Er for suicidal thoughts

[Overcoming]

Had a terrible scare the other day where I feared losing control and taking my life. I had a couple feasible ways to do it and felt like I couldn't stop myself. Out of concern for the potential ER bill, I chose to do my best to sleep after a Xanax. If you've ever gone to the ER for a similar experience, how was it handled? If it occurs again, I want to know what I'm in for if I can't handle it alone.

 

[EveHarrington]

:hug:

It really depends on how your ER handles these kinds of things. Some will admit you readily, others will send you packing, and then there's everything in between.

 

[Fadeaway]

If there isn't mental health beds available, which rarely there is, there isn't much they can do. They can treat you if you have made an attempt, but they have little in the way of preventing an attempt aside from referrals and perhaps 1 time does of medication.

Some places may have social workers on call, some may have mental health beds available, you just never know. I would call ahead of time, before sitting in a crowded e.r. room waiting for hours only to find out they can't help.

 

[Lionheart]

Our state university hospital would ask if you have a plan and decide if it is probable that you might implement that plan and then act accordingly.

Usually a stint in the hospital is for a 72-hour hold for assessment, but it can range from 3 days to a couple weeks in other places such as psyche and rehab centers. At least, that has been my experience.

When in treatment for suicidal depression I was given twice weekly med checks, a structured day, 3 square meals, movies to watch, smoke breaks, etc. with at least one group counseling session and one individual session per day. But this will depend on the treatment facility and will vary from place to place. Some times you get a private room and sometimes you share with a roomie etc.

My experience is that it was a good thing that I went...I am still alive and it equaled a mini-vacation in essence.

 

[Nessa7]

I went to a hospital that was large enough to be the primary hospital for a county, and it had a rather large emergency room. I was not admitted. They increased my medication. I had family that could keep an eye on me, and they didn't think the environment in their impatient area would be a good place for me at that time. I was given information for outpatient treatment. I definitely second the suggestion to call ahead.

While you are waiting in the ER, they will need to check to see if you are under the influence and take away anything that could be used to harm yourself. A nurse and a security guard were present while they took my belongings. It is easier if you don't have any money on you when you go back, because they have to count it and recount it while they take inventory of your stuff. They won't want any of your belongings to be stolen. I was allowed to keep my underwear on, but I did have to remove my bra and lift my breasts. The security guard was a man, but stayed on the other side of the curtain while I undressed. The chairs were removed from the room. They took both a blood and urine sample.

I was not allowed to have anyone with me for at least the first hour of my wait, but they eventually let one person back to see me (with my permission) once it was clear that I was going to have a longer than average wait. I was monitored by the security guard the entire time. My room was in a secluded part of the ER, so I had privacy and couldn't see what was going on with other patients. Eventually, someone came to do an assessment, which was very thorough.

 

[Fadeaway]

@Nessa7 Holy cow, that is disgusting that you went through all that without even being assessed. I have been to the E.R. in 3 different states and never experienced anything like that, especially with out being seen first. If you were being checked into an inpatient hospital sure, but to go through that only to be told you didn't need to be admitted you be mildly traumatising.

 

[Nessa7]

I've always thought that it wasn't that unusual, but we have two big medical monopolies in my area. I've talked to other people in person about their experiences, but they also all only had two options for an ER that takes people for psychological reasons. It didn't seem like a bad experience, because the staff was really kind.

I wonder if maybe the area I was in made a difference. There was someone trying to get prescription pain medication on the other side of the ER. I was too far away to know what was going on, but it was bad enough that the security guard watched to make sure we made it to the car okay when we were leaving.

 

[Sideways]

It's gonna come down to the hospital you go to. My experience with some have been pretty awful. The ER kept me alive, which was the aim, but it's certainly been motivation to learn to manage my crisis times in different ways!

It's always there as backup. If they know you, it can be easier. The process of being churned through the system then sent packing dur to the absence of available beds can be pretty awful. But the sheer time involved, for them to work through that process, you're under supervision and in a place where you can't self harm, and in that respect it works.

In the meantime, touch base with your supports yeah?

 

[Muted]

ER is probably the last place on earth I would go if I were having suicidal thoughts.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

The first time, I was lucky. They put me into an examination room and the doctor told me that they had a two week outpaitient clinic for depression and I went to that and participated in the group and the tutorial taking a lot of notes and felt so much better at the end of it.

The second time my husband took me and I said I was suicidal and homicidal, I do not even remember the crises that intitiated this. They strapped my hands and feet down on the bed. I was given an IV and while they waited for a psychiatrist I was given a large dose of Ativan which put me in happy land where there was no pain at all. By the time the psychiatrist got there, I was alseep and could not stay awake so they sent me home.

The third time, was not the ER. I was at home and felt like a failure as a mother because I had just found out that both of my children had been each molested one time each. I took some pills and then woke up to what I was doing and got terrrified that I had taken too many pills so I called an ambulance. They took me to the county hospital called ward B. I had a IV and they taped it to the wall. I was sitting between a passed out drunk who kept laying on my shoulder and a felon from aprison and strapped my leg to the leg of the chair while I waited for a room. When I aksked why I was given a very rude and disrespectful answer. It made me feel so much worse while I waited for a room forever.

I was then taken and put in a holding room. I was taken out and talked to a doctor but was so scared at that point, I do not remember anything furthor that happened. My husband got home from work and read my note and rushed to where I was and picked me up. The ward could have kept me for three days to observe me. But they did not. that prevented me from ever considering suicide an option ever again.

Currently I am undergoing some of the worst stress I have ever experienced and not once has that thought ever entered my mind.

I would go and look before at the ER you are thinking about going to and take someone with you and try to ask a nurse there some questions about procedures and how they would handle something like that before going. I know it is not the best idea. But I know some bad places are out there and I would be very cautious about going to one without knowing how they deal with people in this situation. Or maybe even call ahead and have a friend ask for you without giving any of your information away and just say that the friend is concerned for a friend and wants to know what would happen if they brought that friend in. I wish you well in this one and I have to say do not think about it because it is not worth it. You would not get escape from the pain, only be dead. It is better by far and get some help for you to be able to survive.:hug:

 

[Overcoming]

ER is probably the last place on earth I would go if I were having suicidal thoughts.

Where would you go? Just curious

 

[Muted]

Where would you go? Just curious

I usually just go park outside my counselors office, it's somewhat comforting. That's when it doesn't feel like there's anyone else I can talk to. I just sit in my car and cry.