This isn’t anecdotal. It’s really quite a common response that only further traumatizes the victims and leaves them with a financial burden.
I think this kind of anecdotal horror story exists in every country, but of course it’s not the usual outcome.
There’s a whole chain of people involved in a process like this, and I have a hard time believing that everyone in that chain routinely locks up healthy people just to give themselves more work to do.
I think it’s far more likely that there are many people who genuinely should spend a few days in a psych ward but are unable to due to a lack of resources.
stoly@lemmy.world 4 days ago
fine_sandy_bottom@lemmy.federate.cc 4 days ago
This is really reductive and doesn’t really consider how complex these situations can be.
What should police or first responders do when someone is at risk of harming themselves or others?
Whatever your answer, consider that the person is already having a bad day, and there are no on the spot cures for what ails them.
Hospitals in general are not nice places to be, as a patient. If you’re there for a physical illness it’s still traumatic.
You don’t go there to have a nice time, you go there to avoid the worst outcomes, like death.
I am certain that there are very, very few instances where people end up in a psych ward when there’s better places for them.
stoly@lemmy.world 4 days ago
People are there because their lives suck. Traumatizing them and putting them in debt just makes the suffering worse.
fine_sandy_bottom@lemmy.federate.cc 1 day ago
Sorry mate, this is just plain wrong.
People are there because they have complex medical conditions which require specialist personnel and facilities.
Yes it can be scary and expensive, but it’s the best way to manage a shit situation.
vzq@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 days ago
The bill is a fairly unique U.S. thing.
fine_sandy_bottom@lemmy.federate.cc 4 days ago
Yeah but that horror story is the same in Australia and there’s no bill.