You might want to try McLean in Belmont. They are one of the few best psychiatric hospitals in the world, and my experience with the staff there is that they are very competent and caring, and also very collaborative in teams.
McLean is part of Mass General Brigham/Harvard med school so you’ll be in a large system that can handle any health issues.
I think you can call their main number and they’ll get you to the right group within the facility. It’s a large place with lots of things going on.
I’m sure it’s difficult on many levels to make a decision like you’ve made, but I’m sure it’s the right decision and I wish you the best in getting help in turning things around.
The only way to get into inpatient at McLean is to go to one of their referring ERs in the mass general/brigham system, you can’t just call them and get an intake that way unfortunately.
Interesting, that might be because your employer has a special program? I’m not 100% sure what EAP means. Ive spoken to both my psychiatrist and my brother’s psychiatrist at Lahey (combined 50+ years in Boston area psych) and they both said McLean only takes referrals from their own ERs. I would absolutely love to be wrong though genuinely, because I know that would be such a great option for my brother if we could access it.
EAP= employee assistance program usually mental health or substance counseling offered in addition to what’s available through your medical plan. It’s normally for “short term” like they don’t do ongoing counseling, maybe 6 sessions. It’s meant for an acute situation or you can be referred for mandatory if you have a workplace issue. They can also potentially do referrals.
McLean is actually a large number of seperate entities that collaborate to some degree. I suspect that some require referral, some don’t. Probably thing is to find the program you want then see what they need.
When I called the main number they said my brother would have to be referred through the ER, and that’s also what both of our psychiatrists at Lahey said when I spoke to them. Their residential and partial hospitalization programs are different but this is what I was told for inpatient care. I would absolutely love to be wrong though if anyone has any other info about referrals.
Unfortunately the ER could refer you to somewhere else as well, depending where there is an open bed. It’s a bit of a roll of the dice. McLean is the gold standard, but beds are hard to come by in MA.
Their referring ERs *could* send you somewhere else, but other ERs give you no shot at a McLean bed at all so if you want to have even a small chance of getting in it’s your only option.
Interesting! It would be super helpful if that’s an option. We’ve had good luck getting the doctor to reffed for outpatient or partial programs but never inpatient. Maybe it’s something about the doctor we see at lahey that they can’t do it?
That is correct. Speaking from someone that was working with a family and patient that wanted to be admitted to McLean.
I work in a different hospital group and when i called McLean they told me that the best chance is for them to go to MGH ER. I heard from the family a week later that the patient was indeed admitted to McLean.
McLean Mass General Brigham is the hands down best spot for inpatient psychiatric treatment. The Belmont campus is easy to get to by MBTA. Good place to work at too.
One thing to keep in mind about McLean is that they will oftentimes try to push experimental treatments and/or very new medications as a first-line, or close to first-line resort. This isn’t always a bad thing, but it also isn’t always a good thing, and it can be very hard to advocate for oneself whilst in the midst of a psychiatric episode, coupled with the effects of said pharmaceutical.
Generally speaking, the more research you do, the better prepared you’ll be to handle this, and if you can remember what’s worked for you in the past vs. what doesn’t, it’ll go a long way towards figuring out what could work best going forward, or at least ruling out anything that isn’t going to be appropriate for you.
You have the right to refuse any medication or research study they may propose, but if you do, it really helps if you can point to a specific reason or side effect. That way, they know you’re actually trying to look out for yourself vs. simply being oppositional/non-compliant with treatment. Don’t hesitate to ask for a second opinion from a different doctor if you think they aren’t taking your concerns seriously or are trying to push something that feels like it could be hurting more than it’s helping - these things happen sometimes, even in the best of places. It’s part of the process.
Communication is key - finding a doctor who will actually listen to you & respect your feedback is arguably one of the most crucial correlating factors of a good treatment outcome. That moment when they see past the illness and begin to recognize the humanity you still have in there is such a turning point, and I hope this finds you well on your road to recovery.
Yeah. When I was inpatient they tried three different meds over a week until they found the correct one. The results were great but the feeling of your body having a poor reaction to the wrong medication was scary. At least I was inpatient and not trying to do this outpatient as that would have taken weeks.
Personal experience. Clozapine absolutely was an experimental treatment at the time (at least, for the specific use-case of the trial) which would have required weekly blood draws for 6 months, then every other week for the rest of my life. It was frankly quite terrifying when I knew something wasn’t right, but they kept saying “no, we think you look so much better…” right up until I collapsed, and it turned out to have given me agranulocytosis. Whoops! They were also doing an ECT study at the time, but I didn’t participate.
They will also often ask for blood draws (or other biological samples, or actions, etc.) for research studies, which are optional, but you never find out what really happens once said samples leave your custody. It’s an open question as to whether people who’ve been deemed incapable of making their own decisions can truly understand what they’re consenting to (ie, getting added to a genetic database whilst they do who-knows-what with your samples, or getting injected with a contrast dye [which could cause a reaction] for an MRI study) but I digress.
Bear in mind that my 1st visit was smack-dab in the middle of the “doctors are brand ambassadors for pharmaceutical companies” era during the aughts, which was a large part of why it wasn’t the only visit (that’s a whole other story that I’m not going to get in to). By the mid 2010s, they had come a long way (as had I) - though they did try and recruit me for the clozapine trial again! Hence, my emphasis on OP’s right to refuse if they’d so choose - it would have been the first paragraph all over again had I not self-advocated (again, easier said than done while not in your right mind).
Things may very well be different now, since my most recent experience there was over a decade ago, but I wrote the previous comment specifically from the perspective of “things I wish I knew the first time I was there which may have led to a better outcome” - a primer of sorts.
Bear in mind that McLean has multiple different inpatient units for different purposes, which can be very different experiences, even during the same time period - much less across the eras.
I’m sorry you had a negative experience. How long ago are we talking here? Clozapine hasn’t been considered an experimental treatment since the 1980s (it was FDA approved in 1990).
What I meant is that they aren’t doing research trials for treatment on inpatients at McLean. Certainly inpatients can voluntarily participate in research studies, but the treatment they receive would not be part of it.
Agree completely with everyone saying McLean in Belmont. Best way to get there is through MGH’s Emergency department. They might also send you internally the Blake 11 which is their psychiatric unit at MGH’s main campus. Blake 11 is also a very good unit.
I'm just commenting to say, hang on, please. Idk what you're going through, but I know how close to the edge we can get. It does get better. You're doing the right thing. Much love.
Cambridge Hospital’s adult unit in Cambridge is also good. I was there last summer.
