Peachford Hospital review: abuse of mentally ill 94

ATT: To the VICTIMS and their families, There are also alot of videos by the CCHR posted on Y-Tube, Knowledge Is Power!They are the "Citizens Commisson on Human Rights" and they are here to educate and inform the plubic about the EVIL dark truth about Psychiatry! Psychiatry is a HOAX ! God Bless the CCHR and thank you for exposing Peachford Hosp over the years for insurance FRAUD, patient abuse & RAPE!

Please people everyone here please look at the CCHR web site they are the Cimmission on Human Rights International, they are a watch dog group against psychiatry. They will let you, the public know the real truth about Psychiatry, their dark ugly history and the psychicatric drugging that is so popular today. web site http://www.cchrint.org/cchrint-donate/ You can file complaints there and let your voice be heard. CCHR is there for you! Remember to NEVER Stop Questioning and letting the voice of the victims be heard.

My brother is schizo-effective, ADHD. he has been in and out of peachford for several years now. this last time was in july of this year. doctor didn't place any dosage or strength on the priscription then I came to find out that they invaded his privacy and removed family photo's that helped keep him calm. I think we need to join to file a suit against Peachford

Please don't ever subject your child to Peachford. I walked away in tears as a mother. The minute a Peachford "representative" spoke to my child in the hospital...and found out that we had good insurance, they told us that we had no choice but to "admit" our child for depression. They told us that since we did not admit him "voluntarily", they felt it was best to go against our wishes as parents and in the best interest of our child admit him regardless. Immediately, they put a security guard outside the hospital door and we had no say in the matter. It was a night mare.

After being admitted into Peachford, we couldn't get in contact with anyone to tell us what was going on with our 14 year old son. He told us of many terrible situations that he was exposed to while at Peachford. Things that he was never aware of in life situations before...he sure did receive an education there...nothing that we would have EVER wanted him to have experienced in a secluded manner. Unfortunately, this did not matter at all to the staff at Peachford. When we did get in touch with his doctor, we couldn't even understand what he was saying! He had such a strong accent.

To make the situation worse, we paid Peachford in full, and their book keeping is so poor that they sent us a paid in full invoice and then turned us in to a collection agency for not paying our bill! We are still working on rectifying that situation a year later!

Months later, when we took our child to a doctor to discuss depression and how to help our son, they actually told us that they wished that we had come to them first. They would have NEVER recommended Peachford to us based on their reputation. I hope this will save someone from going through what we have been through. There are better solutions out there...please don't speak to a Peachford representative while in the hospital ...especially if you have insurance! What a horrible experience this was for our family. One which I wouldn't wish for ANYONE else to endure.

I would love for a group of us to go against this mental hospital. When I ask for my records it also included other patient. I was told I could return to work the following day I was release. The Georgia Medical board pulled my file on the doctor that signed the 1013. In their letter (Georgia Medical board) they would not tell me the outcome. One day I finally went to my home police department to see who had place the 911 call on me. At the Roswell 2010 Citizens' Police Academy that I attended we were told that 911 calls were only kept 90 day unless they were needed. When I got the form on who had place the 911 call on me I was also given a copy of the phone call. The 911 call center “did she pose a threat”? My health insurance company reply was “sort of kind of”. I spent four nights in hell and my husband who had just had a heart attack five weeks earlier and is under doctor orders not to have any stress is on the phone telling me is having chest pains again while I locked up in a nut house. J Kirschner I wish we could meet sometime. Any other out there want to tell their story. If someone does have any mental issue they should still be treated with respect. I saw women that were so drugs that walked like a drunk. We need to expose the abuse that is happing at this hospital.

How do I sue this lousy Institution? They need to have lawsuits and publicity in order to eith shut them down or change management.

Wow...Who are you? What qualifies you to make any comment? Explain your position besides the dribble your managed to scratch together.

