Arbour Hospital

I was involuntarily commited to this hell hole (Jamaica Plain) years ago and it was the single worst thing that ever happened to me. My ""therapist"" screamed obscenities at me and and I wound up doing ""pseudo therapy"" i.e., making up fake problems and fake solutions to keep the silly sadist happy. When I got out I called her to let her know I had bogused her and the idiot shouted, ""I got you out of there!"" \r I'm a vegetarian and --- I am not making this up --- all I was given for food was lettuce and tomatoes for the ten days I was there. more

Legislation against cyberbullying Main article: Cyberstalking legislation United States Legislation geared at penalizing cyberbullying has been introduced in a number of U.S. states including New York, Missouri, Rhode Island and Maryland. At least seven states passed laws against digital harassment in 2007. Dardenne Prairie of Springfield, Missouri, passed a city ordinance making online harassment a misdemeanor. The city of St. Charles, Missouri has passed a similar ordinance. Missouri is among other states where lawmakers are pursuing state legislation, with a task forces expected to have “cyberbullying” laws drafted and implemented.[23] In June, 2008, Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) and Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R-Mo.) proposed a federal law that would criminalize acts of cyberbullying.[24] Lawmakers are seeking to address cyberbullying with new legislation because there's currently no specific law on the books that deals with it. A fairly new federal cyberstalking law might address such acts, according to Parry Aftab, but no one has been prosecuted under it yet. The proposed federal law would make it illegal to use electronic means to ""coerce, intimidate, harass or cause other substantial emotional distress."" In August 2008, the California state legislature passed one of the first laws in the country to deal directly with cyberbullying. The legislation, Assembly Bill 86 2008, gives school administrators the authority to discipline students for bullying others offline or online.[25] This law took effect, January 1, 2009.[26] A recent ruling first seen in the UK determined that it is possible for an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to be liable for the content of sites which it hosts, setting a precedent that any ISP should treat a notice of complaint seriously and investigate it immediately.[27] 18 U.S.C. § 875(c) criminalizes the making of threats via Internet. Harmful effects Research had demonstrated a number of serious consequences of cyberbullying victimization.[4][6][7][8] For example, victims have lower self-esteem, increased suicidal ideation, and a variety of emotional responses, retaliating, being scared, frustrated, angry, and depressed.[6] One of the most damaging effects is that a victim begins to avoid friends and activities, often the very intention of the cyber-bully. Cyberbullying campaigns are sometimes so damaging that victims have committed suicide. There are at least four examples in the United States where cyber-bullying has been linked to the suicide of a teenager.[6] The suicide of Megan Meier is a recent example that led to the conviction of the adult perpetrator of the attacks. Intimidation, emotional damage, suicide The reluctance youth have in telling an authority figure about instances of cyberbullying has led to fatal outcomes. At least three children between the ages of 12 and 13 have committed suicide due to depression brought on by cyberbullying, according to reports by USA Today and the Baltimore Examiner. These would include the suicide of Ryan Halligan and the suicide of Megan Meier, the latter of which resulted in United States v. Lori Drew. Lost revenue, threatened earnings, defamation Studies are being conducted by large companies to gauge loss of revenue through malicious false postings. Cyberstalkers seek to damage their victim's earnings, employment, reputation, or safety. A 2008 High Court ruling determined that, generally speaking, slander is when a defamatory statement has been made orally without justification. Libelous statements are those that are recorded with some degree of permanence. This would include statements made by email or on online bulletin boards.[28] Adults and the workplace Cyberbullying is not limited to personal attacks or children. Cyberharassment, referred to as cyberstalking when involving adults, takes place in the workplace or on company web sites, blogs or more

This place is disgusting. My sister received horrible care and then we had to deal with medical records, the rudest lady I have ever had to deal with. We will never ever go to this dump hole again with such uncaring rude jerks on their staff. more

I was admitted in 2000 as I was under-medicated and had a ""breakdown"". These people took time with a thourough battery of testing and diagnosed me correctly I feel. I thought the staff was helpful, kind and put me on the right track to be sure. I hated the shifting around from ward to ward, though. I was briefly on the substance abuse ward, and the patients were loud and in your face. With my state of mind, they were straight from Hieronymous Bosch. No. I didn't want to be there, but looking back I'm glad I was. more

