Psycho ward hospital
What Are Mental Hospitals Like?
You know the feeling when you walk through a doorway and you’ve forgotten why you’re there? That’s how it felt to walk through the hospital door and enter the psychiatric ward for the first time. A little bit surreal.
The first time I entered those doors was 17 years ago—I was just 16 and hiding under a very thin white blanket while seated in a wheelchair. My parents nervously escorted me through the industrial-looking doors.
I'm not exactly sure why I was under a blanket but my mind had been playing tricks on me and I was frightened. I've since learned I was having symptoms of paranoia that are fairly common in many people with bipolar disorder. Only a few nights earlier I had heard demons chanting the name of my savior in my head: “ Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ!”
On the day I was admitted, I remember waiting in the ER for what seemed like hours, beforehand. When I arrived, there was a whole new team of medical personnel wanting to see the young girl hiding behind a blanket. My mom prompted me and I shyly stood up, trying really hard to be brave. Thank goodness the first person to greet me was a friendly aide. A friendly aide.
“Hi, I’m Kim. You must be Katie.” She was the first face of hope I met there. After taking me to the nurse’s office to get my vitals, I met Holly, another aide, with a sparkling personality that also helped put me at ease for the remainder of my three weeks there.
The seriousness of the experience didn't hit me until my parents left. It felt surreal and lonely but on some level, I knew I needed help. This was one way to get it.
I didn't know what to expect and it would have been less scary if I knew what would happen in advance.
Why Do People Go to Psych Wards
Inpatient psychiatric care can be very helpful for people struggling with mental health challenges. The intensive care available in mental hospitals can provide the break you need to receive treatment and focus on getting well.
That has certainly been my experience.
I'm not saying it's a vacation—therapy is hard work—but most people leave feeling better than they did prior to arriving there in the first place.
In the United States efforts to reduce hospital stays and save money have led to overcrowded emergency rooms and people with serious psychological distress not receiving the treatment they need. Experts define serious psychological distress (SPD) as feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and restlessness that are hazardous enough to impair physical well-being.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, more than 20% of American adults experienced mental illness in 2019. That's one in five adults. Inpatient, 24-hour care comes in a variety of forms. It can exist in a dedicated wing of a hospital, a private hospital, or a public/state hospital. Care is usually provided by psychiatrists, nurses, and therapists.
Mental hospitals can be an effective way to receive treatment but some evidence suggests that intensive outpatient programs (IPOs) can also be helpful.
What's most important is to reach out for help and support if you are struggling because treatment works. I'm living proof! You can get better and you will.
How Is The Day Structured in A Psychiatric Ward?
There is a schedule that isn't necessarily the same every day. But you can be sure the staff will keep you on schedule. You are expected to go to bed at a reasonable hour, and sleep for at least 8 hours. There is order to the day.
Mine often looked like this: time to prepare for the day (I got an hour in the morning), breakfast, quiet time, recess/physical activity, TV time, study time (for school-aged patients), recreation time, and group therapy. After lunch, more of the same activities follow until a break for dinner which is often followed by visitor hours, movie time, and lights out.
The activities don't necessarily occur in that order but the schedule is typically posted in a visible place.
When can I see my doctor?
At least once a week I would see the doctor.
Maybe not as often as I wanted, but at least as often as he could see me. I recommend being as honest and transparent as possible with the doctor. They want to know how you’re doing, so tell them if you’re having a cruddy day, or if your symptoms are bothering you. They are there to help you.
Depending on the laws that govern the state where the facility is located, in the adult ward, may be able to petition your case, provided you voluntarily admitted yourself, and fill out the proper paperwork during the first 72 hours (3 days). In the adult ward I went to, the state of Florida had a law that allowed the patients who had voluntarily admitted themselves to petition the hospital administration in a court of law within the hospital to review and possibly repeal their case for earlier release.
I recommend visiting the Treatment Advocacy Center website for more information on laws concerning admission and release. They monitor the 46 United States that abide by a common set of laws for the treatment of patients and score them in their efficiency to abide by those laws.
Also, if you were involuntarily committed, there are laws to keep you monitored and unable to be discharged for the first 72 hours (three days).
I can't say there weren't times when patients got out of control and the staff had to intervene but if you follow the rules and avoid confrontation with others, you should have no problem. Try to keep your distance physically and emotionally from people who you think may have the potential to be violent. Also, remember that many people in the psych ward may just like you and you may even find a friend or two during your time there. I created a lifelong friendship at the psychiatric ward.