I took my Dad there yesterday on the recommendation of Dr. Gary Fiegel for observation. After about 3 hours and a lot of rude and unconscious behavior we were taken back to Section 5. We were locked in as we were admitted and it rapidly became apparent to me that this was the WRONG place for my Dad, or for that mattter anyone who I remotely cared about. Then the horror began. We could not leave. They began a series of tactics to prevent me from taking my Dad out. The process or me trying to change the admission created a wild sensation. I knew right then that I was prepred to fight until the death to leave with my father. I had to jailbreak the door and hold it open while my Dad walked slowly out. In the meantime about 10 attendants rushed the other doors and stood guard. We were in a Mexican Standoff. Well I won and left with my Dad,

Please everyone DO NOT COMMIT anyone you care about to these people. You will live to regret it. I know first hand.

In addition the supposed Dr. Fiegel who is a Psychiatrist, exposed himself as a cold hearted SOB. After I got the Peachford Staff to agree to release him if the Dr. agreed, my loving Dr. said he would if another Dr agreed, thus condeming us to more torture until another mental Dr could be rounded up.

Pox on them all...I curse the Dr. and the staff, as well as the management who perpetrate this fraud and abuse on innocents.

I really hope this saves at least just one person from the fate we suffered. I am a Professional Engineer with 40 years experience in business, very successful and my father is a WWII hero who deserves better.

the wife made an appt to have my 16yo stepson evaluated at peachford, [he has slight anger issues], as we were sitting in the waiting a weird feeling came over and I grabbed him up and we left.. Now I see these reviews and it looks like I made the right choice...

If you saw me you would think that I am healthy. At my age I am physically more fit than a lot of women. On my chest I have radiation tattoos; burn scars from radiation, a happy face lip scar on my left breast from have a lumpectomy for breast cancer. Last year I added a six inch scar to the middle of my chest when I had an aortic valve replacement. My aorta was nick when my chest was cut open with a saw and it had to be repair before the surgeon could start my surgery. The scars on my chest do not even come close to the mental scars that were cause to me from my treatment at Peachford. Please listen to everyone that has written to these posts because they are true. On the outside Peachford looks good with green grass and many flowers but the inside of the hospital is totally different. Any movie writers out there want to write a true story of a modern day Nut House? Two days after the Obama health care law was voted in, some girl from my new health insurance company place a 911 call on me because I made a statement after her telling me that’s not covered and this also is not covered and the life flight fee is not being cover in full, but the hospital fee that is $48, 000 is pay in full at $6, 700. These charges were from my husband’s heart attack. In anger I tell the claims girl, ”what are we supposed to do just get a gun and shoot our self”. The claims girl never told me that I could appeal the claims. Many people in our country die every day because they cannot afford medical care. I ask to talk to a supervisor and I’m put on hold. I hang up because I am on my lunch break and need to drive back to work. So a 911 call is place on me and my home town police department Roswell, Ga. somehow adds that the call came from XXX crises center. Then I have another small town Johns Creek police officer that is totally out of control respond to the call at my place of work. I tried to tell him why I said what I did. This police officer was fired before I made my complaint against him. As all of the ones here know that no one will listen to you because they think you are crazy. I was 100 percent sane when I was at Peachford. In my records from Peachford it stated that I ramble on about my health and finances. Our country lets many people die every year because they don’t seek medical care when needed because they cannot afford it. No one in our country should have to live in fear that they may die because they cannot afford health care. Even if you have health insurance you may not be able to seek health that he needed. I am sure Oprah never thought her statement about hamburgers would land her in court. If any news writer wants a true story please post your e mail address. My name is on the plaque that hangs on the wall at Roswell Police Department for graduating from the fall class of 2010 Citizens' Police Academy.

Well it's been years since I wass a patient at Peachford I won't elaborate But upon attending I was put in a room unattended to for hours and that's not the bad part I was in the need of a sanitary napkin No help eventually they came and got me after hours of waiting next they took me to the childrens unit then i got into a fight with the staff for refusing to take a shot on my rear end they sedated me and and i awoke in what seemed to be a cell /brick wall and a mat only i was out of the clothes i was originally in creepy as the days continued i lost sight of who i was being treated as if i bombed the world an undescribable feeling i honestly feel like i was fine before they began to drug me not a place for noone bad staff they need the help and i pray for those who are current patience

