Would you be more likely to get help if there wasn't the risk of being involuntarily committed?

[caesium]

Clearly there are many things wrong with how mental health is handled at large, but I've always thought that the fact that you could be sent to a mental hospital against your will is especially stupid.

I feel like it makes people less likely to get help. I know it's definitely kept me from it. I had a therapist once and I remember having to lie to her because I was worried she'd either get me put in a hospital or she'd tell my mom (I was 17 at the time.) Every time I consider telling someone I know that I'm suicidal, the first thing I have to consider is if they're gonna try to call 911 thinking they're "helping" me. I know I can't be the only one who thinks this.

And even worse, mental hospitals don't even help most of the time. I very rarely hear stories of people actually being helped at these places and I've heard many stories of people being made worse by them.

I don't know, I just feel like more people would seek help if there wasn't a risk of them getting taken away to a hospital and having their rights taken away until they're deemed "not a risk" anymore.

 

[ConstantPain]

I agree! This is the only place I feel like I can be honest for that very reason. I was forced into inpatient twice and neither time was helpful in the least. Those experiences scarred me and is why I will never express my desire to ctb to anyone. The closest I have come is telling my doctor that I am not having any screenings because even if something is found I am not going to get treatment. I told him that I have lived long enough and will be fine with dying anytime. He at least seems to get it and hasn't overreacted. Now that I lost my job and won't have insurance I won't be able to see him anymore or get prescriptions refilled. I take several things for my rheumatoid arthritis and will not be able to take the pain without meds. The system might very well have created the next drug addict. Such a lovely world we live in.

 

[Slark]

Yes, I've been hospitalized twice in a psychiatric hospital, once because I wanted to be and the other time because of a failed attempt. Currently, I avoid talking about suicide with people for fear of being involuntarily hospitalized. My experiences with hospitalization weren't bad, but they didn't help either, especially since my insurance only covers 30 days of hospitalization per year and the public psychiatric hospitals here are awful.

I agree! This is the only place I feel like I can be honest for that very reason. I was forced into inpatient twice and neither time was helpful in the least. Those experiences scarred me and is why I will never express my desire to ctb to anyone. The closest I have come is telling my doctor that I am not having any screenings because even if something is found I am not going to get treatment. I told him that I have lived long enough and will be fine with dying anytime. He at least seems to get it and hasn't overreacted. Now that I lost my job and won't have insurance I won't be able to see him anymore or get prescriptions refilled. I take several things for my rheumatoid arthritis and will not be able to take the pain without meds. The system might very well have created the next drug addict. Such a lovely world we live in.

I'm so sorry you're going through this. I have Crohn's disease and peripheral rheumatoid arthritis, so I know how challenging it is to have a chronic illness. I hope things can get better for you.

 

[claracatchingthebus]

It depends on whether medication could be involuntarily forced upon me by law without my consent.

There are certain areas where that can still happen. There would have to be no threat of a loss of autonomy and no cost for me to engage with the mental health industry.

 

[TheCallOfTheStars]

Honestly, yes.
The fear of being involuntarily committed always looming over my shoulder is the main reason why I don't ever seek help. While I haven't been hospitalized before, one of my closest friends was sent to the psych ward three times within the span of a few months and it put a huge financial strain on them. I would have sought help long ago if it weren't for the mental health system being a mess in America.

 

[Riven]

this is definitely a major concern for me, it's one of my biggest fears with getting professional help. I don't want to be committed against my will.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I definitely agree that it doesn't help- treating people so heavy handedly when it comes to suicidal ideation. It's bound to make people lie if they even try to see therapists etc. What would be the point in going to see a doctor with a serious problem if you didn't describe the most serious symptoms?

For me personally though, I'm at a point where I don't even want to try to recover. I'm simply tired of putting so much effort and fight into living. So- it would seem pointless for me to seek out help when I know I would be reluctant to take their advice. But sure- I also think that a stay in a psyche ward would do me more harm than good.

I'm not sure it's quite so risky in the UK though. They don't have the resources really to look after mental health. They're struggling to cope with physical health. There've been examples here of people actually asking to be admitted and being refused. That said- I still wouldn't want to test that theory. It's still a risk admitting we are suicidal.

 

[supercyberbleach]

What help? You think there is a cure for this shit? You still believe the lies?

 

[Forveleth]

Maybe a while ago when I actually wanted help for my depression. Now adays, however, I do not see my reason to die as needing "helped". There is nothing wrong with me.

 

[FuneralCry]

No, I'm not ill for wanting death, existence is the problem to me instead and I see existence as a mistake, I just don't want to suffer in this futile, torturous existence just to die in agony from old age and I find it deeply undesirable to exist in every way, non-existence is just all that's positive for me and as long as I exist I'll only hope for peace.

 

[purpp37]

When I was in the hospital it felt like I was in my true home. It feels like time doesn't exist in there. If anything it's a break from life.