What kind of testing is performed?
They draw your blood upon admission. They also take your vitals regularly, usually morning and evening, but at least once a day.
What does the facility look like?
The psych wards I’ve been in had the basics. I would describe them as pretty plain on the inside. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to make interior design a priority.
The first one had no pictures on the walls, and the second had about three abstract paintings and two illustrations that reminded me of the Silence Of The Lambs movie poster (eerie, I know). Another adult ward I stayed in had vaulted ceilings with large photos of beautiful locations around the world. There are usually minimal decorations and “homey” items. It’s easy to understand that it would be a risk to keep any home-like furnishings in the rooms, so it was pretty bare, needless to say.
Are The Beds in Mental Hospital Rooms Comfortable?
Honestly, all of the beds I had slept on were pretty stiff. They had plywood frames and no headboards, with a couple inches of mattress padding. But the sheets and linens were cleaned regularly, thankfully.
I do know that some people were out the next day. And some people stay longer. I was there for 3 weeks. Some people stay a few months. Doctors and staff regularly review the patients’ behaviors. Their input in part dictates the length of treatment at the facility.
The staff wants to ensure you’re safe and not a harm to yourself or others before you are discharged.
What do you wear?
When I was in the juvenile ward, we wore scrubs. In the adult ward, we wore casual, comfortable everyday clothing. They confiscate any belts, hoodie strings, shoestrings, and the like so as to take away anything that may pose a safety risk.
Is there any physical activity?
This may vary from place to place, but there was always a recreation time to either interact with others in a gym or outside in the enclosed courtyard. Take advantage of the physical activities, your brain needs it as much as your body. And you may end up passing on it during times you want to be alone to think or relax.
How can I avoid sensory overload?
It may be best that once in a while, during times that the patients congregate in a group, you may want to go to your room to rest, away from the noise and commotion. There were days it was hard for me to handle the day-to-day activities in my mental illness, and an even greater a struggle to deal with a blaring movie on TV or a crowd of people talking loudly waiting for their meds in the dayroom.
Permit yourself to take breaks from the anxiety-inducing activities, know and identify your triggers, and learn coping skills.
A final note: be sure to make the most of it. Your time in the psych ward may be the darkest night of the soul, or a welcome reprieve from the lifestyle you lead that could help you get your bearings while you’re away. In either case, know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. It may seem like the moments are going on forever, but just remember, “This too shall pass.” So, while you’re waiting for discharge, cooperate, and work on you.
Being isolated within a hospital psychiatric unit may seem contrary to what you need when you’re not in a stable frame of mind. You’re not surrounded by friends or family inside those walls, though they should be more than welcome to come visit you. I would encourage you to seek professional help when deciphering whether or not you should be admitted to a psychiatric unit. I know I received the help I could not have gotten elsewhere had I not been committed.
In the end, my mental health benefitted greatly from it.
For a wider breadth of understanding about hospitalizations and what questions to ask, I recommend reading the information on psychiatric hospitalization on the Mental Health America website. Visit The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) website for more information about recovery and support after you leave the hospital.
Notes: This article was originally published July 7, 2021 and most recently updated July 15, 2021.
Katie Dale
Katie Dale is a 30-year old writer and blogger living with bipolar disorder. After having her first bipolar episode at 16, the experience of entering the juvenile unit of a psychiatric hospital in a wheelchair wrapped head-to-toe in a thin blanket is seared into her memory. Katie has recounted her story in a soon-to-be-released memoir. For more information on the book and other tips on dealing with bipolar disorder in yourself or loved ones, visit Katie's blog, BipolarBrave.
com.
What Are Mental Hospitals Like?
You know the feeling when you walk through a doorway and you’ve forgotten why you’re there? That’s how it felt to walk through the hospital door and enter the psychiatric ward for the first time. A little bit surreal.
The first time I entered those doors was 17 years ago—I was just 16 and hiding under a very thin white blanket while seated in a wheelchair. My parents nervously escorted me through the industrial-looking doors.
I'm not exactly sure why I was under a blanket but my mind had been playing tricks on me and I was frightened. I've since learned I was having symptoms of paranoia that are fairly common in many people with bipolar disorder. Only a few nights earlier I had heard demons chanting the name of my savior in my head: “ Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ!”
On the day I was admitted, I remember waiting in the ER for what seemed like hours, beforehand. When I arrived, there was a whole new team of medical personnel wanting to see the young girl hiding behind a blanket.