I was admitted in 2000 as I was under-medicated and had a "breakdown". These people took time with a thourough battery of testing and diagnosed me correctly I feel. I thought the staff was helpful, kind and put me on the right track to be sure. I hated the shifting around from ward to ward, though. I was briefly on the substance abuse ward, and the patients were loud and in your face. With my state of mind, they were straight from Hieronymous Bosch. No. I didn't want to be there, but looking back I'm glad I was. more

I was there in 2005 around presidents day (February). OMG, I can't even explain the horror. Right when I got there this old lady patient in a wheelchair peed herself, which went on the floor. We told the people at the desk. They NEVER cleaned it up the entire time I was there. They let psychotic patients watch the movie SAW. The bathroom I shared with three other patients had poop in it on more that one occasion, (and I don't mean a little or a smear, I mean a whole pile). The staff was terrible. I had an injury that I much later had found out developed cellulitus (apparently I'm prone to it), but was told multiple times it was fine and that I just had no willpower not to scratch it (cellulitus itches HORRIBLY). So the only thing they did was put bacitracin on it with a bandage the whole time (I didn't die, lol, but I managed to get through it without anti-biotics not knowing till later it had been cellulitus). There was literally nothing to do there, (these places usually give you things today because bored patients are a pain in the ass) there were some pathetic pictures to color with broken colored pencils and crayons but they were almost all the same picture of a gingerbread man). The food was substandard even for a hospital and supplies (food) were low the whole time. MANY patients there were getting ECT (very unusual, mostly used as a last result, normally). It was reminiscent of the overcrowded underfunded Hospitals before deinstitutionalization. Place was a nightmare, and I wasn't even committed against my will. (they won't let you leave on holidays or weekends, hence I was stuck there for DAYS). I knew I wouldn't get anything therapeutic out of the situation, because they were overrun with much worse cases (psychotic patients) and couldn't handle the number of people there anyways. I just bode my time until they let me out (Tuesday I believe, I think I got there on Friday night). more

Really. more

Yes I was there over 10 years ago, but if it wasn't for the Arbor Hospital, I wouldn't be where I am today. I do have to say. As long as you are there for the right reasons, you will benefit. Further more I can't understand if it is so bad, why people would choose to go to a place they didn't like to go. I was there for my life. So perhaps that is why I am very thankful to the Arbor Hospital. Lastly, I have never met anyone that was in a psychiatric hospital that did not need to be there. So before you write your review, you may need to be more honest with yourself why are you there. Or even who may have put you there. Life is great and I am currently working on my Medical Degree. more

I was recently released from this facility and need to tell everyone out there....NEVER go to this place! I have never experianced anything like this in treatment before. First off I should have never been placed there to begin with. It angers me that some hospital emergency rooms can make up thier own opinions as to why you are there. \r Upon arrival via ambulance with only a johnny on from the hospital I was led to this dreary office and asked to sign wavers. The ""office"" was a nasty closet with disgusting sticky floors. I was then strip searched....mind you I only had a johnny and came directly by ambulance. HUMILIATING to say the least.\r I was then led to my floor and dropped off with a bag containing my only posessions.....my pajamas from the night before....thats all....was told to wash them because they have issues with bedbugs! NICE initial entrance to the place. I was told where my room was (DISGUSTIING AND DIRTY PLACE) and then saw a doc who after talking to me for 3 minutes maybe, changed some meds and said see you Monday. That was it! That was the only interaction with any mental health professional while I was there. There is noone there to talk to. Basically is is a warehouse for substance abusers that can get any drug they want in there. There were also many people there just avoiding prison! Your day consists of eating crappy food that other patients can handle freely and waiting for one of your 5 cigarette breaks! Thats it! Besides a few good staff members the rest of the staff was rude and disrespectful. Demeaning and unattentive to what I needed as a patient. On the day of discharge these people knew I had no way home which is about a thirty minute ride. I only had my pajamas from the time I got there as family/friends could not get there to help me. I was given 4$ and told that was all they could do to get me home in my pajamas with no shoes! The only good experiance I had is that I met this patient who cared about my well being. She was released the same day and actually cared more about how I was going to get home then the hospital did. She and her boyfriend offered this total stranger a ride to my doorstep. SHAME ON THIS PLACE FOR DISCHARGING ME THE WAY THEY DID! So my suggestion to all is .....DO NOT ENTER...it may make you feel even worse more