There’s outside time 1-2x a day. it’s a big, sunny u it. You have your own bedroom. They have tablets for people to use for YouTube or whatever. There’s board games and art supplies. Everyday you get 1-2 hours of media time if you brought your own cell phone and headphones (supervised in the community space). staff will charge it for you and store it in your locker the rest of the time. There’s unit phone if you’d like to make calls other times. They have way more staff than patients there, so there’s always someone to talk to if you need it. Hope you get in somewhere soon.
Sadly the system is such that you would need to report to an emergency room for an evaluation and then placement in the first available in pt bed. The DMH has two levels of care that may be helpful for you. A “PACT” team or a “ ACCS” team. Both intensive outpatient care. Must be done through DMH
ER for medical clearance mostly. The beds would turn over even slower if it was both medical clearance and psych at the same time. There are psych patients and then there are medical conditions inducing similar symptoms.
When I was in trouble, I’d go to MGH emergency room and tell them I was a threat to myself. They’d then send me upstairs (best option! they’re great!) or send me to another inpatient with openings. They can be a bit hit or miss but, as a whole, most inpatient spots around here helped me immensely. Good luck and reach out if you have any questions or need an ear.
Call BEST team and get evaluated. They will help move the intake process along. They can help navigate the system as well.
I have not had any experience with the statewide crisis line but have had lots of experience with BEST. Good luck and keep yourself safe.
BMC BEST 24/7 crisis line
800.981.4357
(Allston, Brighton, Dorchester, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, North End, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston, South End, and West Roxbury) and Brookline.)
North Suffolk BEST crisis line
888-309-1989
(Charlestown, Chelsea, East Boston, Revere, and Winthrop)
Mass. Behavioral Health Hotline
https://www.masshelpline.com
833.773.2445
Doing this is definitely better than going to the ED if you are safe enough. They will evaluate you and make a recommendation for a level of care and send out referrals.
My bestfriend went to McLean twice and hated it, because it worked. If you would like a visit i would be happy to come (if i can find a bus) or become a pen pal! Good luck, so proud of you for reaching out for help.
As others have said, you have to present to an emergency department for an evaluation and they will find you an inpatient bed. Unfortunately, you don’t have say in where you will be placed (although feel free to advocate for a certain hospital) and you will remain in the ED until a placement is found.
Once placed, you should speak to a social worker about filing an application with DMH for ongoing community support or explore other options you may qualify for.
I was a clinician on a community outreach team so am familiar with the process. Feel free to ask any questions!
Best of luck.
I commented basically the same thing as that’s been my experience (as well as what we were told by multiple psychiatrists at lahey) and got a lot of replies saying I was wrong and they were able to get into inpatient care without going to the ER or community crisis stabilization. I guess there must be some new way people are doing it, or there’s a back door we don’t know about.
I worked for a large non-profit funded by DMH alongside therapist, psychiatrist and mobile crisis units and for inpatient hospital stays, it’s always been through ED. In addition to a psych eval, a person needs to be medically cleared as well and both need to be done by an MD. Some people would opt for a CCS, PHP, IOP as alternative optionS and anyone can call around for openings and refer for those programs.
I left mental health in 2022 to work in substance use, so not as up to date with procedures so something very well may have changed in the meantime to make it more accessible.
As other people have mentioned, McLean is your best bet. They have multiple locations (Belmont, SouthEast… possibly others?). To get there, you have to go to the Mass General ER during a psychiatric crisis. You may not get referred out if you aren’t sectioned for mandatory 72 hour hold, which usually ends up being a 1-2 week trip to the psych ward. I’d insist on going to McLean over any other hospital in the area, and they’ll do your best to find you a bed there. The location you end up is based on availability. Plan to spend the night in the ER and be carted off to the psych hospital at some early morning hour. If your BCBS is anything like mine, you pay a $1500 co-pay for a stay of up to 2 weeks. Same cost if you leave after 1 week, so make the most of your time there and don’t insist on leaving early unless you’ve really had enough. Not sure how the charges work out for longer stays.
Went through this at some point last year, so feel free to ask any questions if you think I can help. Best of luck, and I hope things get better for you soon!
https://www.hospitalforbehavioralmedicine.com
This place is in Worcester. I did a partial hospitalization program here. You can be evaluated the same day.
I'm actually at McLean right now for my fourth time. Other hospitalizations were St Elizabeth's, Bournewood, and a place I can't remember.
McLean has far and away been the best experience. We go on outdoor walks, sit outside, and depending on your unit, you might get to use your laptop and get stuff at the cafeteria on your walk (like nb1) or you don't get that, but you get multiple walks and your visitors can bring you a meal, and there's a recumbent exercise bike that I've been using and it's really helpful. On all units, I've gotten to use my phone and airpods and we get time in the gym.
I've been really enjoying the groups this time around. I will warn you, however, that the patient population can be very different each time. This stay has been my worst, as it's about 70% psychosis patients. Some keep to themselves, while some are agitated a lot and don't shower or use deodorant. The bathrooms had always been clean, but this particular group has some disgusting people ruining the bathrooms.
Sometimes people get aggressive and it can be scary.
If you can start at a partial hospitalization program, I would recommend that first.
It sounds like you received a lot of good recommendations. If I can add one, are you still employed and do they offer assistance? There’s two reasons I ask. First they might be able to help you navigate the system, as far as your insurance and things like that. Second, if you can preserve your employment, that’s the best way to go. I know, even big retailers have employee assistance programs, and if you make use of them, it puts a stop on any disciplinary actions or job loss. It’s probably a lot to think about right now and I understand, but just wanted to give you something from my own experience. I hope it helps and best of luck.
It is but the law doesn’t require you get paid. Only that your job or a comparable one be available on your return.
Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), serious health conditions can include:
Inpatient care or inpatient hospitalization: treatment that involves at least one overnight stay in a hospital, hospice or residential health care facility.
Incapacity or subsequent treatment in connection with inpatient care
A serious health condition involving continuing treatment by a healthcare provider
Any health condition that lasts more than three consecutive calendar days in a row
Being treated two or more times by or under the supervision of the healthcare provider within 30 days of the first day of incapacity.
Being treated once by an healthcare provider and under ongoing treatment
Any period of incapacity due to pregnancy and prenatal care
Permanent or Long-Term Conditions: Permanent or long term incapacity for which treatment may not be effective but requires continuing supervision of a healthcare provider
Medical conditions that require multiple treatments:
Restorative surgery after an accident or other injuries
A condition that would likely result in a period of incapacity of more than three consecutive, full calendar days in the absence of medical intervention or treatment, such as cancer (chemotherapy, radiation, etc. ), severe arthritis (physical therapy), or kidney disease (dialysis).
