I was pretty naive and trusting about the mental health system. They are doctors, right? They just want to help, right? I had some bad experiences with some questionable doctors and mixed experiences from my hospitalization in 1999, but I had no idea how bad it could be until my second hospitalization. As bad as I feel my 2003 experience was, I know that there are much worse examples out there. I was lucky in that only sutures were needed. I walked out of the hospital alive and with with my mind and spirit intact.

I found no concise and comprehensive information about rights, complaints, agencies, or procedures. Information I was given was vague and contradictory. I found I had to figure it out by myself and have done a great deal of research in this area. I want to make this information available to others so they don’t have to start from scratch.

Additionally I believe that the system does not adequately protect patients and needs improvement. If a hospital has the legal power to lock someone up against their will for “treatment”, then there should be some effective mechanism to ensure the hospital follows the rules that come with that power. Today this is not the case. Hopefully in the near future it will be.

I feel that the public and many patients are not aware of how frequently patients are mistreated. The system is designed to “ensure public confidence” by sweeping such information under the rug. Most medical disciplinary information is kept confidential by law. Wouldn’t do to learn too much about your doctor. Better to keep you in the dark so that you don’t worry about it. When I went in for neurosurgery, I knew more about my automobile mechanic and garage than I did about my surgeon and the hospital. When I went in for borderline personality disorder test, I knew more about my home wiring than where this test could end me up. This did not help my confidence.

In addition to the protections afforded by law, many hospital staff adhere to the unwritten and rarely acknowledged “white wall of silence”. This is where the staff cover for each other to ensure their jobs remain safe. This is done at the expense of the patients.

It may require significant public outcry to change the system and make it more responsive to ensuring patient safety. If you are reading this, do your best in participate in communities to help the cause & if you are about to be a mental health patient, do your research well.