You would need to be a high functioning, olympic athlete to deal with these people. I had made full arrangements with the head of the hospital (who was my doc) to enter on a certain day. When I got there, no one had heard of me, there was no paperwork on me, then they found paperwork but all the details where wrong. Finally got upstairs and was admitted. The ""therapy"" is a joke and consists of people saying things such as ""I shaved today"". Food was mediocre. Staff waivered between competent to truly caring. My room was a disaster. The bathroom so disgusting that I did not bathe for 6 days. I left the hospital, detoxed off my drug of choice and was using 15 minutes later. No aftercare whatsoever. You want to detox. Faulkner Hospital. 7 South Unit. Fantastic care, great food, access to snacks like icecream 24/7. You meet with the head doc, the NCP, you are assigned a counselor and a aftercare program. Group sessions are informative and really tell you all sorts of useful information. Go Faulkner! more

I spent one week on North Two recently and learned a lot about myself mostly through interactions with the other patients. Having been to a few other rehabs, the Arbour was clearly not as ""fancy"" and the patients were a bit ""grittier"", but the staff was outstanding. I had a fantastic psychiatrist and also had to consult with an Internal MD who was caring and concerned. My psychiatrist spent plenty of time with me and his advice was extremely helpful. However, my case worker was the only staff member that was NOT helpful and rather insulting. Thanks to the sessions with my psychiatrist I began to learn how to deal with conflicts and ""come out of my shell"". I befriended many of the patients that I found intimidating or ""gritty"". We ended up helping each other and learning from each other. Nurses and other staff members were helpful and willing to talk when I needed it. Often staff came to me and asked if I was ok even though I was not obviously distressed (crying, etc). Meds were given promptly and on time and if I had a problem with not feeling well, the Dr on call would be contacted and if other meds were needed, it was resolved within 15 minutes. The only suggestion I have is that there should be more leisure/hobby/craft types of materials available. Books or magazines would be helpful as well. Fortunately, I packed some art supplies and many of the other patients and I spent time drawing during the down times. It was a good ice-breaker and if the units could have some of these items, it might make a big difference regarding patient to patient relationships. I am grateful for the experience that I had at the Arbour...it was humbling and made me realize how selfish I had become. The distressful issues or problems came from the patients who were loud, demanding, and always complaining. The staff did the best they could, but its pretty hard to make someone change if they are unwilling.... more

If I could give this place negative stars, I would. My husband was in there for several days recently--he was sent because they were the only place that had a bed and took his awful insurance plan--and he was completely traumatized. When he arrived they were fumigating his floor for bedbugs and they put him on another floor where he had no bed and no staff knew who he was. He was given no information, no one was friendly, he was seen for 30 minutes total in 48 hours, the other patients were all violent and very loud, where my husband was simply depressed. There were fights in the hall that were slow to be broken up. Several patients were doing drugs in his room that one had smuggled in. Security was lax and they forgot to give him his medication for 36 hours. Further, this place is dirty, dank and disgusting, the staff were extraordinarily rude to me with the exception of two night male nurses and the receptionist who gradually warmed to me. The nurses by and large seemed like they should be admitted. My husband's case worker took 6 hours to call me back on the first day and then refused to come upstairs and meet with me, saying he was too busy. The second day, when he again refused and I said I would wait in the lobby until he was free, he accused me of harassing him. I don't think my husband's outside Psych received a call back until 8 hours had passed. The only bright spot in this was the case worker's manager (who I escalated my concerns to) who was very kind, apologized for the case worker, and worked with me to get my husband transferred to McLean. We were very very lucky-- If I had not spent 36 straight hours on the phone and kept on despite being repeatedly told no, I never would have been able to transfer him. As it was, if he'd spent one more day there, insurance would have refused to move him. If your loved one needs to go into the hospital, research ahead of time and go directly to that hospital. Do not ever allow them to take your loved one to Arbour. It is a mystery to me how anyone could ever get better there. I recommend McLean, which is like day after night. more