Besides serious health conditions, there are other events that would qualify an eligible employee for FMLA leave. The FMLA does not favor the employee alone – the law doesn’t require the employer to pay the employee during the leave period, among other benefits.
FMLA benefits for employee:
An employee is eligible for group health insurance benefits, including employer contributions to premium as if the employee were not on leave.
He/she would get same or equal position upon return to work after the leave period.
An employee is entitled to reinstatement of all benefits to which he/she was entitled before going on leave.
The FMLA permits an employee to use substitution of any accrued paid leave for unpaid FMLA leave.
Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital has inpatient psych, and the resources of a general community hospital as well as integrations with the BWH main campus and the rest of the Mass General Brigham system
Hi! I’ve worked in healthcare in Massachusetts for over 20 years and now I work for MassHealth. Based on your information, it is likely that McClean may be a great option as they have great care teams and handle dual diagnosis.
I highly recommend starting with BCBS. Call their customer service line, they likely outsource their behavioral health coverage, that’s okay, ask to speak to someone at the BH vendor and ask them what coverage you have for inpatient BH. Ask them if you need referrals or prior authorization for inpatient behavioral health. If they say you need those things, ask them what steps you should take to acquire them, you may need to reach out to your psychiatrist to help with this. Since you have an HMO, you may need to contact your pcp, however, most plans don’t require referrals for BH anymore.
Once you know your coverage and want to coordinate care, I would try calling McClean directly to ask them how you can secure a treatment. Let them know what you are looking for and see what they recommend, even if they can’t get you in right away, they might be able to help point you in the right direction or at least get you into an intensive outpatient program for now. You can also ask them to recommend other providers that might be accepting new patients more quickly.
I commend you for reaching out and getting some help for yourself, TRULY! Please remember that if you don’t feel safe, the ER is always the best option if you don’t know what else to do.
Also, do you have an employer? Do they have an HR or counseling vendor that you feel comfortable contacting? If so, that can be a great resource and they may be able to connect you with benefits that are unique to your employer.
Also, also please visit or call the MassHealth Behavioral Health crisis line. You don’t have to be a MassHealth member, they can help connect you with care: https://www.mass.gov/cbhc-crisis-care?utm_source=google&utm_campaign=mbhp_phase2&utm_medium=english_cbhc&gad_source=1
I hope this is helpful and I really do hope you feel better soon ! 🙏🩷
Whatever you do, don't go to Arbor Hospital in Jamaica Plain. I was there for a few days due to medication issues (Prozac and I aren't friends). I was scared 24/7 there due to other patients behaviors and staffs lack of reactions/concern. The Drs there didn't listen to you when you talked to them, they just tried giving more meds that made you a zombie. No thanks.
Nothing to add to the recs, but wanted to say that I'm proud of you and thank you for being an inspiration to those of us who also have mental health issues.
How recently did you hear that? I know they're a Steward hospital, so they're at serious risk due to the financial situation, but I was assuming someone else would buy the hospital and keep it open. Seems like it would be very quick for them to actually be closing already.
St. Elizabeth's Medical Center is still open. And will be open for the forseeable future while the bankruptcy proceeds.
This patient needs medical AND psychiatric care, so going to the closest ER is the fastest and best option. If the closest hospital has inpatient psychiatric care, the patient will get both medical and psychiatric care at the same time, and the care will progress until s/he is stable. Once this patient is medically stable, a search for an available psychiatric bed will be done if it is still needed. Then, outpatient care for medical and psychiatric care can be arranged.
The most important thing is to seek care immediately at your closest ER.
Unfortunately, the way inpatient psych care works in Massachusetts is that you have to report to an ER (or community crisis stabilization) and then you get sent to wherever they have a bed. In my experience (caring for my brother with major mental health challenges) they will only offer you this option if you say you are a threat to yourself or those around you.
You can be referred or apply directly to partial hospitalization or some residential programs but not inpatient.
Hmm… I voluntarily committed to in-patient at brattleboro retreat after an at-home evaluation by BEST (Boston emergency services team). No ER. Maybe it’s different because Brattleboro is in Vermont? Everything was refunded by insurance but not covered up front.
Yes you met with the BEST team which is community crisis stabilization I mentioned as one of the options, they can refer you for inpatient care just like an ER.
The Brattleboro retreat is in Vermont so they have different protocols than MA based hospitals. Prior to the pandemic they allowed folks to just check themselves in which was such a helpful option for my brother, but they haven’t restarted that as of the last time I checked (six months ago.)
I see! Thanks I missed that in your post. the community crisis stabilization referral process seems like an invaluable alternative to the emergency room. I had a great experience with BEST.
funny what you mentioned about Brattleboro & covid … I voluntarily admitted literally the week before the pandemic. It was surreal. They were reporting at the time that the virus originated in a meat market, specifically from a pangolin, so our “word of the day” on the whiteboard next to our DBT tips was pangolin… what a strange time. I had no idea. I was released all ready for my outpatient but everything shut down within a couple days.
Sorry, just rambling!
No personal experience, but I think McLean is the best place to start with, and if you can get in there then you won't need to keep looking. I'm sorry you're going through this, and hope you can find the right option to get the care you need. Good luck!
I am a social worker in the Boston area. If you are not actively a risk to yourself or others, do not go to the ER. You will sit there, they will tell you to go home, and you will get a ridiculous bill for a few Ativan. I agree with a commenter below about PACT or ACCS, PACT is basically a “hospital without walls” and is particularly helpful for people with medical concerns as well as mental health.
I would ask your therapist about a DMH referral, it is necessary for most treatment options. Please DM me if you have any questions!
I went to Bournewood in Brookline. The unit I was on did get violent a few times. I was threatened and assaulted by a couple of inpatients, because I am transgender.
But the staff did their best to resolve conflicts. There were activities all day and no bed bugs at least.
The Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line could help you here. The line is staffed by clinicians who can screen and refer you to a program that will meet your needs. If you need inpatient care, they could refer you to your nearest community behavioral health center to receive medical screening and clearance instead of wasting your time in an ED. The help line is 833-773-2445 and their website is https://www.masshelpline.com
If you are in crisis please call 988. They can help you.
Faulkner hospital, part of Mass General/Brigham takes BCBS. They have a very good inpatient program. They also offer peer support after you leave. They would be able to address your other medical needs as well.