I was involuntarily admitted into Peachford after being taken to the ER one night around 8pm. We left the hospital in the ambulance around 5am, got to the hosiptal at 5:20am, and then were taken to a waiting room where we spent 3 hours waiting for someone to come down, just to be taken to another room. I was immediately taken off the adolescent ward (I'm 14), and my parents had to stay behind and answer questions. After having my blood pressure and blood taken, I was allowed to see my parents for about 30 seconds before some blonde nurse yanked me off of them and took me to my room, where I was strip searched. They told me that I had already missed breakfast so I had to stay in my room for a little bit, where I lay on my uncomfortable and disgusting matress for about an hour without sheets. I agree 1000% with all of the above comments saying that the other patients were much more helpful than all of the staff. It was a bit uncomfortable to me at first, coming from a good education and lots of money in an all-white community, to be put in a situation with many kids who are close to or are in poverty. But I soon realized that all of the kids were amazing- there was no judgement and not a mean word said between anyone.

I do disagree with many of the comments about how amazing Mr. Perry was. He wasn't the worst one there, but definitely horrible in my book. I was uncomfortable with the way that he looked at me and how he would touch my arms and neck; all of the other girls agreed with me completely.

As for everything else, everyone above is completely right on the unbelievably horrible rooms, facilities, staff, food, and anything else that was mentioned.

If you are referred there or are considering it for yourself or anyone else- DO NOT GO. My dad had a saying for when he picked me up- "If you're not crazy when you go it, you certainly will be when you get out."

Couldn't have said it any better.

I mean they promised me no injections and also I couldn't go to sleep every night because staff would cuss

I was in peachford 2 times both times were a living hell.I'm 11 and I burn myself I still do peachford has done nothing to help
I'd say that the only reason I burn myself i love Mr.perry I always hugged him and Mrs.theresa the bathrooms looked like the saw movie lol! I was promised at a hospital that submitted me there I would get any injections but guess what they took my blood! I hate peachford Mr.perry is the nicest person I ever met and he is the only person that helped me with some of my problems

It has been a couple of years since I first posted about my traumatic experience at Peachford. I still have nightmares about it. A few things I forgot to mention in my first post. Although your room is in a separate place from the opposite sex, you still are around them when you have meals or if you go out in the dog pen like area to smoke. Every day when I went to meals I was accosted by a male patient who kept hugging me and holding me against my will, asking me for my phone number etc. I tried to let it go because I did not want to cause trouble, but when I finally did report it I was told just that ... not to make trouble... I couldn't prove it etc. I think the doctor I was assigned to (Honablue sp?) was one of the worst. I still can't believe she cut me off my medication cold turkey and they wouldn't give me anything to help me sleep. Not only that, but she mocked the fact that I had tried to [censored], and she constantly threatened that she could keep me locked up there as long as she wanted. I did hear from other patients that there is a male doctor there who is much nicer. The only way you can get out is to just agree with everything they say, tell them you feel better when you really don't, praise them and tell them how much they have helped you, and constantly tell them how sorry you are for whatever you did that got you put there. Another patient pulled me aside one day when I was crying in view of the staff and told me I better get hold of myself because if they see you like that you will never get out. Thank God, somebody told me how to get out of there. They do make you strip when you first get there and they also take photos of you which they keep in your file. I could have lived with the hard beds, terrible food, but the treatment by Dr. Honablue was uncalled for and potentially dangerous. I want everyone to know how horrible that place was. Please do not go there or let your loved ones go. I can't emphasize it enough.

Hey I just got out today of Peachford.A little disappointed I didn't get sexually abused but maybe next time.lol they are doing a very good job making the hospital better however I'm still a little bitter about my stolen blackberry.but they are helping me without shaking me down for money .The doctors and staff treated me like friends god loves them for turning that place around but I will say this locking the rooms all day are brutal.When people have manic or depressive episodes they need their sleep-please reconsider this rule.god bless Peachford Hospital and the doctors and nurses who tolerate us nuts!xoxchris

I wish I had time to research Peachford before my daughter was admitted. All the complaints are accurate. This is something new (1month) that we're dealing with. She was previously at Summit Ridge, better facility. got out & had an episode. I took her to the nearest ER.. that hospital only uses Peachford counselors, who took her to Peachford. I feel like they made her condition worse. I won't repeat all the complaints previously posted.. but believe me, they are True! Hopefully, she'll be discharged tomorrow.. they're keeping her as long as the insurance will pay.

i do i check my wife out after 23hr, she is telling me the same things that are posted!