I have never had to bring my child to a mental health facility before. Arbour was the first one we were told was open and to go. The staff not only did not understand a thing I was saying but they treated my child who was so scared like a piece of discarded trash. Their idea of family therapy was to put an entire family of divorced mom and dad and only one extension of my ex's family in the room with my daugther and myself and the social worker led my daughter to actually turn on me as a parent. In addition I will also make it very clear in this posting that the social worker who was supposed to help my daughter who is under aged actually told my child on a one on one meeting that my child should just call someone else and see if she could live with them.. Said social worker told my child that she didn't think my daughter should live with either me or my ex husband. It not only disturbed my daughter and limited her trust in people and therfore did not assist in her recovery but it also shows me that it is AMAZING how these people think they know a child in less than 7 days....who does that? Not only do I think that you should refuse to send a loved one to this facility but I think that the adolecent ward should not even exsist. more

this hospital was nothing special to me,most of the staff was rude,couldnt get really medication for 2 days,food was disgusting,the bathroom were alway dirty,i didnt think none of the staff really cared about you,except one guy stood out for me thats it.I was really depressed the whole time,cause of what i was coming off of which was tramadol,i was always in my room,and nobody asked if i was ok,only one staff member.i recommend no body goes to this hospital. Pros: 00 Cons: 00 more

i assume that most of these doctors have never been through depression, and thus just use their patients like objects by shoving pills down their throats and giving ignorant advice... they don't care about you, they just want to be a ""PROFESSIONAL"" and find the match of medication for you (the same way they would experiment with animals), and send you out the door... i'll never be able to erase this horrible experience from my mind... Pros: most of the rest of its reviews are negative Cons: this place should be sued and shut down.. more

This place is a disgrace to the mental health community and I HIGHLY recommend that you remove your loved one as soon as possible. I attempted to write my entire experience but I literally ran out of room. Long story short my father DID not receive the treatment that he needed and ended up more emotionally scarred from the whole experience. He went in depressed and came out traumatized. I literally had to scratch and claw to have him removed from the facility. Just know that you (or your loved one have the right to get him/her removed) DO NOT let them keep you (or your loved one) to pour in the insurance money. Threaten to call the insurance company and tell them that the hospital is not providing adequate treatment and the hospital will start making things happen pretty damn quickly! It's a nightmare and I feel so guilty for telling my Dad that this place would help him. They did the complete opposite. Pros: Nothing Cons: Everything more

i was admitted there for deppression, i am from central mass and never have been there before. when i got there it was 1:00am. and got checked in right away. i was suprised the next day of the friendliness of the staff and doctors. they were really concerned about my health and actually cared what i was feeling inside. i read alot of bad reviews when i got back home this past Friday. and noticed they were all dated from 2008. well it is nothing like that anymore. the place was clean, the food was good(except i had to have low sodium diet for high blood pressure. the groups were good and all the staff were great. i would go back there if i ever had a breakdown again in a minute. thanks for caring and the help and appointments you made when i got out. AAA+++ in my book. Steve L Pros: excellent staff, very proffessional more

I take my teenager to a psychiatrist at Arbour Counseling Outpatient. Although I do like the doctor nd feel she is respectful and available, the physical space is horrendous. The first time I brought my daughter there, the stairway and cramped waiting room smelled of smoke and sweat, there was a teenager asleep on the floor right below the check-in window (and noone addressing it), and the overall appearance is dirty and dingy. It feels terrible to bring my child there and be trying to give the message that it is normal and acceptable to be getting mental health treatment when the environment provided to those seeking mental health care there is so offensive. more