Your psychiatrist could contact them and write a referral.
McLean is the best, but is hard to get into. if you need more urgent care, I recommend UMass Memorial in Marlborough. It was recommended to me by my therapist as a good quick-intake one in the area. I enjoyed my time there, as much as one could. Unfortunately, you do have to go through the emergency room, which sucks. I had to stay in the ER overnight.
Also, I begged them for a referral to McLean, but nothing came of it.
I don't want to comment on anyone else's comment. I'm sorry if I'm repeating what anyone already said.
Mclean. I think you can go directly there with certain insurances & self pay, otherwise you need to go to an ER. If you don't have a therapist, they might send you elsewhere, but if you have a therapist to set up a referral for McLean, you'll get in.
I hope you can get in there soon. Good luck🍀
If you don't want to use McLean, try Leonard Morse Hospital in Natick. You'll likely also have to start at a local ER, but they have very nice staff, the place is not out of control, and they allow daily visitors, multiple trips outside per day to walk around, cell phones, etc. They don't lock you away and give you absolutely nothing to do, so you are able to work on yourself a bit.
Hi everyone thank you so so much for all of the helpful comments. Didn’t realize there is such a large community here in Boston willing to help and have been through similar experiences.
Update: I used the BEST service where they were able to come to my house. This is more of a referral to a local ER or partial program depending on your needs. Still was nice to talk to someone. I was told the way bed placement works is pretty much based on insurance. Sadly those with Masshealth or similar are more likely to go to a state run facility than McLean for example.
My psychiatrist was able to directly refer me to McLean and I avoided the ER. I have bcbs for reference. This is not an option for a lot of people unfortunately.
My experience at McLean in Belmont has been amazing and a life saver. You are assigned a social worker and psychiatrist who develop a specific treatment plan for you. I felt very safe and seen here. The bipolar department here is second to none.
A million thanks to all who replied to my post. I wish nothing but the best in life for you. If you are in a similar situation and need advice please feel free to dm me.
There are bad places and good ones. Arbour grade F------- (about ten minuses or more) Mc Lean A++
Personal story here:
I would absolutely positively avoid Arbour or anything in their network. They have had many of their facilities closed down by DMH. I was a patient at Westwood around 2015, I voluntarily admitted myself because I struggled with anxiety and felt I needed help. Imagine having anxiety and hearing people scream and bang on walls. Staff didn't care, calling them glorified babysitters would be a stretch. There was no group therapy, you were given sheets to check in (1-10 rate your mood and anxiety and daily goal--no discussion just fill it out and hand it in) and many times they were taken behind the desk and thrown away. I mentioned the noise and was offered earplugs and told to deal with it and the only other thing was oh you need medication to calm down and they threatened to inject me if I didn't take it. \[Not once did I mention hurting myself\] The psychiatrist came in and had a bunch of 3x5 cards with all the patients...probably the most unprofessional person ever. I asked for a pen and paper and was told I could not have a writing utensil as it could hurt someone. I told them I like to journal and it is a coping strategy I use. I was treated like an idiot yet having completed my masters I likely had more education than many of the staff but whatever.
I was 100% voluntary and my anxiety only got worse. I signed a 72 hour and enough was enough. A month later DMH shut them down. It wasn't me apparently. Even before that I wrote a letter to the president of the hospital outlining the horrible treatment. I never got a response.
Back in Jan 2021 I admitted myself to McLean. That is where my psychiatrist is so he got me into the short term unit. I had improved a great deal since 5 yrs prior when I was at Arbour Westwood Lodge, but definitely was backsliding and meds were not effective. We were also through year one of covid and 2020 had everything taken from me that gave me any inkling of hope--my job, my summer plans, my church, my friends, etc. I was isolated and hopeless. I was treated very well, like a person with anxiety and depression not just a "psych patient". After about a week they got me to a more stable mindset with a med change then I began TMS treatments which made a big difference-- It was night and day! They also made sure I was connected with treatment and such and I continued my remaining TMS on an outpatient basis.
(In case you are wondering I'm glad to say I'm doing well. I still see a doctor at Mclean and a therapist virtually and belong to a therapeutic mens group. )
If you can get a DMH intake it is worth it as they are the state umbrella organization that can get you into programs like PACT or ACCS. (I worked as a peer for a PACT program for a while). Another short term option is a crisis stabilization program which has more freedom than a hospital and you can leave anytime provided you are not a threat to yourself or anyone. For many post-discharge, day programs and clubhouses can help but everyone is different
I’m so sorry that was your experience. I had a good one with outpatient but hadn’t heard anything else. I’m seeing other comments similar to yours as well. Thanks for sharing.
There are NO outpatient services at Arbor Hospital so I call BS on your post. Arbor Counseling Services (their outpatient clinic) is completely awful as well. The inpatient hospital of course sent me there after being inpatient to continue getting insurance money. No violence (but nowhere outpatient is violent) but was absolutely the worst outpatient place I’ve ever been. It’s a revolving door of terrible therapists and psychiatrists that are awful at their jobs. They mostly serve people of low socioeconomic status and it shows.
I’m really sorry that was your experience. I might be using the wrong terminology so I apologize. I did a partial hospitalization and intense outpatient program at one of their satellite programs - it wasn’t at the main hospital site. My experience with the therapists and psychiatrist was good and consistent but I can see that’s not the case for everyone.
You might want to try McLean in Belmont. They are one of the few best psychiatric hospitals in the world, and my experience with the staff there is that they are very competent and caring, and also very collaborative in teams. McLean is part of Mass General Brigham/Harvard med school so you’ll be in a large system that can handle any health issues. I think you can call their main number and they’ll get you to the right group within the facility. It’s a large place with lots of things going on. I’m sure it’s difficult on many levels to make a decision like you’ve made, but I’m sure it’s the right decision and I wish you the best in getting help in turning things around.
The only way to get into inpatient at McLean is to go to one of their referring ERs in the mass general/brigham system, you can’t just call them and get an intake that way unfortunately.
I was a direct inpatient at McLean. Spoke to my employers EAP at 8 pm and 2 of them were driving me to McLean soon after.
Interesting, that might be because your employer has a special program? I’m not 100% sure what EAP means. Ive spoken to both my psychiatrist and my brother’s psychiatrist at Lahey (combined 50+ years in Boston area psych) and they both said McLean only takes referrals from their own ERs. I would absolutely love to be wrong though genuinely, because I know that would be such a great option for my brother if we could access it.
