Saint Helena Hospital: Center for Behavioral Health

Reviews 4

RO

Rosie Williams

This place... Man what am I supposed to say... I went here two times in the past two years. Both times there was at least one staff who would treat me like I was stupid. I didnt have a bra the first time I was there because I was sent there before my family could bring me clothes. I asked a staff if I could keep my hospital shirt on (because of its bagginess) and he looked at me like I was insane. He told me absolutely not and when I went out I had to hold my arms in front of me the whole time because I was so embarrassed. Finally one of the girl staff saw me and asked me if I had a bra and then sent me back to my room to put my shirt on. Right when I left I heard them at the nurses station laughing at me. The next time I went there it was alright. The staff were still awful but the kids were awesome. I met so many friends but the kids were the only ones who gave me support and the help I needed. I remember I was forced to go to a group even though I was crying. After the group was over my friend came over to me and asked if I was OK. Of course I said I was fine but then he decided to playfully bump into my shoulder to make me feel better. One of the guy staff saw this and started yelling at him and made my friend go to his room. ALL HE WAS DOING WAS TRYING TO MAKE ME FEEL BETTER! Something the staff never tried to do. I flipped out on the guy staff which says a lot because I am the shy quiet type. After I yelled at him I ran to my room in years and apologized to my friend. I went straight into my bathroom and closed the door with the lights off (I usually cry in an enclosed area where no one can hear or catch me). It took the guy staff over a half an hour to realize that he was being a douche. He came in and asked me if I was OK and then had the audacity to tell me I was overreacting. Another thing happened with me and that guy staff. He was doing role call and he called me by my real name and not my nickname. I politely told him that I liked to be called Rosy and he flipping told me that they dont call us by our nicknames. When the other staff do. He said how it is disrespectful to our parents... Like wtf...? The other kids got my back though because they knew that I wouldnt stand up for myself. Honestly though, I wouldnt ever change these experiences because I got to meet some of the best people I know. I felt so cared for and I never felt alone. The staff may have been awful but the patients were the best thing that could ever happen to me. Haha I remember one of my friends would call me "cute but vicious". One of the best guys ever! XD but if you want to be cared for then I suggest that you go somewhere else.

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LO

Loki Grim

My body left this place nearly a decade ago, fragments of my mind never made it out. Here you can learn from a doctor that AIDS is transmitted from kissing, you can watch someone be prescribed so much medication that he can barely move then have someone pound on his door and yell at him for not being able to get up for a daily group therapy season. If you trip while walking up to a date she will lose all interest in you forever, and if you hit it off you get a detailed description of how genital warts are removed from both male and female reproductive organs because for some reason intercourse is going to specifically give you that STI. You need to say in your room all day if you question a staff member while your roommate heats the handle of a plastic kitchen utensil up to make a tool for self harm. I went in there for the combination of having clinical depression and taking too much of my sleeping meds to avoid truancy, I was given 600mgs of Seroquel for delayed sleep phase disorder. Nearly ten years latter that place is still in my thoughts, Im sorry for anyone that had to go there, Im sorry for the people that are not mentally equipped to realize how wrong that place is. I dont understand the goal of that place, testing area for psychiatric medications? This is what happens when your at the least seen or actually are suicidal, treated like trash and loaded on meds until you can barely walk? If you are still recovering from this place years after being there, you are not alone. Im sorry and hope you can get this place out of your thoughts soon, if you are still young the world is not this bad. Im close to being an EMT-B, and I fear the idea of having to transport someone to this pit of repugnance. Like I said, if you are still young this is not a accurate reflection of the world, there is a lot of good out there even if this place makes you think otherwise. If you are suffering years latter you are not alone.

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MI

Mike Shepard

Should be shut down. Staff abuse their power, take their personal problems out on the mentally ill, and bring their egos into work with them. They talk down to the patients and threaten them with restraints and "last resort" tranquilization medications for not sleeping. The night nurses act like something youd expect to see on Jerry Springer; obnoxious, loudmouthed ghetto women who dont care about the patients state of mind and seem to have a chip on their shoulder about working there at night. Most of them seem fresh out of college, or dont even seem qualified at all. Most of day time staff are reasonable but some of them are questionable. I remember a nurse poking fun at one of the non-functional patients to other nurses and higher functioning patients; calling her names and mocking her because she was in her 50s and unable to take care of herself. I also overheard one of the male day nurses bragging about how he wanted to beat up a younger guy who was having a meltdown even though the guy was already being restrained. He kept mentioning that the guy was "two times smaller than him and that he could easily put him in his place and get away with it". Too many nurses there dont do their job the way they should and abuse their power for personal gain. A hand full of them shouldnt even be in the mental health profession and are most likely in it for the money. I checked myself in due to suicidal thoughts and regret that decision. They kept me for 4 days, I went to all the groups and participated and was pleasant, but all I got from the experience was knowledge of how corrupt the mental health system can be. I have been hospitalized multiple times but this was by far the worst place I have ever been to. They need to shut it down.

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AS

Ashley Bryant

My son (10) is here right now, I read the reviews after crisis had already left and my anxiety was through the roof thinking I sent my baby to a horrible place! This is his 4th day there and he is very vocal and tells me everything. He said the staff help him whenever he needs anything. He also said the groups and packets he does are helping him learn how to cope with his anger. He has an explosive disorder and bipolar disorder. He hasnt had any episodes there yet which is good. The staff have been amazing for me, they answer all my questions whenever I call. They have been very helpful in helping me understand their policies and whats happening with him. I dont understand all the negative reviews because there hasnt even been a suspicious moment. I will be there physically on Saturday, if my opinion changes then I will update this review. I hope this helps ease concerns of parents who have a child here. its been great for us thus far!

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