I am a mother. My son was sent to Peachford to get help after attempting suicide. I won't get into all the details, but it was a shocking experience for me as a parent! The staff was very rude to parents. Whenever I called, the nurses were so rude and ignorant! They didn't want me t talk to my son. I thought...what type of place is this. They need a professional staff. Clearly it doesn't exist. I heard staff speak to parents as though they were stupid. I couldn't believe it! They never really kept m ein the loop among other things. I thought they were helping my son but they spoke to him like crap too. It seemedmore like a prison. I wonder if they are trained and who is in charge of the facility thatthey can still have the same group of staff for so many years. I wonder if all hospitals are like Peachford? Bad experience. Hated it as a caring parent. Parents don't deserve to be spoken to like crap and neither do the children. God is in control. He will deal with that place.

I was in Peachford a few years ago, when I was 11, and I remember being very scared and lost. I didn't know where to go or what to do and the nurses scared me. The beds are horribly uncomfortable, and I was switched to a different room during my stay. That wouldn't have bothered me, but I accidentally left my sheets in the other room and the nurses wouldn't give me new ones. I had to sleep in a bare bed for two nights. If you stood up on the beds there was writing from other patients on the walls, often very disturbing. Also, my first night there some nurse barged in to my room, grabbed my arm and took my blood rather roughly, I had the bruise for the rest of my stay there. The doctor was some old dude who never talked to me, and the nurses were just mean. Once in group we were all supposed to talk about something, and when it was my turn I didn't really want to talk. So the nurse threatened to make me stay in the kids area while everyone else went to the gym and outside. I eventually just made something up, but the nurses were rude and hateful.

this hospital tried to admit my son when he was in kindergarten. he was going through a rough patch after my divorce and was fine a few weeks later. i went to peachford for an evaluation and support, but they were not interested in my child's health...they only wanted my money.

Sorry that posted two times!God Bless.

This place is definitely under protection.VERY SCAREY!SHAME on the state for letting it go on!Everyone here has courage and hopefully this place will be brought JUSTICE!

This place is definitely under some kind of protection.VERY SCAREY.Shame on the state for protecting Peachford hospital.Thankyou.I admire everyone here for telling their story.Its help me and makes me feel like there is courage and hope that one day this place will be brought justice!

My wife was in Peachford for 10 days and it was excruciatingly exhausting, frustrating and demoralizing just trying to get any professional updates or assistance. The patient advocate never called me back after three phone messages AND a visit to the hospital to leave her my card. The business office hasn't returned any calls nor did the "counselors" assigned to my wife during her stay. I did speak with her Dr. only after having to barge in his office. The nurses were blatantly rude, short with me and were chuckling about my wife's condition when I called to speak with them. My wife said her room was a mess upon arrival, wet towels draped over chairs and previous patients toiletries in the bathroom. My list or grievances goes on and on and it is just so sad that this is supposedly the best hospital of its type in the area. The staff seems overwhelmed, disorganized, disgruntled and certainly apathetic towards the family members of the patients. Oh and by the way, there were a bunch of fraudulent charges to my credit card the same week I paid for her stay using their archaic credit card swiping system.

I must add to my previous post, only because of my second trip to Peachford a year ago.

First, the doctor I was assigned to, though I think his diagnosis was correct, for some reason created this odd misconception that I was violent, a danger to others. I would have laughed hysterically if I wasn't crying hysterically since this was during the family therapy session (which is always the part I look forward to least). I'm very sure it's common knowledge that I'm a masochist, but hurting other people? Where the hell did he get that proof?

Another thing I want to cover is the discrimination. The worse your mental problems are, regardless of your behaviour, the worse the nurses usually treat you. Counselors will get on your case about the suicide, but the nurses will get on your case about self-harm, anorexia, and the psychosis. You do not want to have a psychotic episode there, trust me. The most humiliating part, when you're a self-harmer, is that when they do the strip search, they like to think that every scar on your body, regardless, was one you intentionally caused to yourself.

