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What's it like in a Mental Hospital?

I watched the movie ‘Girl, Interrupted’ a few days ago, and was just wondering if that’s what mental hospitals are really like? Or was it a little exaggerated for the movie? And are people treated badly in there? Because I also saw the movie ‘Changeling’ and people were badly treated there. So I guess the question is , what’s it generally like in a mental hospital?

I’m just interested, and putting off doing science coursework :P danke :)

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Answer #1

My good friend and my sibling have spent some time in mental hospitals. They were not mistreated, but your freedom is severely limited. You take medication when they tell you to, and you shower supervised (in some cases), you’re confined to certain areas of the ward at all times of the day (day room, play room, your bedroom, living room, cafeteria, bathroom… etc), you don’t get to go outside unless you’re supervised and in the ‘yard’. It’s fairly oppressive, but that’s necessary for your safety and other’s safety. The scariest part for them was the fact that there were REALLY mentally unstable people surrounding them. People who were violent for no reason, or people who were just scary because they were incredibly strange. It’s not a fun place, but it can help a lot of people that go there. Some people need the rigid structure provided by the hospital in order to feel secure and be able to function normally.

Answer #2

Girl Interrupted is set in 1960’s mental hospitals. Back in the 60’s mental and psychological diseases were just beginning to raise eyebrows not much was known about and they didn’t know a lot about how to treat them. There is no way you can compare 60’s mental hospitals with todays.

Nowadays it is not always the best place to be. Usually you are forced to take a concoction of meds during your stay there until they figure out what will help you as well as attend group and personal therapy sessions. Really there is no sense about being abused, even as a patient you still have rights and the people work at that hospital because they want to help you, not hurt you.

Answer #3

well I guess ther not treated badly, but I’ve neva seen that movie so I cant really compare it lol (not that I’ve eva been in a mental hospital)

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