[The Mule]

Generally, I'm wondering how much it would cost to check myself into a mental institution. I'm not going to spend forever knocking out paragraphs about why and what my problems are; that'd be TL;DR.

I would also like some advice on this. Like if it's a good idea for me to check myself into that kind of place ( county/city hospital's mental health institution )or how it is inside one of those places. I don't want to go into this blindly or recklessly. I can't pay a lot of money, and I don't have health insurance, so I don't have a lot of choices. Would it be better for me to just rely on the people around me, or would it be better for me to check myself in?

If anyone has spent time inside one, or knows someone who has, please give me some kind of advice. I would like to make a decision pretty soon.

I'm still very sketchy on this, but I'm tired of turning my own friends against me just because I have too many problems.

[littl3chocobo]

well, i was really sick a few years ago and i have a history of being bipolar, i was told if you do a 72 hour watch it is free(if you are low income) and though it was deceitful since i needed something else all-together(paperwork stating i was physically unfit for military action) but i could not afford testing


i told them i had a history of bipolorism(is that how you say it?) i had no insurance or way to pay, my state covered a three-day inpaitent thing and i qualified you can try that?

[YourLuckyKeyblade]

I am Bipolar and thought of doing this as well, I think being around that environment would just make it worse. You'll see other people with worse problems and then that will have you thinking is there anything else wrong that is worse. I wouldn't do it, you seem pretty sane if you are asking this question, just try to build up coping techniques and maybe get on some medication. I take meds for my Bipolar and depression and my life has never been better. So try going to your counselor or doctor first and then go from there.

[The Mule]

I decided to save that for when I'm further out of it in any case.
But I have to address some things:

I can't go to a doctor at all, because I have no income, therefore I can't afford health insurance. It's not an option for me to get medicine or to have any counselor or a doctor. So if it requires money, I can't do it.

I am sane, but not really normal. I'm at a rocky point at the moment - at least it feels terribly rocky to me, seeing as how it takes a lot of convincing for me to simply go about the day like any other person would - and since my "stability" for lack of better word, is a little thin, small things are rocking me out of wack. Though the night I wrote this thread was a particularly shocking one. So I was just about at that point where it was a very clear option. I'm trying to be conservative about it so as to not disturb my family and friends about any of this ( hence why I'm staying anonymous on a mule ). I don't want people to see me as gloomy or as having issues ( well, I don't want EVERYONE thinking that. I've learned the hard way recently that friends sometimes are the opposite. So I'm trying to draw myself in quite a bit ) so I try not to bring anything up that requires adjusting for my well-being. I don't like being a hindrance.

Basically, I can't pay for anything. So whatever free option I have, I have to save it for when I'm in very deep.

[littl3chocobo]

like i said, look and see what options are available for you in your state, many places offer help

[Sunako]

I wouldn't do it if I were you. Those places are really horrible places to be. They treat you like dirt, and they have a really bad habit of constantly giving the patient too many pills, and not listening when you don't want to be on any more. Also, if you don't listen to the nurses, they eh lock you in room and ignore you. Or, atleast that was my experience from being in one.

I would recommend counselling instead or medication.

[littl3chocobo]

did you self-check or were you committed? because if you were self-check you could sue for that

[Ashy]

you could check in your area for community programs for mental health, usually church run groups.

im not sure exactly what its like for the US but apparently its similar here in that public mental health systems are ridiculously overcrowded. the process here is the second they decide youre stable they kick you out for more space, in multiple instances someone pronounced sane for bedspace has then committed murders or assaults :s

[littl3chocobo]

no, never /anything/ church run, most of that stuff makes you worse and tends to ignore real honest issues in favor of fucked up religious 'cures' that do nothing at all

[Ashy]

im not talking about praying away illnesses or anything, but the majority of church run groups are actually quite beneficial. saying something is church run just means they either use the building for the meeting place, fund the program, or have a counselor from the church running the program.

in order to run a government approved program like that they have to have an accredited counselor and like AA sometimes just being able to feel part of a group and meet new people can help tremendously

[Sunako]

Originally Posted by littl3chocobo

did you self-check or were you committed? because if you were self-check you could sue for that

I was committed by my mum, but still it's not the point.

[Lioshika]

It depends what state you're in as to what is available. You can commit yourself to an institution in NY, without having any money. You go to the CPEP, or threaten suicide. They do a three day analysis of you, then go from there. If they deem you fit, they get you set up and send you off. If you are deemed to need more, they put you inpatient in a hospital near you.

Not all the hospitals are bad as Sunako said. My mom works for a psychiatric center. She was inpatient, moved to outpatient. It is illegal for nurses to just lock you into a room when you don't listen. In any state. If you act out, they will calm you down however they need to. NY requires a PCMS protocol. First trying verbal, and only requiring physical take downs when the patient is violent in attacks. Chemical restraints can be used from that point.

I would suggest, if you really want help, call your local CPEP (usually in a hospital) or contact the county offices for information on mental health centers that would be able to direct you. There are a lot of things (at least here in NY) that are set up to help mental patients. Catholic charities has their hand in it if you rather through religion seek help.

[Sunako]

Lioshika: They didn't follow that protocol with me. They keep forcing me to take pills, more than what was needed, and because I didn't agree, bam into a locked room for 4 hours or more.

[Ashy]

yeah but thats the NSW health system for you sun, its no better up here :s