Most of the counselors are either cold and separated, or completely, unnecessarily rude. Previous comments have already addressed Mr. Perry, so I won't get into that one. The only counselor I found helpful, who I actually learned something from and made a good step forward when he offered to talk to me about anything I wanted to, when I first talked about my alternate reality and psychosis, was Mr. Bob, if that name rings a bell with any one. Though he had a business-like sort of attitude, it was a nice change even then. He has a very affective way of teaching that I found beneficial. The only flaw, he only works night shifts on the weekend in the adolescent ward.

I was placed in Charter Peachford several years ago for depression by my mother. She was told this would be some sort of vacation retreat for teens who are depressed. When they found out we had good insurance they couldn't wait to take me in. It turned into a complete nightmare. The staff members and so called doctors are very rude and abusive. It's all about the money. People are kept in there as long as their insurance will pay. Everyone is given drugs no matter what they are in there for. I was told by a staff member the first night there I better watch out about what I wear or I may get myself raped. I was also told to pull my panties down for a full body strip search by a fat white nurse. Who seemed to enjoy watching me use the bathroom later on making me leave the door wide open . I cried and was completely dehumanzied by these experiences. They don't seem have any compassion or care about anyone there. The doctor I had was souless unkind person. When I refused to take the drugs they were pushing on me he went into a crazed rant saying "I was full of it and he could have me committed and take my praents rights away if I didn't do what they wanted me to do." I felt like I was in a movie like "One Flew Over the Coo Coo's Nest" or "Frances" both true stories!. A staff member there I will call "biff" was constantly screaming at me for little things saying " Your Sick " telling me "To look at him" as he pointed in my face. They seem to being trying to push alot of people to a breaking point especailly when they learn someone may be getting out! I wonder why $$$$$$$$! I have come to know alot of these tatics are just "mind games" they use to breaks ones spirit to gain more control over the inmates. It was so cold in that place I could never get warm perhaps this is another way to control. The food was so awful I couldn't eat much and lost weight. Then they threw me into a $100 a day eatting disorder group. I also sent for huge back xrays with another boy for no reason. When I asked around I found out everyone was getting back and chest xrays at different times, they were about $700 each on my insurance bill $$$$! I couldn't sleep either with staff members putting flash lights in your face every 30mins and fear of being raped. I was told some staff members enjoyed watching porno film after hours. When I tried to tell my parents about some of things that were going on, they told my mom I would say anything and lie to get out of there . It's truely like being in prision. Being treated sub human long enough will make anyone feel crazy. There were a few other people who like me had taken so much abuse we were planning to run away. Lucky I went home. Another girl ran and when the caught her, she was locked in a white room for a month with no visits from her parents. I have learned alot from the CCHR web site Citzens Commission Of Human Rights, they are a wonderful watch dog group against Psychiatry. You can file complaints with them also. They expose the truth about Psychiatry and how BOGUS it really is. The CCHR got Charter for insurance fruad charges in the late 90's. There have also been 2 doctors accused of rape in the past few years. Psychiatrist have one of the highest suicide, rape and divorce rates. I think the people who work there act crazier then the patients! I had no idea how dangerous it is and feel so lucky to survived to ordeal. I turned my bad experience into positive self inpowerment. I live a completely green life style no doctors and no drugs just GOD!

I think I know who you are cat. I think I was in there the same time you were. That really stinks about your blackberry! :(

Peachford is abusive physically, sexually and mentally they kept me for a long time making me sicker due to a incompetent staff - very ignorant staff including the doctors.Last but not least they stole my brand new blackberry! Have a good day Peachford!

Thanks everyone for posting! I wish I could sue Charter Peachford for what they did to me. Check out CCHR! Citzens Commission of human Rights! Power to the people!

http://www.cchrint.org/videos/disorders/psychiatry-labeling-kids-with-bogus-mental-disorders/

Peachford is the most unprofessional place I have ever been to. If it wasn't for the girls that was in Adult South I would not have made it mentally. The med nurses were soooo rude to the point that you felt belittled.One nurse was very nice and that was the Russian charge nurse Mujca(sp). The groups are very monotonous and they say the same thing over and over and over... It is a very disorganized place. If you are considering to detox, I would go somewhere else. Of course it's going to be hard anywhere to detox, but if you want compassion and someone who is sympathetic do not go here! Beware it is run like a well oiled money making machine. I believe I would rather have gone to Guatanomo Bay than this dump! Michelle, an RN on Adult South man is very rude and so is Carol. They need to be prison nurses, the are not sympathetic at all. I have contacted my insurance com. and the rep. said they have had alot of complaints and she is going to file a misled report and she initiated an ivestigation. Oh, and one more thing... A VERY IMPORTANT SOMETHING... ASK TO SEE YOUR MEDICATION...I WAS GIVEN 3 ANTIDEPRESSANTS AND WAS ONLY PRESCRIBED ONE!. I have contacted a lawyer and I can not disclose any more info, but if you go to this hell hole, ask to see what you are taking!

