Personal Enrichment Through Mental Health (PEMHS)

Reviews 4

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Lisa Ann Palermo-Ramjattan

Something that was supposed to be a simple "fix" turned into a nightmare (as usual!! I live in the state of Florida where HEALTH CARE, SPECIFICALLY MENTAL HEALTH CARE SUCKS!) I hurt my back so bad Christmas night (but I tried to wait it out before going to the ER because I know how busy holidays can be) I couldnt move. The pain was excruciating. I waited 6 hours in St. Anthonys ER before I was seen. They gave me a pain shot, a Vicodin, and a Valium (of which Ive never had before) because I was so upset over what proceeded the incident, the long wait, being alone, and the severe pain I was in. Next thing I remember/know Im in a disgusting, filthy mental ward where I had to beg for blood pressure medicine (my BP was 170/100 for 3 days), I became dehydrated because all they had to drink was old, stagnant water that made me throw-up, and I had to wait 8 1/2 hours for one lousy Motrin that got stuck in my throat because all you get is a tiny Dixie cup of water to swallow a giant pill. When I asked three "workers" ( who were just there to talk real loud, jam out to their shi**y rap music, joke about how they wanted to commit suicide if they didnt get their sour cream and onion chips on time, and laugh at me when I told them I couldnt wash my hair with dish soap and comb it out with a tiny, cheap plastic comb) if I could have a cracker to get the pill down the 3 of them said, with mouths full of chips, cookies, and granola bars, " we aint got no snacks for you all". So I said, "Im just supposed to choke to death like I did last night?" and they said, "sorry, cant help ya. Drink some water." I also asked to wash my clothes for 2 days and was ignored so I had to wear the same clothes for almost 4 days. There was no toilet paper or paper towels. The only thing the 4 or 5 people behind the front desk was there to do was sashay around lookin for a date from their fellow employee. Everything is a waiting game. I cannot believe this hellhole is supposed to help people in crisis! It makes them worse! The food was atrocious and they had people there with contagious diseases mixing with everyone else and we had to be subjected to their rancid stench of body odor because "its against their rights to force them to bathe". Well, what about my fu**ing rights? Being ignored, being denied my medicine, being denied the basic necessities of daily living. WTF? Its no wonder there are so many lunatics rambling around the shi*hole of Florida. No one cares! What the hello were those "employees" being paid for? They did NOTHING! God forbid you ever get emotionally sick, boy oh boy, the hospital employees or family or friends (or who ever) just cant wait to throw you in that putrid snakepit called PEMHS.

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Arianna Everhart

I came to PEMHS because I was supposed to receive help. I did not cut myself or attempt suicide, but I had done such things previously in my past. I requested help because I was struggling and didnt know how much longer Id be able to resist. When I arrived at PEMHS, I was locked in a room by myself and not even spoken to or asked my name. I cried for a good 15 minutes before a lady walked in and told me I was going to be receiving a body check. Let me repeat: I was locked in a room and left to cry for 15 minutes only to be told I was going to have to strip. No hello, no "what is your name"... When another patient pulled in in an ambulance, the lady mumbled "Ugh, another one?!". PEMHS treats every patient like theyre just another one, and not even an individual. They stereotype and assume and honestly I feel like PEMHS made my situation worse and didnt help at all. The food is also very unpleasant, and 4 other patients along with myself actually felt ill after one of the lunches. Honestly, I would describe the juvenile part of the program at least as "suicidal kids trying to convince other suicidal kids that suicide isnt the answer." No one there felt relieved or helped from having been there, and the doctor actually said to me that she couldnt help me and I could either accept the medication she was trying to prescribe me or get out of her office and go home. (I had gone voluntarily, so she was just going to discharge me.) I had requested a medication that I had previously been on that worked for me - and was told that somehow by asking for a medication that worked very well for me (and that I had only stopped because after I ran out of it no one took me to the doctor to refill it) I was displaying signs of a desperate drug addict. Mind you, Ive never had any drug abuse issues. Ever. Overall, if you want to kill yourself or cut yourself and you want help, I would recommend either just doing it and not getting caught or looking elsewhere for assistance because youll find nothing here.

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Rocket Raccoon

I was sent here for having a panic attack gone sour. Staff didnt care really whether I lived or died. One staff member told me "I aint here to be your friend, Im here to administer your meds and go home." I shared a room with a meth addict and had never felt more unsafe my entire life, she stole my mattress and my pillow, and refused to let me have either. I managed to take the mattress from the third bed which luckily no one took, and she threatened me when I took my pillow back from her. As someone with several anxiety disorders, this whole experience was crippling. When my OCD was acting up over an Uno deck, I was threatened to be kept there longer, which was the last thing I wanted. There was only one therapist, and I wasnt even able to see her, the only person there who seemed to care for us. I was brought in to two others and all their main concern was whether or not I wanted to go home. We didnt discuss anything, no coping methods, no reasons as to what triggered the panic attack, what it was like or anything. They dont let you go in your room, and youre out in the common area all day, left to fend for yourself. Granted, I have never been to prison, but I would have to assume this is what prison is like. Theres barbed wire along the fences, and its just really a terrible, terrifying place to go if seeking help for mental care services. Itll make you not want to get help, if anything.

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Elizabeth Fallon England

I have been wanting to write a post for sooo long. If your children need assistance DO NOT take them here. I suffered from sever depression and anxiety. I was 15 years old when I was admitted and let me tell you, it was a truly horrible experience. The employees that took "care" of us shamed us behind our backs. They do not have a nurturing atmosphere for children. The hurdle the kids around like cattle, little to no supervision, metal sharp bed frames where someone could very easily hurt themselves... My first experience was smelling feces in the room next to me ( a kid had the ridiculous idea to take a bowl movement in the corner of the room...it was not cleaned until the next day!) Staff does not clean up. I was treated as if I had a drug abuse disorder, when I never experimented! Although this is a review from my experience 6 years ago, it was very disheartening to hear from the grapevine that nothing has been proactively changed. If you have children that are suffering from depression I recommend you find a therapist. Shipping your kids here WILL negatively impact your children. There is nothing "wrong" with your child. Chemical imbalances are a thing. And PEMHS will just throw meds their way with no impact, or worse - negative.

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