath, get fed, it's peaceful, there is a lounge, TV etc. The staff are all wonderful giving, kind people.

I thought for a while at why on earth I couldn't just relax and enjoy the break from responsibility whilst I was an inpatient.

I realised it was because I was really really ILL. Everything was warped. I believe that I would have felt the same wherever I'd been - in a plush private hospital, in the NHS mental health unit, or at home.

It was the illness that made it so bad.

Yes i do see what you mean GetDown.

I must say that hospital did give dh a sort of boost, in that for the next month or so, he would occasionally say 'Well, it could be worse, I might be in hospital' and would suddenly look a bit less distressed. So, that worked in a way...

Peaceful? I've never been in a mental health unit that felt peaceful though. Too many people living a nightmare. Too many staff locked in an office while people queued outside desperate for contact, meds, company. Though I did think the female-only corridor looked slightly less stressful.

I was on a mother and baby unit, so I suppose the atmosphere may well have been very different from a regular psychiatric ward.