I just got out of Peachford a couple weeks ago. I have both negative and also positive things to say about it. On the negative side: I agree with several people that the beds are hard as rocks (not good for someone with arthritis) and smelled very strongly of Lysol, the doors to the rooms are wide open at night and the lights in the hall are always on, they check on you every 15 mins or so at night with a flashlight in your face, you can hear people in other rooms talking, laughing or snoring, you can hear the staff talking too. I got VERY little sleep while there. Some of the staff are really rude and they yell at you a lot. I am an educated and polite person but was often treated by some of the staff like an immature child and scolded and berated often for the littlest things. For instance, you are apparently allowed to have 2 thin blankets for your bed. The whole time I was in there I only had 1 and was so cold at night. When it was soiled from sweating at night due to the plastic on the bed, I asked all day long - maybe 6 times - for another blanket. I asked several people from nurses to housekeeping staff hoping someone would give me at least one. Some of the people yelled at me for even asking, others gave me a dirty look and said it would be taken care of. They kept putting me off and putting me off. Finally at 10:30 at night when they were going to shut off the lights I asked again and got one. Another complaint I had was about the food. I have high blood pressure and high cholesterol and I am overweight. The food was very high in calories, carbohydrates, and fat. If you wanted bacon (one of the very few proteins offered) in the morning the guy gave you 7 slices as a serving! If you wanted scrambled eggs, he gave you 2 big scoops - that is a lot of cholesterol. If you asked for less, the server gave you a dirty look. A lot of the servers were very rude. You learn quickly NOT to ask any questions - just eat the food no matter how much you didn't want to. All the food was cooked with a lot of fat because you could see it pooling up. The whole time I was in there I had stomach aches from all the fat. All of the portions were huge and I hate wasting food. A lot of food is wasted there. I tried to eat salad as much as possible but sometimes it was almost all gone. They encourage you to eat a lot and some of the patients told me that eating a lot was a good sign and it would help you be discharged earlier. (The patients were often times BETTER resources than the staff). They also told me that the food is so high cal and high fat because of the anorexic patients. That is all well and fine for them, but with obesity being such a problem in the US you would think they would offer some healthy alternatives too!
The positives were: Even though you spent HOURS sitting in sessions, some of the information was excellent. I learned a great deal about depression, social interactions, relieving stress, handling strained relationships and much more. The info that did not pertain to me (like addictions) I just simply ignored. Also, the ER people (specifically a wonderful social worker) at Emory who sent me there purposely called up Peachford and arranged for me to see a particular psychiatrist before I was taken there because they thought he was one of the best ones and would help me a lot. At first he said he had a full load but 15 mins later he called back and said he would take me. I have had good and some really BAD doctors in the past and this doctor and I hit it off and the meds he put me on helped me immensely! Within 24 hours I started feeling better although they kept me for a few more days to make sure. I will say that some patients told me about doctors that were NOT good there but I was fortunate to get a good one.
Was staying there hard? Yes, very! Did I sometimes feel like I was in prison and treated like a prisoner? Yes! BUT...did staying there HELP me? IMMENSELY! Did it help me to educate myself on how to take better care of myself both mentally and physically? A LOT! Would I recommed Peachford to a friend? No, but I would not recommend any facility, because everyone is different and every situation is different. It is not my place to make those kind of decisions. Only medical experts can make those decisions.