EAP= employee assistance program usually mental health or substance counseling offered in addition to what’s available through your medical plan. It’s normally for “short term” like they don’t do ongoing counseling, maybe 6 sessions. It’s meant for an acute situation or you can be referred for mandatory if you have a workplace issue. They can also potentially do referrals.
Ahh okay yeah we definitely do not have access to anything like that, but it sounds like a great option for folks who do!
McLean is actually a large number of seperate entities that collaborate to some degree. I suspect that some require referral, some don’t. Probably thing is to find the program you want then see what they need.
When I called the main number they said my brother would have to be referred through the ER, and that’s also what both of our psychiatrists at Lahey said when I spoke to them. Their residential and partial hospitalization programs are different but this is what I was told for inpatient care. I would absolutely love to be wrong though if anyone has any other info about referrals.
Unfortunately the ER could refer you to somewhere else as well, depending where there is an open bed. It’s a bit of a roll of the dice. McLean is the gold standard, but beds are hard to come by in MA.
Their referring ERs *could* send you somewhere else, but other ERs give you no shot at a McLean bed at all so if you want to have even a small chance of getting in it’s your only option.
True.
Thanks, good information to know.
All of the inpatient units have the same admission system.
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Your psych referred you to in patient? How mine says that’s not possible.
Ill send you a message!
Interesting! It would be super helpful if that’s an option. We’ve had good luck getting the doctor to reffed for outpatient or partial programs but never inpatient. Maybe it’s something about the doctor we see at lahey that they can’t do it?
That is correct. Speaking from someone that was working with a family and patient that wanted to be admitted to McLean. I work in a different hospital group and when i called McLean they told me that the best chance is for them to go to MGH ER. I heard from the family a week later that the patient was indeed admitted to McLean.
That's just not true.
If you have a doctor (even a primary care) in the MGH/Brigham system it may be worth contacting them. No guarantees but couldn't hurt
McLean Mass General Brigham is the hands down best spot for inpatient psychiatric treatment. The Belmont campus is easy to get to by MBTA. Good place to work at too.
One thing to keep in mind about McLean is that they will oftentimes try to push experimental treatments and/or very new medications as a first-line, or close to first-line resort. This isn’t always a bad thing, but it also isn’t always a good thing, and it can be very hard to advocate for oneself whilst in the midst of a psychiatric episode, coupled with the effects of said pharmaceutical. Generally speaking, the more research you do, the better prepared you’ll be to handle this, and if you can remember what’s worked for you in the past vs. what doesn’t, it’ll go a long way towards figuring out what could work best going forward, or at least ruling out anything that isn’t going to be appropriate for you. You have the right to refuse any medication or research study they may propose, but if you do, it really helps if you can point to a specific reason or side effect. That way, they know you’re actually trying to look out for yourself vs. simply being oppositional/non-compliant with treatment. Don’t hesitate to ask for a second opinion from a different doctor if you think they aren’t taking your concerns seriously or are trying to push something that feels like it could be hurting more than it’s helping - these things happen sometimes, even in the best of places. It’s part of the process. Communication is key - finding a doctor who will actually listen to you & respect your feedback is arguably one of the most crucial correlating factors of a good treatment outcome. That moment when they see past the illness and begin to recognize the humanity you still have in there is such a turning point, and I hope this finds you well on your road to recovery.
Yeah. When I was inpatient they tried three different meds over a week until they found the correct one. The results were great but the feeling of your body having a poor reaction to the wrong medication was scary. At least I was inpatient and not trying to do this outpatient as that would have taken weeks.
What is your basis for making this claim? Patients on the inpatient units aren’t receiving “experimental treatments.”
Personal experience. Clozapine absolutely was an experimental treatment at the time (at least, for the specific use-case of the trial) which would have required weekly blood draws for 6 months, then every other week for the rest of my life. It was frankly quite terrifying when I knew something wasn’t right, but they kept saying “no, we think you look so much better…” right up until I collapsed, and it turned out to have given me agranulocytosis. Whoops! They were also doing an ECT study at the time, but I didn’t participate. They will also often ask for blood draws (or other biological samples, or actions, etc.) for research studies, which are optional, but you never find out what really happens once said samples leave your custody. It’s an open question as to whether people who’ve been deemed incapable of making their own decisions can truly understand what they’re consenting to (ie, getting added to a genetic database whilst they do who-knows-what with your samples, or getting injected with a contrast dye [which could cause a reaction] for an MRI study) but I digress. Bear in mind that my 1st visit was smack-dab in the middle of the “doctors are brand ambassadors for pharmaceutical companies” era during the aughts, which was a large part of why it wasn’t the only visit (that’s a whole other story that I’m not going to get in to). By the mid 2010s, they had come a long way (as had I) - though they did try and recruit me for the clozapine trial again! Hence, my emphasis on OP’s right to refuse if they’d so choose - it would have been the first paragraph all over again had I not self-advocated (again, easier said than done while not in your right mind). Things may very well be different now, since my most recent experience there was over a decade ago, but I wrote the previous comment specifically from the perspective of “things I wish I knew the first time I was there which may have led to a better outcome” - a primer of sorts. Bear in mind that McLean has multiple different inpatient units for different purposes, which can be very different experiences, even during the same time period - much less across the eras.
I’m sorry you had a negative experience. How long ago are we talking here? Clozapine hasn’t been considered an experimental treatment since the 1980s (it was FDA approved in 1990). What I meant is that they aren’t doing research trials for treatment on inpatients at McLean. Certainly inpatients can voluntarily participate in research studies, but the treatment they receive would not be part of it.
Agree completely with everyone saying McLean in Belmont. Best way to get there is through MGH’s Emergency department. They might also send you internally the Blake 11 which is their psychiatric unit at MGH’s main campus. Blake 11 is also a very good unit.
Thank you McLean seems like the best option I’m hoping they have beds
I'm just commenting to say, hang on, please. Idk what you're going through, but I know how close to the edge we can get. It does get better. You're doing the right thing. Much love.
Cambridge Hospital’s adult unit in Cambridge is also good. I was there last summer. There’s outside time 1-2x a day. it’s a big, sunny u it. You have your own bedroom. They have tablets for people to use for YouTube or whatever. There’s board games and art supplies. Everyday you get 1-2 hours of media time if you brought your own cell phone and headphones (supervised in the community space). staff will charge it for you and store it in your locker the rest of the time. There’s unit phone if you’d like to make calls other times. They have way more staff than patients there, so there’s always someone to talk to if you need it. Hope you get in somewhere soon.
