Why Are American Teenage Behavioral Hospitals Lacking SO Hard?

     

Why Are American Teenage Behavioral Hospitals Lacking SO Hard?

    The million dollar question: What is America doing wrong this time? I guess we are going to have to get a little more specific here. What is America doing wrong with their behavioral hospitals for teens?

Nothing to see here. Just a broken country.

    The main issue boils down to the short period of time spent there. Teens are only sent to such a place following a major mental health crisis. No to little help is provided leading up to said crisis. Once they are in the inpatient hospital, the goal is to get them out. Long term care is barely relevant. 

    The average length of stay in the United States following such a major crisis is between 7-13 days. Someone could have attempted their own life (which any sign leading up to this horrible situation was ignored) and then with 1-2 weeks it is decided that they are rehabilitated and all good to return to regular life. Are you actually kidding me? 

Why WOULDN'T 2 weeks of this cure you?

    Another question you may have may involve something along the lines of: What even happens in these places? Well, from firsthand experience, relatively fuck all. Monotonous routine, three shitty meals, and generalized group therapy with a person who doesn't know anything about any of us.

    You don't have to believe me though. Anyone who has been through it has similar thoughts. This article talks about every issue. Lack of personalized care, healthy food, and outdoor activities were all reported. The disregard for continuity of care following the inpatient stay was also noted. It was described as difficult and the staff was said to be unhelpful.

    So apparently we should take the mentally ill, stuff them inside with little freedoms or care for about 1-2 weeks, then send them on their merry way and call it a day. Yeah, no. So what is Europe doing and what should we steal from them?

    Let's start off strong with the fact that a study was done on the care inside their treatment centers. They measured patient satisfaction. Let me get this right. They asked the patient what was good and not so good to improve and catered towards mentally ill people's needs. Strong start.

POV: Europe asking patients how they can improve

    

    A second good idea from Europe right here. People with personal experience now play a role. They are the ones providing personal conversation, connection, and relatability for the struggling patients. No one better to help than someone who understands how it feels and knows what helped them. It is social AND it is actually helpful.  

    And just one more good idea by Europe. The same people are responsible for a patient's inpatient and outpatient care. Someone who knows the patient's situation, background, history, and treatment plan is responsible for following up with their treatment plan. This continuity of care is helpful for both better treatment and more efficient treatment. Nothing I hated more than trying to explain my story and struggles to roughly 10 different people. No thanks. 

Real image of me telling the same story 10 times to 10 different people.

   

 Here is some food for thought. If you are finding yourself thinking that this would require a lot of time, money, and effort when America already has a perfectly good system, then you are dead wrong.