I was manipulated into going. Not going to get into those details but I will say no matter what, nobody deserves to be in Peachford. Prison would be better b/c atleast the patient doesn't have to pay thousands to suffer like I had to. Nurse Jenn, the fat white lady in the adult male inpatient front desk, was abusive and she will have to answer to God later on down the road. Basically what happened to me was they were taking their sweet time with me being able to have my family visit. After politely asking Nurse Jenn what time it was, she said, "that's it, I'm giving you a shot". I begged not to be shot, but she insisted and they ended up shotting me in the buttocks with Haldol. This drug caused me to get irate as a monster which is NOT like me. There was nothing I could do to avoid this shot. From there I ended up lashing out and felt to drugged up to make rational decision making, and punched a wall, breaking my hand which still two years later is still crippled, despite the assuring words of the black guy (who acted like Mr. Know-it-all) that it would heal in one to two days. I hope my calm complaint doesn't fool anyone that this wasn't just a small little complaint coming from a "mental patient".

On another note, let this be known: when money is involved, everyone getting paid for the referrals will insist you end up there. It's the egregious personality of the Institutional Treatment Industry.

I was there early last year I think. I was told they treat eating disorders, and my experience mirrors what somebody else described above about another anorexic patient. I was restricting both food and fluid intake, to the point they had to send me to the emergency room twice for fluids in the week or so I was there. Then they told me they can't deal with me and shipped me off to Ridgeview. I've been there a few times before and chose Peachford specifically to avoid going to RV again and see if I had a different outcome in a different treatment setting. They put me in all the substance abuse groups, although I have no history of substance problems. They said they treat EDs on an addictive model, which isn't without merit, but some nutritional support would have been nice too. They threatened the tube daily, which is almost always an empty threat at general mental health facilities that do not treat eating disorders. I'm kinda glad I ended up at Ridgeview, at least they got me medically stable. I never experienced or witnessed anything abusive at Peachford, just nurses and techs who seem to have no idea what they're doing.

I'm going to say I disagreed with some of the points made above me. I really liked some of the staff. During gym time, I got one-on-one with one of the staff and just having someone that would listen to me really helped. After that, I didn't feel the bursting need to talk to someone. He and one other staff member really stand out as being helpful, humane, and non-judgemental.
HOWEVER. One of the nurses (nurse leslie, i think?) was INCREDIBLY alienating, acted like I was a stupid animal and everything I did was trying purposely to be annoying and break the rules when the rules hadn't been explained to me. One other staff member, Mr. Greg, was worse than some of the kids at school. He twisted my words around from "My parents are more than likely getting divorced" and the reason I'd gone (self-mutilation) into "So you be cutting on yourself because you don't want your parents to get divorced? Isn't that a bit selfish? You'd rather you be happy than everyone else." Needless to say, I didn't volunteer anymore information in his groups. The patients, on the other hand, were very accepting and non-judgemental, which is more than I can say for some staff members.
If it weren't for staff like Mr. Greg and Nurse Leslie, I would not hesitate to reccomend peachford to a friend.

Just got out of Peachford today. Things have gotten much much worse. Due to a suicide that happened A week before my check in they have made many changes. The first change is all patients doors are locked and you only can have bathroom breaks when they say its OK. If you are sick the charge nurse will argue with you that you are not sick and must attend the current session. I actually grabbed my pillow and laid down in the hallway. The fire exits are either blocked or locked. They just changed the lights out time to 10:30 and patients must leave their door open with the hall light shining in your eyes. Bed check is more like every 5 minutes with that damn flashlight shining in your face. This is causing more patients to get sleeping pills each night. I found my stay very stressful and a MAJOR distraction to getting the help that I needed.

Even with all these protection practices in place there were still injuries that required hospitalization. Peachford is just covering their [censor] so the don't get shut down.

BTW Peachford was changing the rules every day and not providing the patients with written rules...as described as one of the "Patients Rights"