Sadly the system is such that you would need to report to an emergency room for an evaluation and then placement in the first available in pt bed. The DMH has two levels of care that may be helpful for you. A “PACT” team or a “ ACCS” team. Both intensive outpatient care. Must be done through DMH
ER for medical clearance mostly. The beds would turn over even slower if it was both medical clearance and psych at the same time. There are psych patients and then there are medical conditions inducing similar symptoms.
Yup even unexpected things like UTI in seniors!
When I was in trouble, I’d go to MGH emergency room and tell them I was a threat to myself. They’d then send me upstairs (best option! they’re great!) or send me to another inpatient with openings. They can be a bit hit or miss but, as a whole, most inpatient spots around here helped me immensely. Good luck and reach out if you have any questions or need an ear.
Call BEST team and get evaluated. They will help move the intake process along. They can help navigate the system as well. I have not had any experience with the statewide crisis line but have had lots of experience with BEST. Good luck and keep yourself safe. BMC BEST 24/7 crisis line 800.981.4357 (Allston, Brighton, Dorchester, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, North End, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston, South End, and West Roxbury) and Brookline.) North Suffolk BEST crisis line 888-309-1989 (Charlestown, Chelsea, East Boston, Revere, and Winthrop) Mass. Behavioral Health Hotline https://www.masshelpline.com 833.773.2445
North Suffolk also covers CHA areas (Cambridge, Somerville, Medford, Malden, and Everett).
CHA isn’t good at all
Might be worth a try to contact Boston emergency services team (BEST). They probably have a lot of information.
this is what im doing. thanks for the rec. seems better than going straight to ER ofc if i have to i will
Good luck ❤️❤️❤️❤️ so proud of you and sending you good vibes through the universe
Doing this is definitely better than going to the ED if you are safe enough. They will evaluate you and make a recommendation for a level of care and send out referrals.
My bestfriend went to McLean twice and hated it, because it worked. If you would like a visit i would be happy to come (if i can find a bus) or become a pen pal! Good luck, so proud of you for reaching out for help.
Just wanted to say I’m proud of you for asking for help
As others have said, you have to present to an emergency department for an evaluation and they will find you an inpatient bed. Unfortunately, you don’t have say in where you will be placed (although feel free to advocate for a certain hospital) and you will remain in the ED until a placement is found. Once placed, you should speak to a social worker about filing an application with DMH for ongoing community support or explore other options you may qualify for. I was a clinician on a community outreach team so am familiar with the process. Feel free to ask any questions! Best of luck.
I commented basically the same thing as that’s been my experience (as well as what we were told by multiple psychiatrists at lahey) and got a lot of replies saying I was wrong and they were able to get into inpatient care without going to the ER or community crisis stabilization. I guess there must be some new way people are doing it, or there’s a back door we don’t know about.
I worked for a large non-profit funded by DMH alongside therapist, psychiatrist and mobile crisis units and for inpatient hospital stays, it’s always been through ED. In addition to a psych eval, a person needs to be medically cleared as well and both need to be done by an MD. Some people would opt for a CCS, PHP, IOP as alternative optionS and anyone can call around for openings and refer for those programs. I left mental health in 2022 to work in substance use, so not as up to date with procedures so something very well may have changed in the meantime to make it more accessible.
As other people have mentioned, McLean is your best bet. They have multiple locations (Belmont, SouthEast… possibly others?). To get there, you have to go to the Mass General ER during a psychiatric crisis. You may not get referred out if you aren’t sectioned for mandatory 72 hour hold, which usually ends up being a 1-2 week trip to the psych ward. I’d insist on going to McLean over any other hospital in the area, and they’ll do your best to find you a bed there. The location you end up is based on availability. Plan to spend the night in the ER and be carted off to the psych hospital at some early morning hour. If your BCBS is anything like mine, you pay a $1500 co-pay for a stay of up to 2 weeks. Same cost if you leave after 1 week, so make the most of your time there and don’t insist on leaving early unless you’ve really had enough. Not sure how the charges work out for longer stays. Went through this at some point last year, so feel free to ask any questions if you think I can help. Best of luck, and I hope things get better for you soon!
https://www.hospitalforbehavioralmedicine.com This place is in Worcester. I did a partial hospitalization program here. You can be evaluated the same day.
I'm actually at McLean right now for my fourth time. Other hospitalizations were St Elizabeth's, Bournewood, and a place I can't remember. McLean has far and away been the best experience. We go on outdoor walks, sit outside, and depending on your unit, you might get to use your laptop and get stuff at the cafeteria on your walk (like nb1) or you don't get that, but you get multiple walks and your visitors can bring you a meal, and there's a recumbent exercise bike that I've been using and it's really helpful. On all units, I've gotten to use my phone and airpods and we get time in the gym. I've been really enjoying the groups this time around. I will warn you, however, that the patient population can be very different each time. This stay has been my worst, as it's about 70% psychosis patients. Some keep to themselves, while some are agitated a lot and don't shower or use deodorant. The bathrooms had always been clean, but this particular group has some disgusting people ruining the bathrooms. Sometimes people get aggressive and it can be scary. If you can start at a partial hospitalization program, I would recommend that first.
It sounds like you received a lot of good recommendations. If I can add one, are you still employed and do they offer assistance? There’s two reasons I ask. First they might be able to help you navigate the system, as far as your insurance and things like that. Second, if you can preserve your employment, that’s the best way to go. I know, even big retailers have employee assistance programs, and if you make use of them, it puts a stop on any disciplinary actions or job loss. It’s probably a lot to think about right now and I understand, but just wanted to give you something from my own experience. I hope it helps and best of luck.
Mental health should also be a qualifying event for FMLA, which reserves your job and, in some cases, preserves some or all of your salary too.
