Living Rooms, sometimes called respite centers, offer an alternative to the emergency room for those experiencing suicidality, psychosis, and other psychiatric crises and concerns.
This Livingroom sounds like heaven. I’m impressed with the level of autonomy offered along with safety. Not sure how they pull that off. I supposed it depends on the severity of the illness. So many end up in jail or in locked Psych unit.
It does depend and often it can be tense. If someone is a danger to others or themselves, often they'll be persuaded to go to an inpatient unit. But going willingly is so different. Plus, living rooms offer a way for those who aren't in acute crisis (but in crisis) to avoid the ER, which, I can say from experience, the worst place for someone experiencing a mental health crisis.
I went willingly to an inpatient unit and it was still a horrible experience. I knew within a day or two that it wasn’t what I needed but was told if I left against medical advice my insurance wouldn’t pay.
Despite studying in the mental health field, I've never heard of this option and I'm so excited to learn that about it. Wonderful idea that I hope continues to spread. <3 Thanks for letting us know about it.
This makes so much sense. I will have to explore if there is anything like this in Canada. We have youth drop in centers but I'm not aware of anything for adults. Thank you for sharing this.
OMG, I’ve never heard of these but they sound wonderful. When I was in crisis, I was told to go to the ER, which I refused to do. I was desperate enough to go to an inpatient psych hospital, which I will never do again. It cost a fortune and not only didn’t help but further traumatized me. I would have been far better off just paying any sane human to be with me at home temporarily.
I have never heard of these types of facilities either. What a great option. When I had my dissociative episode and my husband took me to emergency I ended up in the psych ward. So, I had lost all my short term memory and I was in overnight sleeping in a weird chair bed with a whole bunch of strangers and not really knowing what was happening to my brain. It wasn't pleasant. (Although to be fair to my husband there really was no other option.) But, if you're not in acute need, the living room option sounds ideal.
This is an amazing option. A Living Room in every town feels like the least we could do. I went to one in Boulder, though at the time I didn't know it was a living room. It's where they send you from suicide hotlines, which is great. https://www.mhpcolorado.org/mental-health-partners-opens-the-living-room/
This Livingroom sounds like heaven. I’m impressed with the level of autonomy offered along with safety. Not sure how they pull that off. I supposed it depends on the severity of the illness. So many end up in jail or in locked Psych unit.
It does depend and often it can be tense. If someone is a danger to others or themselves, often they'll be persuaded to go to an inpatient unit. But going willingly is so different. Plus, living rooms offer a way for those who aren't in acute crisis (but in crisis) to avoid the ER, which, I can say from experience, the worst place for someone experiencing a mental health crisis.
I went willingly to an inpatient unit and it was still a horrible experience. I knew within a day or two that it wasn’t what I needed but was told if I left against medical advice my insurance wouldn’t pay.
That's so awful. What a messed up system. I'm so sorry you went through that. Harrowing.
Yes, and the system shows no signs of changing significantly any time soon.
This Living Room sounds like an amazing, compassionate place. I googled the San Antonio area, only found furniture stores.
I know! It's terrible. Try this, but turn on your location: https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=mental+health+resources+living+rooms&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
Despite studying in the mental health field, I've never heard of this option and I'm so excited to learn that about it. Wonderful idea that I hope continues to spread. <3 Thanks for letting us know about it.
They're so amazing. I trained at Thresholds in Chicago. Truly revolutionary. An alternative to the ER!
This makes so much sense. I will have to explore if there is anything like this in Canada. We have youth drop in centers but I'm not aware of anything for adults. Thank you for sharing this.
It is so helpful.
OMG, I’ve never heard of these but they sound wonderful. When I was in crisis, I was told to go to the ER, which I refused to do. I was desperate enough to go to an inpatient psych hospital, which I will never do again. It cost a fortune and not only didn’t help but further traumatized me. I would have been far better off just paying any sane human to be with me at home temporarily.
The trauma of those places is so real. We need Living Rooms in every city and town.
I have never heard of these types of facilities either. What a great option. When I had my dissociative episode and my husband took me to emergency I ended up in the psych ward. So, I had lost all my short term memory and I was in overnight sleeping in a weird chair bed with a whole bunch of strangers and not really knowing what was happening to my brain. It wasn't pleasant. (Although to be fair to my husband there really was no other option.) But, if you're not in acute need, the living room option sounds ideal.
I had no idea, Kim. I'm so sorry you went through that.
This is an amazing option. A Living Room in every town feels like the least we could do. I went to one in Boulder, though at the time I didn't know it was a living room. It's where they send you from suicide hotlines, which is great. https://www.mhpcolorado.org/mental-health-partners-opens-the-living-room/
Wow! So great.
I’ve never heard of this before. Sounds like a wonderful resource. I’m going to check my area.
Unfortunately, they're scarce. I'd love to see that change.
I’d never heard of Living Rooms before. What a tremendous idea. I hope we see more of these resources popping up all over.