--Please excuse some of the symbols in place of letters. This application would not let me publish using some words.--\r \r If you were to see me on the street you would never know I am a recovering dr*g add*ct. I look like the typical 32 yr old guy, no problems. Reading all the awful reviews of this place, I HAD to put my 2 cents in. My experience was not at all like the others. I was freed from an addiction that was killing me, and slowly killing my loved ones. I have had many o.d.'s, (overdose) and came very close to dying. I have had 3 coke seizures. I have been in 4 car wrecks, one a head on collision and I was thrown into a ditch. I spent 3 weeks at Mass General Hospital in the Intensive Care Unit. I was hooked on methadone for many years. H, coke, benzodiazepines, a daily all consuming obsession that drives the add*ct for more more more, no matter how. Even if it means killing somebody to get more dr*gs. I almost did. My addiction drove me to stab a friend 3 times in the chest. He survives, THANK GOD. \r \r All this I tell you not as a ""war story"" or ""look what I have done"", I tell you this because the Arbour Hospital freed me from all this. I was admitted there 4 times. By the 4th time, I had spent well over 6 months there. I admit, it was hell each time I had to go back, but with each day it got better. It got better because I knew I never would have to feel the way I felt the day I came in. I cannot say enough good things about all the Doctors, Counselors, and Staff at this hospital. They have saved SOULS! THEY SAVED MY SOUL. One day at a time...\r \r Pros: detoxed from heroin, coke and methadone Cons: food, some staff are a little rough more

I was recently voluntarily entered at Arbour Hospital. The entrance was nice and the administrators seemed overly helpful and courteous. As soon as my family left and I walked upstairs I entered into my 5 day nightmare. I walked into screaming and yelling and not a nurse or person in sight to help quell the situation. I had my things taken, not told at all what to do and placed in a room with three other men. Nobody had even consulted me or told me what to do. I was given some pills at night ( that I need for sleep). That night doors were slamming, my roommates were upset and yelling and the nurse would come in every night a few times and shine a flashlight directly in my face for at least 20 seconds. After getting no sleep I awoke to two hardboiled eggs and a piece of bread for breakfast. Nobody did any sort of formal introductions so I started talking to a gentleman who was in for depression and alcoholism. He had arrived just hours before me the day before. I was given at least 4 librium by that time and he had only received one because I had a nicer nurse. He complained (politely) and she said that his blood-pressure was fine and he didn't need anything. I watched as he tried numerous times to speak with doctors and his social worker, but nobody would see him and the nurses wouldn't lift a finger to find them. I watched this similar scenario happen to numerous other people. I started to become very concerned when I watched visually shaking and distraught people turned away from the nurses station for no reason at all. The second night that I was there I was not given my sleeping pill and was not told why. I said that it must be a mistake, but the nurses would not look into it. A man who had been there for a while pulled me into a room and told me that I needed to just have them call the doc on call and he could fix it. A nurse overheard us and locked us out of the room. When I proceeded to wait near the nurses station for the doctor (he had just walked by to see another patient) the nurses said that I had BETTER to go to bed and I wasn't going to see the doctor and handed me 50 mg of benedryl. I watched as my friend was given neuroton (sp?), which was making him very irritated. He tried seeing a doctor about it, but was always told he was busy. He was continued to be given neuroton for a whole day and was extremely upset by the end of the day. They also said that he now had hypertension, but didn't do a damn thing about it. At this time I was going to sign myself out because of the treatment of not only myself, but also the other patients around me. HOWEVER, I had signed what I thought was a 3 day treatment plan - turned out that if you wished to leave you had to remain there for 3 days and weekends didn't count. I couldn't believe this. I had watched as a man screamed to try to get out and tried to even call the cops, but couldn't get out. I was really worried at this time. My friend had finally seen his doc for all of about 4 minutes that next morning and said the doc didn't say anything. I became so concerned that I approached the doctor myself and sat down to explain that my friend was in bad shape and needed to get out of there (he had wanted to transfer to another place in Brookline). The doc didn't say much. I had to do the same thing with his social worker when i saw her because she completely ignored him. The place is filthy and I didn't shower because I felt cleaner not getting into them. This is all just the tip of the iceberg. There were however two WONDERFUL nurses who actually cared about people - Stacy and Renee. I'm just happy as holy hell to be out and have never felt more depressed and wanting to drink more in all my life. I also want to cry because of the guilt I feel about some of my friends still being in there. This place is absolutely HORRIBLE and should be reported and shut down. I will truly never be the same person after experiencing this. Pros: I'm out Cons: Everything more