Methodist Behavioral Hospital

Reviews 6

RH

Rhiannon Rhys Madowc

what little food is served is edible in the sense that the human body is technically capable of digesting it. While many staff are well trained and amiable, many more are unpleasant, rude, and sometimes even abusive. If your childs account of their stay seems embellished, ask to see the facility beyond the lobby or cafeteria. At the most minor slip-ups, Behavioural Instructors were eager to administer sedatives. The threat of going into "seclusion"-- a concrete room the size of a storage closet with peeling turquoise paint and a single dull light overhead-- is used regularly to deter any emotional display including silent tears. I remember the weekend staff on second shift being particularly authoritarian, punishing the entire unit for the misbehaviour of one child (despite the emphasis of treatment being that you and no one else is responsible for your behaviour). A four-year-old in my unit, who was kept on "tantrum" status because she could not understand why she was taken from her mother, liked to sit next to me. While the staff demanded silence as we sat in uncomfortable chairs (think doctors office waiting room) for the last hour before bedtime, she asked me to help her with her pyjama sleeve. We were both immediately barked at, then berated for even associating with each other because "as an older person, you need to have the respect not to speak to younger persons." Another favourite threat was the extension of your stay or recommendation for long-term admission. I do not exaggerate when I say that like most other behavioural facilities, Methodist is ineffective, abusive, inarticulate, and operates according to a plan of treatment that adheres to long-disproved concepts and disregards the individuality of each case. More often than not, you will see the patient shamed for the shortcomings of this hospital and those among the staff who truly dedicated to your childs recovery are rare among an overall population of apathetic and vicious instructors. After two visits, making a total of three times being committed, I continue to have nightmares and panic attacks due to the standardised mistreatment I experienced despite "excellent behaviour" as recorded. I can honestly say that there may be no punishment as cruel or agonising as being sent away with the promise of being helped only to be locked away, denied communication with your family, half-starved, and ordered around like an automaton. Or being forced to ask permission to be escorted off-unit to dispose of each soiled menstrual product as you hold it in your hand in full view of the whole unit, both post- and pre-pubescent.

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SA

Savannah McCool

This facility is supposed to be the best for children in Arkansas. If that is the case, Id hate to see what other facilities are like. Most patients are unstable, but really that cant be controlled. The BIs (behavioral instructors) are often cruel and lazy. Patients are threatened with long-term care at the slightest infraction, the whole unit is punished as the result of one persons behavior, and they hardly do the paperwork needed. There is a point system for behavior that they use to threaten patients, though they never use it for anything else. The staff is borderline verbally abusive, shouting at and sometimes making fun of patients constantly. Female patients are denied or ignored when they ask for sanitary products. Patients are expected to do their own laundry, which isnt that bad, but younger patients receive no help. Boys and girls sleep in the same unit. Two boys stayed in my unit because they were bullied in the boys unit. Two teenage girls had to sleep in the boys unit because of this arrangement. One of the boys in my unit hugged an attractive girl for a very long time when he left; BIs did nothing despite her attempts to push him off. The bathrooms are disgusting, floors are soaked and there are no doors or really any privacy. The food is powdered and hardly what I would call food; however the cafeteria staff are pleasant. I arrived on a Thursday, and only saw a therapist twice. Weekends are horrible; the staff is lazy and patients are given no help. Caseworkers are possibly the nicest people there. I still have nightmares and other problems related to my stay here. Parents, I beg of you, try to avoid these hospitals at all costs. Many patients do not receive the help they need and return multiple times. This place is not designed to help people; its designed as a prison.

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JE

Jerry The Domesticated Snail

Cold showers, most of the time. Terrible food, to the extent of where I would call it basically prison food. Therapists there are strange, and the other patients can be cruel (although what do you expect?). Beds there are noisy, cold, and hard, and you cant use the restrooms in your room without being heard. Other restrooms were usually disgusting with feces on the floor and in the sink in one and urine everywhere in some of the others. Going outside is a rarity. Entertainment is extremely limited- one television, usually set to one station (Disney Junior or Nickelodeon.), and the gymnasium is small. The noises you hear, and the sights can be unsettling and even disturbing at times. Overall very poor quality and conditions and feels like prison. This review probably seemed mostly negative, but in all honesty if you mind your ps and qs these things will just be the most of your worries (besides the unpredictability of the other patients behaviour, especially if youre a female patient around male patients). The days end up being over before you know it, as well, and treatment is almost guaranteed if you cooperate.

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MA

Marlee Watt

Every time I see my son he is dirty and smells like feces. Staff is odd. My son tells me that it feels like torture and that someone grabbed his arm so hard it felt like it was crushing him. Im upset because I was mislead by my sons social worker who told me it was the best hospital in the area. He is in acute care for being suicidal and I just dont see how it helps to be as strict as they are with the kids. Theyve been nice to me but again, odd. I cant get over him smelling so bad and looking like he hasnt bathed since hes been there. Im only giving two stars because theyre doing what they should with getting him set up with outpatient care. The therapist/doctors are fine. Its the nurses that I believe are negligent.

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CH

Chris Vikdal

This place is not helpful at all. They were very rude and very disrespectful. They stolen my childs clothes and would not allow us to get them back. When i went to visit my child she was very very hungry and cold and tired. They didnt feed her properly. Didnt get a shower as well. I would give no stars but you have to select something inorder to post. I do not recomend this place. Not even for the worst of children. Staff likes to lie and threaten children saying that if the child was bad at home then they would come in the middle of the night and take them. No privacy for the bathrooms even tho the sleeping arrangements had boys and girls mixed together.

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EM

Emily Macias

I went here when I was 12 and many times as a teenager and I loved the staff and nurses that worked there when I was there really helped me and were very caring not sure if they still work there now but it was a great learning experience for me and Im glad I got help there and many other places I am a better person if it werent for God and his perfect timing and putting these people in my life to help I dont think Id be the adult I am today thank you Methodist for your help and support all those years ago

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