Admission to mental health unIt

[Veruca]

What treatment is given to people suffering with severe depression and having suicidal thoughts if they are admitted to a mental health unit?

Very little in my experience other than it being a supposed place of safety. A doctor who didn't know me reduced my meds and then refused to speak to me because it was 5.10pm on a Friday evening and "I finished at 5pm" (I kid you not). I was discharged after a week with no follow up appts or anything. Pretty dire really.

Thanks, thought as much.

I am on a unit at the moment (well right now I am at home on leave but you know...) and have been on one for much of the past 5 months.

It is pretty low key, there are TV lounges, activities (I am on a woman's unit so the activities are very female - pampering, sewing, arts, DVDs, outing to local shops).

Depending on how you are most people are allowed out and about on leave. I spend a couple of hours at home most days. It is not like the films, you don't sit around doing group therapy, you don't have lots of talking therapy. The nurses are there if you need to chat, you have a review with the psychiatrist once a week, you might see a psychologist once/twice a week (my unit has one based there). Nothing is really forced on you, although you are encourage to eat / drink / wash / sit in communal areas.

For me it is a space to recover and re-coup. At home I was just self harming more and more and it took over so in many ways it is a huge relief to come somewhere to be safe and that is treatment in itself! I also find it really helpful having people there 24/7 to talk to and the unit I am on is good but it took a long time for them to get to know me and my needs and to develop a decent relationship with them.

When I was first admitted in April they also set up community services for me, and started my community based psychotherapy when I was IP. This admission I have re-started some medication and one of the reasons for the admission was to let the medication start to have some effect prior to discharge.

Don't know if this helps.

I was admitted with severe depression earlier this year.

I was on 10 min checks for the first few days as I was so suicidal. I had regular talks with my named nurse and some cracking health care assistants and all I had to do was get up and get through the days while they fed and watered me and kept me safe.

I was admitted on a weekend, but the duty doctor came out and sorted out my meds - I even negotiated more than he was prepared to prescribe at first. The Psych was very good at what he did, OTs were supportive and when I was at my lowest point, they kept me safe.

All in all I had a very positive experience and frankly, it saved my life.

Oh and should mention that I also had appts with the psychologist, which would have taken 6 months or more to get had I not been admitted and some basic CBT.

From my point of view, it was easier to get better in there as there were no other responsibilities except for myself and all of life's necessities were provided without me having to even think about it.

Oh and to ditto Keema (hello :)) they do things to keep you safe - like regular checks, when I was cutting they used to search my bags for things I shouldn't bring in, I am supervised using things with leads because I have been using ligatures, the rooms are all anti-ligature. Basically they take a lot of the responsibility for staying safe away from you.

Hi there, agree with whats said above... its less "treatment", more safe space, peace and quiet, a chance to have a break from real life. Often a weekly psychology appointment, maybe another check-up with duty doctor once/twice a week. It's sometimes used as a chance to check new medication is working out, no side-effects, getting the dose right etc. And lots of regular checks, people keeping an eye on you. Nothing but a positive experience from my point of view.

Thank you for your responses. I was asking in relation to a family member who is severely depressed at present.

Do you think your relative needs an admission? It can be quite difficult to get, it is used as a last resort. You really do have to be a significant risk to yourself, either through self harm/suicide plans or because you are unable to care for yourself (due to a psychosis or serious depressive episode).

i have had depression in the past and am on sertraline for my anxiety, but i'd like to know how you get admitted to places like this if there is a need for it.
One day i'll want to come of the tablets that are helping me, and i'm afraid about what will happen. It's nice to know there are safe havens like this

EndoJ - you have to be very ill to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital. They are certainly a last resort, and are only for a people who are a danger to themselves or others. A lot of the time people aren't admitted even if they are suicidal - the beds are so limited that it often seems that you need to be psychotic before they will admit someone. I also wouldn't really call them safe havens - they certainly aren't nice relaxing places where you are looked after and supported 24/7 etc. They are full of very ill people, and so can feel quite scary places to be, and support and activity can be very limited, although that does vary vastly from area to area. You are frequently left to your own devices for the majority of the time as the staff are very busy, and spend a lot of their time in the office doing paperwork. I'm not saying they don't have their uses, but there are far too few beds, and so they really are reserved for those most at risk, and you don't get the type of treatment there that you perhaps should.

You can be admitted in a number of ways - the CMHT/your psychiatrist may think it appropriate, you can go to A&E if you're feeling unsafe and you will be assessed there, or your GP may refer you to the crisis team. In most areas crisis teams gate keep, and so even if your CMHT refer you the chances are you will have to go through the crisis team, and due to the lack of beds they may not admit you even if a psychiatrist has recommended it. What is more common is to be seen by the crisis team (also called the home treatment team) - they see people who are unwell and support them to enable them to stay at home.

Hi Endo

Just to offer an alternative perspective though i think experiences can vary hugely. The normal way to be admitted is as purplepenguin says by an urgent referral either from A and E or through a GP or your psych. Although its not like they are a home from home exactly, i found that there was something extremely comforting about the ward, a feeling of security, also the fact that they are by nature so bare of stuff can be nice as it doesnt feel as if the place has any associations (negative or positive). And you dont have to think about food, or what time to get up, or any of the other niggles of day to day life.

So there is a safety net there for you.

Just as good in many ways can be the home treatment or care in the community mental health services who can really support you at home. You certainly wont be left to manage on your own if you need help, so don't feel worried about asking for what you need. HTH.