Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW On the campaign trail: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in New Hampshire ... Guest Opinion: Income inequality and our community ... Lost Creek dam failure would flood parts of Central Point, Gold Hill ... On the campaign trail: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in New Hampshire ... Guest Opinion: Income inequality and our community ... Lost Creek dam failure would flood parts of Central Point, Gold Hill ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: Stuck in a box: Local mental health treatment is inadequate Comment By Wendy Bloom MailTribune.com By Wendy Bloom Posted Aug. 23, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Wendy Bloom Posted Aug. 23, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News About 20 minutes ago, I was ushered into a small room, with brown walls and a shiny linoleum floor with a cushioned bench bolted into it. There is a camera high in the right corner of this room, so my every move can be kept track of. There is no bed, no other place to seat myself, and no windows, aside from the one small square in the doorway, another way to monitor me. Where do you think I am? I have committed no crime, I am not violent, and I am not psychotic. Did you guess? I am in a holding cell in the Rogue Regional Medical Center, in the ER. I am here because I admitted myself to stay safe because of a history of major depressive disorder and suicidal ideation, which means that I was thinking of ways in which I might kill myself. I am new to the area, and have never experienced anything like this. I have lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for the majority of my life, and when I was hospitalized for mental health issues I went to Stanford. There I was treated with dignity and with respect, and received the care I needed. RRMC is a different story, and is in dire straits. They have no other space for me. I was placed on a 72-hour hold by the psychiatrist. This means that I cannot leave, even if I wanted to. The psychiatric nurse is busy calling other hospitals in the state, looking for beds that are available in psychiatric wards. I could be shipped off to a random facility, anywhere in Oregon, far away from the support that I have in this area. I am really scared. Remember, I came in voluntarily, have no history of violence, and I am completely coherent and non-combative. I have good medical insurance. The nurses have all, at varying levels, been kind to me. I have not been manhandled. I am not whimpering in a corner without clothing. But I am still having doubts about whether my decision to admit myself was a wise one. I’ve had a five-minute question-and-answer session with the attending psychiatrist, and I’ve had meals brought to my room. There is no television in this cell. I am basically on my own with my disturbing thoughts, with no assistance and with nothing to distract myself. The two other psych patients in this section of the hospital are in the same situation as my own. Needless to say, this environment is not conducive to good mental health for anyone, let alone people with mental health issues. I notice a young woman in the cell next to mine, as I am not locked in and can walk through the small, enclosed area where the nurses work. She looks about 30, has a messy mop of auburn hair and seems very upset and alone. I attempt to make a small supportive gesture, but the nurse will not allow it. The one thing that would help me, human contact, is denied me. I have been in the emergency department, without appropriate care, for 36 hours. The staff tells me that there are 10 other patients in need of a bed in the psychiatric wing of the hospital. Two beds will be opening up tomorrow, and two of the patients have been confined to this dungeon for a longer period of time than I have. Because there is no bed in my cell, I am forced to sleep on a pad on the floor, covered by a thin blanket. I am not my brain alone, nor am I my body alone. My depression is affected by numerous factors, which include my internal chemistry and my physical health. Why are the mentally ill singled out, and treated without the respect and care that is due every human being? Wendy Bloom lives in Talent. By Wendy Bloom MailTribune.com By Wendy Bloom Posted Aug. 23, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501