Why does hospitalization seem so scary?

Outside of the cost of care that scares so many of us today, why is hospitalization so scary? I think we probably all have images in our head of what a psychiatric hospital is. Names ranging from the insane asylum to the nut house bring all sorts of weird images of people walking around in straight jackets ("hug me" jackets) or strapped to their beds. Images of people out in a big room all acting strange. The idea of putting your child in a place like you've seen on TV or in the movies is frightening.

I think that image is wrong and should be corrected. While not all facilities are alike and I'm SURE that some are far worse than others, for the most part, I suspect that they are safe environments where sick children can receive the care that they so desperately need. I stress again that people wouldn't question your child being put in the hospital if they were physically ill and could die, they shouldn't question their being in the hospital if they are mentally ill and a danger either to themselves or to others. And, danger can come in very different forms. For some, it may be that they are suicidal . . . others are severely depressed and can't function . . . some may even be homicidal. None of these things are good either for the ill person or for the people around them (regardless of how much we might love our family member).

The unit where Sarah is staying is nothing like what I've seen on TV. It is a safe environment that is kept locked so that the children cannot leave. They are under 24 hour supervision. There is a room where they have their meals. There is a public restroom in the center of the unit that is unlocked and available for use most of the time. The bathrooms in their rooms are locked most of the time and opened for them to use for showers. There are nurses, technicians, psychiatrists and therapists that all work with the patients.

The program is very structured. They have time for school where the kids are either given schoolwork by the teacher that is on staff there or is sent in from their own schools. This gives the opportunity for the staff to show kids how to deal with frustrations in every day settings.

They are given goals each day that they must work on. Some of these are very simple but extremely important. If they get enough "checks" on their goal chart, they get earned time that they can use to play video games or watch TV for a limited times. This can help teach socialization skills--learning to take turns, make choices together, accept choices that others have made, etc. These are the skills that so many kids learn in kindergarten . . . but so few kids with mental illness seem to grasp.

They have individual therapy, group therapy and are in an environment where they can change meds under complete medical supervision. With some of the side effects that are associated with psychiatric drugs, that supervision is very important. Reading side effects for psychiatric drugs can be very scary . . . but, at some point, any of us who have ill family members realize that the benefits outweigh the risks and to have a chance at a normal life, medication may be an absolute necessity.

As it turns out, hospitalization probably didn't need to be feared. Sarah says she wanted the help and we know that she desperately needed it. I don't have expectations that Sarah will come home and be immediately compliant and life will become completely calm in my house. But, I do have hope that life may get better for her and for all of us.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11