I was twice in psych ward, both for 2 weeks long. Both after hurting myself (cutting arms, wrists, neck).
If you arent cooperating, they use straps and strap/restrain you to the bed, for few hours straight. You cannot scratch yourself or you cannot take a sip of water.
I was strapped 3 times in my first 2 days. Even this didnt help, they sent me to solitary confinement.
On first day I was beaten by 3 ripped personnel dudes, because I was taking my shoes too slowly. Psychiatrist saw that but when I complained, she negated everything.
I was strapped with belts to a bed right away. After 3 hours without water and beaten up, I asked guys in my room for a sip of tap water. One guy asked "oh, you want to drink?" and squeezed his pee wetted pants (underpants) all over my face, and smeared it.
I was restrained, couldnt do a shit. I complained to a shift nurse (they had cameras in the room, if after 22 you werent asleep, they were in the room in 10s.) However when I complained about the pants incident when restrained, they told me to "man up", and "no way this never happened during 15 years of this ward", even though it happened to me during First three hours.
I was so pissed, to this day I got PTSD when I think about it. This is treatment for suicidal patient? After this incident and now I even want to kms even more.
I believe in US for this "action" I could fight for a big reparation/compensation money.
22:00 its night time (silence) and you have to be in your bed. If you stand up, walk in circles or even go to toilet too often, guess what happens? strapping or confinement. And they dont care if u scream at 100% of your capacity, waking everyone up at 2am, making everyone hate you.
I was addicted to morphine and benzos, I was experiencing withdrawal. It was hell.
I didnt know when I was going out, 0 info.
Patients are mental and some of them are saying 1 sentence 24/7, they dont sleep, they steal from your belongings. Every piece od food, sweets, juice or milk will be shared among inpatients even without your consent. Unless you are super scary 200cm 120kg dude, which I suppose you are not. Even then, some dudes dont care at all.
Food is so-so, like 3/10, often not salty or sour enough (dull taste) but hey, youre hungry, so you eat.
There are frequent blow-ups of schizo/psychotic patients, fighting with personnel, screaming at the top of your lungs.
Of course all the ppl are ordered to take medicine, during my talks with a lead doctor I COULDN'T even get information what I was treated with (only on the release document). They treat you like you are a stupid, poor, alone, almost homeless person (some of patients are). But when I told them I have Uni finished and an office job, dean psychiatrist said "pfffft, yeah sure you are". I was so angry at that time. And that dude was like the leader of the place and the boss of all doctors.
Some people say about murdering people and that the court can do nothing because they are mental. At worst they could end up here. Some people were locked up for YEARS, some guys (young, like 20yo) said its their FIFTEENth stay in the ward.
The ward ive been to is in like 100k town in Poland but it doesnt have like detox or drug section, so all patients are treated almost the same.
80% of patients are schizophrenics or hardcore alcoholics. Smart, introverted, depressive or suicidal persons are minority, maybe 5% at max. During my stays, I hadn't any single person to relate with.
Most people smoke cigs, only in dedicated place. I hated cigs, but started smoking as well, to fight BOREDOM. I was a witness of a short fight of 5 dudes vs 1 (annoying dude, but didnt deserve to be beaten) - it was on cig smoking area - it only took 15 seconds, but when 5 dudes are kicking you on the head on the ground, the guy pissed himself hard.
Boredom and nights are the worst thing in a psych ward.
You cannot have a smartphone, only an old phone w/o camera. They're afraid you will take photos of people inside (but real reason is they fear you will document all the abuse inside).
So prepare an old phone, like this nokia 3310 or so, prepare an iPod or a MP3 player, and many books or crosswords/magazines/sudoku/playing cards / w/e u like to do.
It is a new story, happened in 2023 and 2024, in Poland.
EDIT: To the people who already read my post, please read it again, I described the situation when I was restrained, and a dude peed all over my face. Camera monitored room, personnel did nothing. I came out 10x as suicidal as I was admitted.