My mom prompted me and I shyly stood up, trying really hard to be brave. Thank goodness the first person to greet me was a friendly aide. A friendly aide.
“Hi, I’m Kim. You must be Katie.” She was the first face of hope I met there. After taking me to the nurse’s office to get my vitals, I met Holly, another aide, with a sparkling personality that also helped put me at ease for the remainder of my three weeks there.
The seriousness of the experience didn't hit me until my parents left. It felt surreal and lonely but on some level, I knew I needed help. This was one way to get it.
I didn't know what to expect and it would have been less scary if I knew what would happen in advance.
Why Do People Go to Psych Wards
Inpatient psychiatric care can be very helpful for people struggling with mental health challenges. The intensive care available in mental hospitals can provide the break you need to receive treatment and focus on getting well.
That has certainly been my experience.
I'm not saying it's a vacation—therapy is hard work—but most people leave feeling better than they did prior to arriving there in the first place.
In the United States efforts to reduce hospital stays and save money have led to overcrowded emergency rooms and people with serious psychological distress not receiving the treatment they need. Experts define serious psychological distress (SPD) as feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and restlessness that are hazardous enough to impair physical well-being.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, more than 20% of American adults experienced mental illness in 2019. That's one in five adults. Inpatient, 24-hour care comes in a variety of forms. It can exist in a dedicated wing of a hospital, a private hospital, or a public/state hospital. Care is usually provided by psychiatrists, nurses, and therapists.
Mental hospitals can be an effective way to receive treatment but some evidence suggests that intensive outpatient programs (IPOs) can also be helpful.
What's most important is to reach out for help and support if you are struggling because treatment works. I'm living proof! You can get better and you will.
How Is The Day Structured in A Psychiatric Ward?
There is a schedule that isn't necessarily the same every day. But you can be sure the staff will keep you on schedule. You are expected to go to bed at a reasonable hour, and sleep for at least 8 hours. There is order to the day.
Mine often looked like this: time to prepare for the day (I got an hour in the morning), breakfast, quiet time, recess/physical activity, TV time, study time (for school-aged patients), recreation time, and group therapy. After lunch, more of the same activities follow until a break for dinner which is often followed by visitor hours, movie time, and lights out.
The activities don't necessarily occur in that order but the schedule is typically posted in a visible place.
When can I see my doctor?
At least once a week I would see the doctor.
Maybe not as often as I wanted, but at least as often as he could see me. I recommend being as honest and transparent as possible with the doctor. They want to know how you’re doing, so tell them if you’re having a cruddy day, or if your symptoms are bothering you. They are there to help you.
Depending on the laws that govern the state where the facility is located, in the adult ward, may be able to petition your case, provided you voluntarily admitted yourself, and fill out the proper paperwork during the first 72 hours (3 days). In the adult ward I went to, the state of Florida had a law that allowed the patients who had voluntarily admitted themselves to petition the hospital administration in a court of law within the hospital to review and possibly repeal their case for earlier release.
I recommend visiting the Treatment Advocacy Center website for more information on laws concerning admission and release. They monitor the 46 United States that abide by a common set of laws for the treatment of patients and score them in their efficiency to abide by those laws.
Also, if you were involuntarily committed, there are laws to keep you monitored and unable to be discharged for the first 72 hours (three days).
I can't say there weren't times when patients got out of control and the staff had to intervene but if you follow the rules and avoid confrontation with others, you should have no problem. Try to keep your distance physically and emotionally from people who you think may have the potential to be violent. Also, remember that many people in the psych ward may just like you and you may even find a friend or two during your time there. I created a lifelong friendship at the psychiatric ward.
What kind of testing is performed?
They draw your blood upon admission. They also take your vitals regularly, usually morning and evening, but at least once a day.
What does the facility look like?
The psych wards I’ve been in had the basics. I would describe them as pretty plain on the inside. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to make interior design a priority.
The first one had no pictures on the walls, and the second had about three abstract paintings and two illustrations that reminded me of the Silence Of The Lambs movie poster (eerie, I know). Another adult ward I stayed in had vaulted ceilings with large photos of beautiful locations around the world. There are usually minimal decorations and “homey” items. It’s easy to understand that it would be a risk to keep any home-like furnishings in the rooms, so it was pretty bare, needless to say.
Are The Beds in Mental Hospital Rooms Comfortable?
