Stop treating mental hospital patients like prisoners

Mental hospitals and psych wards approaches to mental illnesses have always been very controversial. 

All around the world patients are often treated like a burden. They restrain them for ridiculous reasons and for the slightest signs of struggle and agitation. They overmedicate them with tranquillisers so they don't have to deal with them. (Because in some countries they're understaffed or have limited resources)

The environment of these hospital are depressing,  and kinda scary in some countries. Which makes people with mental illnesses who need a more vibrant environment even more depressed 

And the methods are generally not effectivefor people who mostly need support and care. They strip search patients against their will. If you really think about it. It's horrific. To be tied down, and stripped naked and be touched everywhere. Just for them to see if you have any scars on your body. That's sexual abuse not protection. 



Now this is my experience as a young woman



When I was 16 years old. I was involuntary admitted to a psych ward because of my depression. When I got there, they took me to a room. Then 4 men came inside and they told me that I needed to take my clothes off so they can do a strip search. I refused and I asked for a female nurse. They saw my hesitation and well...they pinned me to a bed and stripped me naked. Literally naked. and then sedated me because I was screaming and begging for them to stop. 

I never trusted psychiatrists or therapists again. Because i was given no choice. Absolutely no choice and I'm still working to cope with the trauma of that experience. 

So the bottom line is , that we NEED to start training the staff in mental health facilities to be more compassionate and understanding with people. Those people are really vulnerable. Yes....some might be dangerous. But they are still people. And they still need support and care. And we should stop treating them like they committed a crime because they suffer from a menatl illness. 

I'm asking WHO to put stricter rules for involuntary treatment and the use of force, to ban forced strip searches And to give patients more rights. This can be achieved by training the staff of these facilities and giving psychiatrists lesser power and authority over a patient's life choices.