How often are people committed?

[AnnonyBox]

I know its mentioned a lot, but how often are people really committed to mental institutions by psychs for expressing their feelings regarding suicide? Please forgive my ignorance on this matter. I've actually not sought any form of treatment from a therapist over this very concern.

 

[TAW122]

I don't know anyone "personally" who has been committed against their will, but I have heard numerous stories in the news, on reddit, and other Internet sources that point to people who have been committed. (Even on YT there are videos of people who have been committed and it just really, really sucks). I would say it happens more than you think (including the short up to 72 hour psych hold), but maybe not super common. It's still too much and rather unsettling for us to bear.

 

[Nem]

If you go to a crappy self help site and mention suicide, there's a good chance cops will show up to your door
Peace/hugs

 

[AnnonyBox]

I don't know anyone "personally" who has been committed against their will, but I have heard numerous stories in the news, on reddit, and other Internet sources that point to people who have been committed. (Even on YT there are videos of people who have been committed and it just really, really sucks). I would say it happens more than you think (including the short up to 72 hour psych hold), but maybe not super common. It's still too much and rather unsettling for us to bear.

I don't think I could ever fully trust someone who could detain me because I said something wrong. Do you think its best that I not seek a therapist, and continue trying to fix myself on my own?

 

[Flume]

Look this up yourself. This is where I live, just because it's where I am doesn't mean that it's the same where you are. But here's what I know:

If you have concrete plans to harm yourself or others you will get reported. But I don't know what happens after this report.
If you get caught with a CTB attempt you will most likely be sent to facility. But I don't know if you have a choice to be sent or not.
What I do know for a fact is that if you hate being alive, like you hate breathing. Then you will be held against your will in a hospital or a facility.

 

[Skyview]

You are now allowing your therapist and others to take control of your life IF you say the wrong thing as in taking your own life . Be careful !

 

[AnnonyBox]

Look this up yourself. This is where I live, just because it's where I am doesn't mean that it's the same where you are. But here's what I know:

If you have concrete plans to harm yourself or others you will get reported. But I don't know what happens after this report.
If you get caught with a CTB attempt you will most likely be sent to facility. But I don't know if you have a choice to be sent or not.
What I do know for a fact is that if you hate being alive, like you hate breathing. Then you will be held against your will to a hospital or a facility.

As I was able to read the information I could find, the laws seem very draconian. This very much dissuades me from seeking any sort of professional help. My standards for ethics and principles are apparently higher than those of the mental health 'professionals' in my state.

 

[Flume]

As I was able to read the information I could find, the laws seem very draconian. This very much dissuades me from seeking any sort of professional help. My standards for ethics and principles are apparently higher than those of the mental health 'professionals' in my state.

Just don't stress anything that's what most important, take your time to figure out what feels best for you.

 

[k75]

There are guidelines they follow to determine if you're safe or need to be sent to a hospital. They don't just freak out and lock you up.

Where I live, the law says they have to believe you are in imminent danger of hurting yourself or others. That means right now. If they think that, they can't let you go.

But the line of questioning usually goes something like this:
Are you having suicidal thoughts?
Do you feel safe?
Do you have a plan or a way to do it?

My therapist usually also asks, "How worried should we be?" I've told her, "Pretty fucking worried." and she still didn't section me, just talked it out.

I talk to my therapist all the time about my suicidal ideation. But I always assure her I do not have a plan or method. I tell her I feel this way, but it scares me and I do t really want to hurt myself. And I've never been sectioned.

Do you think its best that I not seek a therapist, and continue trying to fix myself on my own?

I think you're the only one who can decide that. Is trying to fix yourself working out for you? I'm going to guess not well, but I know nothing.

Therapy doesn't help everyone. You really get out of it what you put into it. If a person goes in biased against it and unwilling to honestly try, it's going to be a waste of time.
I find therapy to be helpful, if only because it gives me someone to talk to about what's bothering me.

 

[Darkbrett]

Me, last year. Last time I'm open to anyone

 

[HannahB]

You want to look at your local laws. Here you cannot be committed against your will you have to sign a paper to be committed.

 

[passenger27]

I had to have my ex wife committed years ago. It was way more than her wanting to CTB, she was on drugs, disappearing a week at a time, coming home and putting a razor to her wrist, and all around driving me crazy. The biggest thing is her 3 kids were involved too. It was like she didn't even care about them.

So after the final time she came home after a binge I told her if she didn't go somewhere she wasn't going to be with me. I took her to the emergency room and told them she needed to be committed & they told me the only way to do that was to talk to the magistrate. So I went to the courthouse & the magistrate asked me a lot of questions like was she a danger to herself or others, so I told him about all the razors & stuff & he drew up papers to commit her.

It wasn't like I was trying to "rescue" her, I was rescuing her kids. They didn't deserve all that.

 

[Secrets1]

Look at local laws like others have said. In the US if you always use the future tense to describe plans (as in months, minimally) there is no imminent threat in the eyes of a healthcare provider and justification to be held against your will for "safety".

If you are contemplating seeking professional help for mental health that is probably a good idea! Don't be overly scared about being sent away, just inform yourself and communicate accordingly.

 

[mediocre]

I've been in therapy since I was 12 and I never told any of them I was suicidal until recently when things have really nosedived for me. I was always afraid of being committed or losing my independence in some way but they've told me that's not the case. So I'm not sure. Maybe you are only committed if you are really seen as a harm to yourself or others.

 

[Kvotheloner]

Does anyone know if you can commit yourself long term in the US?

 

[terry_a_davis]

I've been committed ('sectioned' in my country, the UK) for 9 weeks where i was locked in a psych ward and forced on meds. It was because i was putting my life in danger. In my country you can only be committed if you are a danger to others or yourself. It did me a lot of good tbh.

 

[mayflower]

I had a failed attempt last year and ended up in A and E. Even though I told doctors it was a serious attempt i was discharged the next day with no follow up. Would have liked to be helped as dont really know where to turn to.

 

[porfin1234]

after telling a friend I had nothing to live for but then calmed down and left his home to walk the mall. He drove all the way down there followed me calle drops and I was thrown back of police car in broad daylight.

I've been in the hospital 3 times in one year two of my choice because I'm an idiot and should've known it wouldn't help- anxiety over new job making me have high SI
one after planning to jump out in front of semi but freaked and drunk dialed cops

i am a retard for ever telling people my thoughts. I talk too much about myself and my feelings and word vomit constantly. I need to just keep my mouth shut.

2019 has been the worst year of my life (beginning September)
Now I'll have thousands to pay for hospital.

 

[OneBigBlur]

It's not worth the risk to tell anyone, they will try to keep you alive no matter what.

 

[TheEndof]

Does anyone know if you can commit yourself long term in the US?

It really depends on the state. I've looked into it in mine and you can commit yourself voluntarily. I believe they keep you in for a short time and then decide if you need long term help.

 

[k75]

I think hospitals are usually shorter term, and then there are residential facilities for long term care.

 

[UpandDownPrincess]

I was sectioned a few years ago by my psychiatrist, but he was right to do it and I trusted him completely.

Some parts of it sucked: I had to go to the Emergency Room in a police van, for one. But it was helpful if only in keeping me safe.

That psychiatrist was a godsend to me and he did the right thing that day. I couldn't be trusted and he knew it. Afterward we did a quick review of what happened and then went on with our work as always.

If you have a good relationship with a provider, it can really help. You might need to try a couple (or many) to find one you click with, but it can be worth it and you will likely make decisions about hospitalizations together.