Honestly, all of the beds I had slept on were pretty stiff. They had plywood frames and no headboards, with a couple inches of mattress padding. But the sheets and linens were cleaned regularly, thankfully.
I do know that some people were out the next day. And some people stay longer. I was there for 3 weeks. Some people stay a few months. Doctors and staff regularly review the patients’ behaviors. Their input in part dictates the length of treatment at the facility.
The staff wants to ensure you’re safe and not a harm to yourself or others before you are discharged.
What do you wear?
When I was in the juvenile ward, we wore scrubs. In the adult ward, we wore casual, comfortable everyday clothing. They confiscate any belts, hoodie strings, shoestrings, and the like so as to take away anything that may pose a safety risk.
Is there any physical activity?
This may vary from place to place, but there was always a recreation time to either interact with others in a gym or outside in the enclosed courtyard. Take advantage of the physical activities, your brain needs it as much as your body. And you may end up passing on it during times you want to be alone to think or relax.
How can I avoid sensory overload?
It may be best that once in a while, during times that the patients congregate in a group, you may want to go to your room to rest, away from the noise and commotion. There were days it was hard for me to handle the day-to-day activities in my mental illness, and an even greater a struggle to deal with a blaring movie on TV or a crowd of people talking loudly waiting for their meds in the dayroom.
Permit yourself to take breaks from the anxiety-inducing activities, know and identify your triggers, and learn coping skills.
A final note: be sure to make the most of it. Your time in the psych ward may be the darkest night of the soul, or a welcome reprieve from the lifestyle you lead that could help you get your bearings while you’re away. In either case, know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. It may seem like the moments are going on forever, but just remember, “This too shall pass.” So, while you’re waiting for discharge, cooperate, and work on you.
Being isolated within a hospital psychiatric unit may seem contrary to what you need when you’re not in a stable frame of mind. You’re not surrounded by friends or family inside those walls, though they should be more than welcome to come visit you. I would encourage you to seek professional help when deciphering whether or not you should be admitted to a psychiatric unit. I know I received the help I could not have gotten elsewhere had I not been committed.
In the end, my mental health benefitted greatly from it.
For a wider breadth of understanding about hospitalizations and what questions to ask, I recommend reading the information on psychiatric hospitalization on the Mental Health America website. Visit The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) website for more information about recovery and support after you leave the hospital.
Notes: This article was originally published July 7, 2021 and most recently updated July 15, 2021.
Katie Dale
Katie Dale is a 30-year old writer and blogger living with bipolar disorder. After having her first bipolar episode at 16, the experience of entering the juvenile unit of a psychiatric hospital in a wheelchair wrapped head-to-toe in a thin blanket is seared into her memory. Katie has recounted her story in a soon-to-be-released memoir. For more information on the book and other tips on dealing with bipolar disorder in yourself or loved ones, visit Katie's blog, BipolarBrave.
com.
Nizhny Novgorod Regional Psychoneurological Hospital No. 1
An appointment with a doctor is carried out by calling 8 (831) 466-71-33 and through the Regional Portal of Medical Services
State Budgetary Institution of Healthcare of the Nizhny Novgorod Region P.P. Kashchenko"
(GBUZ NO "NOPNB No. 1").
Address: 603152, Nizhny Novgorod, Kashchenko street, 12a
E-mail: [email protected]
ATTENTION!
In order to implement measures to prevent and reduce the risks of the spread of a new coronavirus infection ( COVID -19), the administration of the State Budgetary Health Institution NO "NOPNB No. 1" warns of strict adherence to the use of personal respiratory protection equipment when is indoors .
From March 26, 2020, the reception of visitors in all structural divisions is limited. Citizens can submit appeals, complaints, applications and other documents in the form of an electronic document, an email: nopnb1@mail.
ru, through postal organizations, by fax: 8(831)466-74-72. Also, during the opening hours of the institution, citizens, legal entities can contact the institution by phone: 8 (831) 466-71-33.
Regarding the condition of patients being treated at the State Budgetary Institution of Healthcare "NOPNB No. 1", contact the attending physicians at the indicated telephone numbers from 14:00 to 16:00
(831) 466-73-13 1 psychiatric department
( 831)466-72-63 2 psychiatric department
(831)466-73-70 3 psychiatric department
(831)466-72-50 4 psychiatric department
(831)466-17-46 5 psychiatric department
(831) 466-36-05 6 psychiatric department
(831)466-72-90 7 psychiatric department
(831)466-73-30 8 psychiatric department
(831)466-75-30 9 psychiatric department
(831)466-35-68 9 Psychiatric Department
(831)466-73-21 13 Compulsory Psychiatric Department
Packages are received through the duty staff of the department where the patient is located from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 16:00 to 18:00.
