A Message To Society

Mental Hospital

Imagine a mental hospital. What does it look like? Rickety old beds? People obviously insane doing the craziest things you've ever seen, or claiming they don't belong here? Probably how they show them on TV because that's how they are, right? Wrong. I've been to one twice, onve for 10 days, once for 5. They aren't what you think. We aren't what you think. Of course, it's hard to say exactly what they're like, it varies based on where you are and how old you are, but the basics are the same.
We know we belong there, we know we have problems that need solving. But just by seeing us, you wouldn't guess we do. We look normal and human, just like everyone else.
How it's run is a lot different too. You're given your own room. Nobody else can enter except staff, and your's is the only room you can go in. But most time is spent outside of your room at group therapy or school if you aren't an adult, but that's only 2 hours a day. There's yoga expressive therapy, free time, and cbt. They try to have you spend the least amount of time alone in your room as they can so you aren't alone with your thoughts.
But overall, we aren't crazy, we aren't insane or mental, we're human. Just like anyone else. I've met some of the best kindest, most caring people there. They were funny, fun, kind, and just happened to be suicidal. And they all touched my heart. Hearing their stories was absolutely heartbreaking. Nobody should have to deal with that, and they deserve so much more. They went through hell in their life. And then there were the little kids. So tiny, so young, and yet so broken. Suicidal little kids, ripped of their innocence and love for life at such a young age. There were messages written on the walls from them, inspirational messages and messages from kids who were there over christmas and some families don't even come to visit then. They're human, and they're worth so much more than lthe labels they're given.