ret346 is absolutely correct about everything, especially point #5. Think long and hard before signing yourself into Peachford, because once you are there, you're at the mercy of the doctors, who have to be the worst bunch I have experienced in 20 years of treatment. I have a few points to add.
1. Although Peachford is supposed to treat substance abuse and addiction AND mental illness/depression etc. I found that everything in the groups and meetings is geared toward substance abuse.
2. The "doctor" (Hanablue) who treated me was downright hateful and seemed to enjoy having the power over her patients freedom. She cut off all but one of the medications I have been on for years, and then made me take medicine which I told her I had previously had a bad reaction to.
3. The staff is not helpful at all. There is no compassion whatsoever. You feel as though you are in a prison because that is how you are treated - like a criminal. I honestly got more help and care from my fellow patients than anyone under the employ of Peachford Hospital.
4. I don't think that patients who are mandated to be there because of breaking the law/drug abuse should be mixed in with others who are severely depressed. In one group a man admitted killing someone and offered all the gory details. After hearing his story once, I got up and left the group the next time he "opened up."
5. ECT is way over used. I have known severely mentally ill people who had it maybe 8 times over a lifetime. About 75% of the patients I spoke to at Peachford had daily electroshock therapy. I can't imagine that many people needing it.

In conclusion, my experience at Peachford was like ten days in hell. I am still suffering from the trauma I was exposed to there Had it not been for my kind roommate, I think I would have lost my mind completely.

I agree with ret346 about Mr. Perry. When I went in 2004-- I was very very depressed and starved for attention-- to the point that I'd make things up for absolutely no reason-- and believed them! Then took a bottle of tylenol pm. I RARELY RARELY saw the dr-- if I did- it was not for very long. The nurses were rude and there was one counselor that meant well-- but tried the "tough love" approach to everyone and thats not always what kids and teens need when they are in that situation. I was finally breaking out of my shell and they brought some animals to play with us during visitation-- and the "tough love" guy came up to me while I was with my parents and called me out in front of my family and everyone else about something I had told him. NOT PROFESSIONAL! But-- going back to the beginning-- I do believe Mr. Perry is the shining light in the dark in that place. I remember him coming up to me in the cafeteria and saying he could tell which people would be back-- and I shouldn't even be there now. However-- b/c they wanted money and decided not to look into my mother being physically and emotionally abusive- to further embarrass me, my mother made me stay longer than suggested. They didn't help me at all with my depression. The only thing they did was keep me from wanting to go back. I hope it has changed since then.

DON'T EVER GO HERE! If you must go somewhere, try Emory. This is based on my personal experience.

1. Over half of the nurses are rude and speak to the patients in a derogatory manner.

2. the beds are made of 4 inch foam covered in plastic and are TERRIBLY hard and uncomfortable. You can't sleep but only 2-3 a night because of the discomfort and end up sweating because of the plastic.

3. There is no excercise equipment so you have no outlet and go nuts sitting on your butt all day long

4. You are required to attend all group sessions each day which end up being about 4 hours worth of sitting on your butt in class. Now you can't excercise afterwards either.

5. The bathrooms look like the bathroom in the horror movie SAW. Rust stains in the shower and mold and mildew on the walls. You would be better off to hose down in your backyard.

6. The nurse opens your bedroom door to check you are still alive and shines a flashlight in your face every 30-45 minutes. The light blares in your face and the noise is a disturbance. Good luck sleeping. Its not happening.

5. The facility provides half truths, does not provide all information, and misleads its patients regarding going 1013 (voluntary) to 1010 (involuntary) which is required to request the 72 hour release. You will be here much longer than needed...enjoy the imprisionment.

6. The doctors are incompetent and educated in third world countries. They do not consider the patient's word, the patients family character witness, and any other competent doctor's opinion because they want to extend your stay. I ended up there because I slept walked on Ambien and in my sleep walk took 3 more Ambien, did bizzare things at home and my family freaked out and took me to the regular hospital who recommended to take me to Peachford for 24 hours. Peachford Hospital insisted I was trying to commit suicide and wanted to keep me one week even though me and my family told them I am not suicidal.

7. They over-mediate their patients to the point of zombie state. I witness one patient walking one day and unable to walk or sit up in a wheel chair the next because they gave her a mystery shot the night before.

8. The nurses neglect their patients. I witnessed the above mentioned woman slide out of the wheelchair onto the floor because her feet were not placed into the foot holsters. The nurse said she threw herself out the chair. The woman could not even bring a fork to her face and told me she had not felt this way since she gave birth to her son 32 years ago. I swear to you that your cat or dog receives better treatment at the vet than this.

9. The doctor will change your medication without notification, even against the diagnosis of your outside personal doctor. I was given a 50% increase in my anxiety medication without being told and ended up with facial tremors for two days. Then the doctor wanted to increase the medication another 33%.