Perishable food products are not accepted, only long-term storage products are allowed: non-perishable fruits, sweets, cookies, bakery products, bottled water up to 1.5 liters.
Administration.
At present, GBUZ NO "NOPNB No. 1" is the leading specialized psychiatric institution in the region with 850 beds. The hospital has 11 inpatient departments, a dispensary department, diagnostic and treatment services and offices. The only children's psychiatric department in the region with 60 beds meets modern requirements, experienced specialists work in the department: psychiatrists, teachers, educators, psychologists. The hospital is an organizational and methodological center for coordinating the activities of all psychiatric institutions in the region.
Today, the hospital employs more than 500 employees, including many young people. The hospital is strong with its traditions, labor dynasties, many employees have the highest qualification category.
Recently, the material and technical base has significantly improved, departments and services have been renovated, and much attention has been paid to interior elements and domestic comfort.
In recent years, the hospital has been implementing a biopsychosocial model of mental health care. One of the aspects of this assistance is rehabilitation work with patients aimed at increasing the social competence of patients, improving their communication skills, as well as social protection and support. Rehabilitation work is carried out in all departments of the hospital by highly qualified specialists.
Since 1993, on the basis of the hospital, cycles of improvement of mid-level medical workers of psychiatric health care and social protection institutions have been regularly conducted.
The fusion of maturity and youth, experience and research, responsibility to colleagues and duty to patients allow hospital staff to solve complex problems in modern conditions.
- Previous
- Next
Psychiatric hospital №1 - 8 doctors, 8 reviews | Nizhny Novgorod
Doctors psychiatric hospital №1
17 reviews
Larionova Galina Vasilievna
Child psychiatrist
Experience 47 years
Candidate of Sciences
It was the first time we saw a doctor and, in principle, we liked everything. She took good care of the child. The consultation she gave me was perfect. She gave us the necessary recommendations…
2 reviews
Zhilyakov Anton Yurievich
Psychiatrist
Experience 17 years
highest category
I am treating Zhilyakov with adjustment disorder.
The doctor is very good, treats comprehensively, not just removing the symptoms, but dives into the root of the problem, you rarely see this.
11 reviews
Boltacheva Elena Vladimirovna
Psychiatrist
Experience 5 years
Attentiveness, respect. I'm 19 years old, well, something became sad. Friends dragged me to a specialist, and I did not regret it. I have been working with a psychotherapist for the third month, I feel like I have never felt like this before, ...
1 review
Kardakova Irina Olegovna
Psychiatrist
Experience 9 years
Irina Olegovna is a very competent professional. She was already the third doctor I went to. I am a difficult patient, I do not tolerate pharmacotherapy very well. Irina Olegovna found a variant that suits me…
3 reviews
Plotnikova Anna Yurievna
Psychiatrist, child psychiatrist, psychotherapist
Experience 3 years
Friendliness, treatments, [.
..] cozy atmosphere despite the presence of other forms of life in the office. For a very long time I felt terrible. The military registration and enlistment office sent me for examination in Mon…
Show all doctors
Information
Medals
2
Reviews
8
007
Doctors of the clinic completed the mini-course "Electronic medical record: a new trend in doctor-patient communication"
Reviews
Patient
+7-952-45XXXXX
December 10, 2019
at 11:21 am
+2.0 Great
Building and premises
Equipment and medicines
The ratio of medical staff
Comfort of stay
Power quality
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
9000 Ulyanova, 41 Patient
+7-930-71XXXXX
November 1, 2019
at 12:40
+0.
2 fine
Building and premises
Equipment and medicines
Relationship of medical staff
Comfort of stay
Power quality
excellent
9000st. Ulyanova, 41
Guest
January 15, 2019
at 14:46
+2.0 excellent
st. Ulyanova, 41
Patient
+7-920-00XXXXX
May 7, 2018
at 14:33
-2.0 awful
Checked (1)
st. Ulyanova, 41
Patient
+7-987-75XXXXX
April 22, 2018
at 22:00
+2.0 excellent
Tested (1)
st. Ulyanova, 41
Prices
Functional diagnostics
1000₽ — 1000₽
Show all prices
Others hospitals in Nizhny Novgorod
Hospital №1 POMC
st.