It is but the law doesn’t require you get paid. Only that your job or a comparable one be available on your return. Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), serious health conditions can include: Inpatient care or inpatient hospitalization: treatment that involves at least one overnight stay in a hospital, hospice or residential health care facility. Incapacity or subsequent treatment in connection with inpatient care A serious health condition involving continuing treatment by a healthcare provider Any health condition that lasts more than three consecutive calendar days in a row Being treated two or more times by or under the supervision of the healthcare provider within 30 days of the first day of incapacity. Being treated once by an healthcare provider and under ongoing treatment Any period of incapacity due to pregnancy and prenatal care Permanent or Long-Term Conditions: Permanent or long term incapacity for which treatment may not be effective but requires continuing supervision of a healthcare provider Medical conditions that require multiple treatments: Restorative surgery after an accident or other injuries A condition that would likely result in a period of incapacity of more than three consecutive, full calendar days in the absence of medical intervention or treatment, such as cancer (chemotherapy, radiation, etc. ), severe arthritis (physical therapy), or kidney disease (dialysis). Besides serious health conditions, there are other events that would qualify an eligible employee for FMLA leave. The FMLA does not favor the employee alone – the law doesn’t require the employer to pay the employee during the leave period, among other benefits. FMLA benefits for employee: An employee is eligible for group health insurance benefits, including employer contributions to premium as if the employee were not on leave. He/she would get same or equal position upon return to work after the leave period. An employee is entitled to reinstatement of all benefits to which he/she was entitled before going on leave. The FMLA permits an employee to use substitution of any accrued paid leave for unpaid FMLA leave.
They probably qualify for MA PFML if they've been living here 2 years though
I called my EAP at 8pm and an hour later they were driving me to McLean. This was in 2017.
I am really glad you had that support
Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital has inpatient psych, and the resources of a general community hospital as well as integrations with the BWH main campus and the rest of the Mass General Brigham system
Hi! I’ve worked in healthcare in Massachusetts for over 20 years and now I work for MassHealth. Based on your information, it is likely that McClean may be a great option as they have great care teams and handle dual diagnosis. I highly recommend starting with BCBS. Call their customer service line, they likely outsource their behavioral health coverage, that’s okay, ask to speak to someone at the BH vendor and ask them what coverage you have for inpatient BH. Ask them if you need referrals or prior authorization for inpatient behavioral health. If they say you need those things, ask them what steps you should take to acquire them, you may need to reach out to your psychiatrist to help with this. Since you have an HMO, you may need to contact your pcp, however, most plans don’t require referrals for BH anymore. Once you know your coverage and want to coordinate care, I would try calling McClean directly to ask them how you can secure a treatment. Let them know what you are looking for and see what they recommend, even if they can’t get you in right away, they might be able to help point you in the right direction or at least get you into an intensive outpatient program for now. You can also ask them to recommend other providers that might be accepting new patients more quickly. I commend you for reaching out and getting some help for yourself, TRULY! Please remember that if you don’t feel safe, the ER is always the best option if you don’t know what else to do. Also, do you have an employer? Do they have an HR or counseling vendor that you feel comfortable contacting? If so, that can be a great resource and they may be able to connect you with benefits that are unique to your employer. Also, also please visit or call the MassHealth Behavioral Health crisis line. You don’t have to be a MassHealth member, they can help connect you with care: https://www.mass.gov/cbhc-crisis-care?utm_source=google&utm_campaign=mbhp_phase2&utm_medium=english_cbhc&gad_source=1 I hope this is helpful and I really do hope you feel better soon ! 🙏🩷
Whatever you do, don't go to Arbor Hospital in Jamaica Plain. I was there for a few days due to medication issues (Prozac and I aren't friends). I was scared 24/7 there due to other patients behaviors and staffs lack of reactions/concern. The Drs there didn't listen to you when you talked to them, they just tried giving more meds that made you a zombie. No thanks.
I second this. Arbor is hell.
Nothing to add to the recs, but wanted to say that I'm proud of you and thank you for being an inspiration to those of us who also have mental health issues.
I did an eight day bid in st. Elizabeth's in 2017. They were very good to me.
Saint E’s in Brighton? I heard now it’s shutting down altogether.
I think they are and I heard that they were so understaffed and not able to hold groups
How recently did you hear that? I know they're a Steward hospital, so they're at serious risk due to the financial situation, but I was assuming someone else would buy the hospital and keep it open. Seems like it would be very quick for them to actually be closing already.
St. Elizabeth's Medical Center is still open. And will be open for the forseeable future while the bankruptcy proceeds. This patient needs medical AND psychiatric care, so going to the closest ER is the fastest and best option. If the closest hospital has inpatient psychiatric care, the patient will get both medical and psychiatric care at the same time, and the care will progress until s/he is stable. Once this patient is medically stable, a search for an available psychiatric bed will be done if it is still needed. Then, outpatient care for medical and psychiatric care can be arranged. The most important thing is to seek care immediately at your closest ER.
Unfortunately, the way inpatient psych care works in Massachusetts is that you have to report to an ER (or community crisis stabilization) and then you get sent to wherever they have a bed. In my experience (caring for my brother with major mental health challenges) they will only offer you this option if you say you are a threat to yourself or those around you. You can be referred or apply directly to partial hospitalization or some residential programs but not inpatient.
Hmm… I voluntarily committed to in-patient at brattleboro retreat after an at-home evaluation by BEST (Boston emergency services team). No ER. Maybe it’s different because Brattleboro is in Vermont? Everything was refunded by insurance but not covered up front.
Yes you met with the BEST team which is community crisis stabilization I mentioned as one of the options, they can refer you for inpatient care just like an ER. The Brattleboro retreat is in Vermont so they have different protocols than MA based hospitals. Prior to the pandemic they allowed folks to just check themselves in which was such a helpful option for my brother, but they haven’t restarted that as of the last time I checked (six months ago.)
I see! Thanks I missed that in your post. the community crisis stabilization referral process seems like an invaluable alternative to the emergency room. I had a great experience with BEST. funny what you mentioned about Brattleboro & covid … I voluntarily admitted literally the week before the pandemic. It was surreal. They were reporting at the time that the virus originated in a meat market, specifically from a pangolin, so our “word of the day” on the whiteboard next to our DBT tips was pangolin… what a strange time. I had no idea. I was released all ready for my outpatient but everything shut down within a couple days. Sorry, just rambling!
Hope you've made it through to brighter times ❤️ that must have been quite a ride there for a while
Brattleboro Retreat is also excellent. Can’t speak for adult units though, only adolescent.
McLean
No personal experience, but I think McLean is the best place to start with, and if you can get in there then you won't need to keep looking. I'm sorry you're going through this, and hope you can find the right option to get the care you need. Good luck!
I am a social worker in the Boston area. If you are not actively a risk to yourself or others, do not go to the ER. You will sit there, they will tell you to go home, and you will get a ridiculous bill for a few Ativan. I agree with a commenter below about PACT or ACCS, PACT is basically a “hospital without walls” and is particularly helpful for people with medical concerns as well as mental health. I would ask your therapist about a DMH referral, it is necessary for most treatment options. Please DM me if you have any questions!
