Are psychiatric holds benificial? TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️

Question

⚠️ TW: Talk of suicide and involuntary psychiatric treatments 
I saw a different post on another group about someone being put on a psych hold at the ER for “very seriously” considering suicide. This person was a spouse and a parent. Do you believe that continuing to hold patients against their will for considering suicide is beneficial or could actually make things worse?
Given that the person on hold has no access to a phone, their belongings etc. and are basically just sitting in a room waiting for a treatment plan... I wonder if the feeling of isolation could potentially worsen those thoughts? Especially if they feel as though they are being held away from their family and children? 
I only ask because I didn’t realize psych holds were so isolating. We know from studies about isolation it is very damaging to the brain so I’m not sure how this would benefit someone considering taking their life?

Answer

Our laws here don’t allow involuntary holds just for thinking about suicide. The person needs a plan which is both immediate and realistic. 
They can be helpful for a very short term assessment and stabilization. Overall though, mental health care is abysmal, and forced treatment and extended isolation can absolutely be damaging.

Answer

I’ve been on a hold because my mother called the cops so they placed a hold on me to get me evaluated. It was the worst freaking experience ever. One of the workers wouldn’t leave me alone so when I screamed at him they decided “oh she needs to take meds to chill out,” like no y’all need to tell homeboy not to touch people. I was also pregnant at the time so I refused the pill. They forcibly gave me a shot in my back while holding me down. 
So no I don’t think holds help at all especially when you have people that work in these facilities treating patients like a prisoner or making fun of them.

Answer

I can't speak for other facilities but I felt the hospital I worked at handled mental crisis' well. Attempted suicides had to go to the ER and be medically cleared before moving to medical observation. They weren't allowed their personal effects but weren't kept alone. A member of the staff had to sit in the room with them at all times. They were allowed visitors. Within 24 hours a member of the psychiatric department would come and visit them. Ask them how they were, what events lead up to the situation, etc. They were strongly encouraged to spend a few days in the psychiatric unit to speak with a therapist, learn coping skills, explore the possibility of starting medication, etc. They were good at making it sound less intimidating and most went willingly. I only saw maybe 4 get put on an involuntary psychiatric hold. It lasted 72 hours max. Many times the doctor would release them early if the social workers could get the patient set up with outpatient therapy.

Answer

I don’t understand how they lead to any real benefit. It feels like they don’t know what else to do, so just temporarily hold people for an extended amount of time.

Answer

My mom still took her own life despite a psych hold. She was an intelligent and caring woman. Also a physician ( I only add this in bc there seems to sometimes be a stigma around those who commit suicide and I like to bring awareness that it affects all walks of life). I suppose if they are going to commit suicide, there is only so much another person can do to try and help. I’m not sure it was beneficial for her at all. The family was doing their absolute best and despite that, she still made the decision. :/.

Answer

I’m sure there are different policies, etc depending on location/facility but as someone that was put on a hold, I can 100% say it was NOT helpful to me whatsoever.
I had to be transferred from the ER to the facility. Before I was transferred, my parents and I both asked the intake person if I’d be able to keep my personal belongings which she said yes to but as soon as I got there they made me change my clothes, even underwear, and took all of my items. 
It was like 2:00pm. They told me I’d have to wait until the next day at 5:00pm after I saw the therapist before I could call my mom.
I was put in a room and told I could use the common room until lights out. I wasn’t given a tour of the facility, I didn’t even know where the bathroom was. When I ventured out, there wasn’t anyone around and zero access to food or drink, even water. I had to drink out of the sink in the bathroom.
The next morning, I was woken up at 6:00 for breakfast and pills. I hadn’t even seen anyone yet and they wouldn’t let me eat without taking my “medication”! 
I ended up taking it so I could eat a measly granola bar and orange juice. The day passed. No therapist. No group therapy. Fucking nothing. I read books most of the day and ended up going to bed late in the afternoon. 
I was woken up again, this time it was late at night, like 8 or 9. I was told I couldn’t eat anything since I “chose” to skip dinner. I was then put in a room all alone with a man who asked for my whole life story just to tell me I was “having issues adjusting to adulthood” and that it would pass and that he recommended I take an anti depressant to “even my irrational mood swings”. 
When I finally got to talk to my mom the next day, we both agreed that I just play by their rules until I could leave. The whole thing was a fucking joke. Mental health is not taken seriously at all.

Answer

I've been to a psych ward for attempting suicide. It was one of the worst experiences of my life, and I was faced with the possibility of arrest if I refused. I was there for 4 days while suffering from a severe allergic reaction that caused burning in my face and throat (from the meds THEY gave me) and received no treatment. I was also isolated the entire time with no focus on mental health treatment. It felt like a punishment for trying to kill myself. (On top of that, I was fined by the state and had to pay for my stay out of pocket because they didn't take ANY insurance)
No, nobody should be held against their will for mental health reasons unless they are a significant danger to others. And IF that's the case, there needs to be a bigger push to actually help them instead of just holding them like it's a prison.

Answer

TW...I work for a mental health and substance abuse facility. I worked in the Crisis Stabilization unit for years before transferring to administration. When someone goes to the ER for suicidal thoughts or intent they arent equipped to handle situations like this. They do have behavioral health nurses but they triage them to a Crisis Unit. By law they are obligated to put a 1013 hold on the person since they expressed suicidal intentions. If they released this person the hospital would be responsible if something did happen to them. Once they get to the Crisis Unit they are evaluated immediately and only put in isolation if they are actively trying to harm themselves. The person must have intentions and a plan to carry out the intent. They arent just automatically thrown into a padded room. Nurses, case managers, and techs work together to provide constant observations until the person is no longer a threat to themselves or others. The 1013 hold isn't valid after so many hours and the doctor or Clincian either reinstates it or changes their status to voluntary admission and works on discharge plans. The same case would apply for persons probate by a judge, someone sent from jail, or if 911 was called and picked up the person. I think there is alot of misinformation out there on involuntary holds, but ultimately for legal and ethical reasons we are just trying to keep everyone safe.

Answer

I think holds can save lives and can be necessary, but I’m not in favour of how they are done.  From the institutional settings to the type of professionals that carry out evaluations & recommendations I think it misses the mark of what’s really needed to support wellbeing.

Answer

I have not been put in a psychiatric hold,  but considered doing it voluntarily. My mom has worked with people who have been put in a psychiatric hold and told me that she thinks it would make everything worse for me.

Are psychiatric holds benificial? TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️

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