Psych Ward Deceptions WORDS & ILLUSTRATION BY Lukas Zehetner This story contains themes of mental health and involuntary commitment.
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re mental hospitals actually doing more harm than good to their patients in need?
After experiencing a mental hospital firsthand, along with looking into surveys and research from professional sources, there is more evidence pointing to the negative. After being discharged, the negative stereotypes surrounding psych wards have become more apparent and need to be corrected in today’s society. Mental hospitals, often referred to as psychiatric wards, are facilities made to better patients who are struggling heavily with their mental health.
Their purpose is to take time away from one’s overwhelming life situations to focus on well-being and coping mechanisms. Although this is the case for some mental hospitals, the majority do more harm than good. Currently, the shortest stay is around one week, and this can increase depending on the patient’s situation. These hospitals are supposed to be a place of healing. Many patients who are admitted, willingly or not, come out in a worse state than before and are treated differently due to stereotypes created by society. These harmful stereotypes are seen across all types of media, even in children's shows.
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