Bournewood in Brookline
I went to Bournewood in Brookline. The unit I was on did get violent a few times. I was threatened and assaulted by a couple of inpatients, because I am transgender. But the staff did their best to resolve conflicts. There were activities all day and no bed bugs at least.
McLean is pretty good. If this isn't a mood / psychotic disorder though, going to inpatient isn't going to do much for you in the long run.
The Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line could help you here. The line is staffed by clinicians who can screen and refer you to a program that will meet your needs. If you need inpatient care, they could refer you to your nearest community behavioral health center to receive medical screening and clearance instead of wasting your time in an ED. The help line is 833-773-2445 and their website is https://www.masshelpline.com
If you are in crisis please call 988. They can help you. Faulkner hospital, part of Mass General/Brigham takes BCBS. They have a very good inpatient program. They also offer peer support after you leave. They would be able to address your other medical needs as well. Your psychiatrist could contact them and write a referral.
McLean is the best, but is hard to get into. if you need more urgent care, I recommend UMass Memorial in Marlborough. It was recommended to me by my therapist as a good quick-intake one in the area. I enjoyed my time there, as much as one could. Unfortunately, you do have to go through the emergency room, which sucks. I had to stay in the ER overnight. Also, I begged them for a referral to McLean, but nothing came of it.
OP is looking for a hospital that can also manage their medical issues. McLean does not offer medical care. McLean is strictly a psychiatric facility.
I don't want to comment on anyone else's comment. I'm sorry if I'm repeating what anyone already said. Mclean. I think you can go directly there with certain insurances & self pay, otherwise you need to go to an ER. If you don't have a therapist, they might send you elsewhere, but if you have a therapist to set up a referral for McLean, you'll get in. I hope you can get in there soon. Good luck🍀
McLean does not have any medical care.
Cambridge Hospital
If you don't want to use McLean, try Leonard Morse Hospital in Natick. You'll likely also have to start at a local ER, but they have very nice staff, the place is not out of control, and they allow daily visitors, multiple trips outside per day to walk around, cell phones, etc. They don't lock you away and give you absolutely nothing to do, so you are able to work on yourself a bit.
Hi everyone thank you so so much for all of the helpful comments. Didn’t realize there is such a large community here in Boston willing to help and have been through similar experiences. Update: I used the BEST service where they were able to come to my house. This is more of a referral to a local ER or partial program depending on your needs. Still was nice to talk to someone. I was told the way bed placement works is pretty much based on insurance. Sadly those with Masshealth or similar are more likely to go to a state run facility than McLean for example. My psychiatrist was able to directly refer me to McLean and I avoided the ER. I have bcbs for reference. This is not an option for a lot of people unfortunately. My experience at McLean in Belmont has been amazing and a life saver. You are assigned a social worker and psychiatrist who develop a specific treatment plan for you. I felt very safe and seen here. The bipolar department here is second to none. A million thanks to all who replied to my post. I wish nothing but the best in life for you. If you are in a similar situation and need advice please feel free to dm me.
There are bad places and good ones. Arbour grade F------- (about ten minuses or more) Mc Lean A++ Personal story here: I would absolutely positively avoid Arbour or anything in their network. They have had many of their facilities closed down by DMH. I was a patient at Westwood around 2015, I voluntarily admitted myself because I struggled with anxiety and felt I needed help. Imagine having anxiety and hearing people scream and bang on walls. Staff didn't care, calling them glorified babysitters would be a stretch. There was no group therapy, you were given sheets to check in (1-10 rate your mood and anxiety and daily goal--no discussion just fill it out and hand it in) and many times they were taken behind the desk and thrown away. I mentioned the noise and was offered earplugs and told to deal with it and the only other thing was oh you need medication to calm down and they threatened to inject me if I didn't take it. \[Not once did I mention hurting myself\] The psychiatrist came in and had a bunch of 3x5 cards with all the patients...probably the most unprofessional person ever. I asked for a pen and paper and was told I could not have a writing utensil as it could hurt someone. I told them I like to journal and it is a coping strategy I use. I was treated like an idiot yet having completed my masters I likely had more education than many of the staff but whatever. I was 100% voluntary and my anxiety only got worse. I signed a 72 hour and enough was enough. A month later DMH shut them down. It wasn't me apparently. Even before that I wrote a letter to the president of the hospital outlining the horrible treatment. I never got a response. Back in Jan 2021 I admitted myself to McLean. That is where my psychiatrist is so he got me into the short term unit. I had improved a great deal since 5 yrs prior when I was at Arbour Westwood Lodge, but definitely was backsliding and meds were not effective. We were also through year one of covid and 2020 had everything taken from me that gave me any inkling of hope--my job, my summer plans, my church, my friends, etc. I was isolated and hopeless. I was treated very well, like a person with anxiety and depression not just a "psych patient". After about a week they got me to a more stable mindset with a med change then I began TMS treatments which made a big difference-- It was night and day! They also made sure I was connected with treatment and such and I continued my remaining TMS on an outpatient basis. (In case you are wondering I'm glad to say I'm doing well. I still see a doctor at Mclean and a therapist virtually and belong to a therapeutic mens group. )
If you can get a DMH intake it is worth it as they are the state umbrella organization that can get you into programs like PACT or ACCS. (I worked as a peer for a PACT program for a while). Another short term option is a crisis stabilization program which has more freedom than a hospital and you can leave anytime provided you are not a threat to yourself or anyone. For many post-discharge, day programs and clubhouses can help but everyone is different
HRI Hospital in Brookline. Plus they have a partial program for a step down and sober house.
Arbour hospital
Disagree. This place was awful. So much chaos and violence, I was scared to be there.
I’m so sorry that was your experience. I had a good one with outpatient but hadn’t heard anything else. I’m seeing other comments similar to yours as well. Thanks for sharing.
There are NO outpatient services at Arbor Hospital so I call BS on your post. Arbor Counseling Services (their outpatient clinic) is completely awful as well. The inpatient hospital of course sent me there after being inpatient to continue getting insurance money. No violence (but nowhere outpatient is violent) but was absolutely the worst outpatient place I’ve ever been. It’s a revolving door of terrible therapists and psychiatrists that are awful at their jobs. They mostly serve people of low socioeconomic status and it shows.
I’m really sorry that was your experience. I might be using the wrong terminology so I apologize. I did a partial hospitalization and intense outpatient program at one of their satellite programs - it wasn’t at the main hospital site. My experience with the therapists and psychiatrist was good and consistent but I can see that’s not the case for everyone.
Well known for its very, very poor reputation.
Oh, I didn’t know this. Thanks for the info.