I’ve been to 3 emergency psychiatric facilities (referred to as Emergency Psychiatric Services, EPS) in Northern CA &amp; cannot relate at all to any of the 5150 &amp; EPS experiences described on Reddit.  I honestly don't know how many times at this point, possibly 10+  Maybe things have changed, maybe Northern CA sucks.  I was held again for 3 days again recently [(proof)](https://imgur.com/iefDmdK) . 

IMPORTANT INFO ---------------------------

 I will summarize [the requirements to be 5150'd](https://ferc.org/crisis/) 

1. Danger to others
2. Danger to self
3. Gravely disabled &amp; unable to care for self. 

[Here is the long version of 5150 protocol including the cop's required responses.](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=WIC&amp;sectionNum=5150) (Cops have ALWAYS followed these requirements.  And one time I refused to go to the hospital anyways &amp; ended up in jail for a day, so I guess I'd say just agree....?)

**I have always met conditions 2 or 3 &amp; am not denying anything about myself being put on 5150's, I just want to share the difference in experience and honestly I just feel upset reading other's experiences...As uncomfortable as my experiences have been 5150'd and how little mental health or psychiatric care I received, no friends to be made, being removed from my situation for 3 days was absolutely necessary &amp; I cannot think of better options.**

**I"VE NEVER GONE VOLUNTARILY** 

**&amp; no idea what that is like here in CA.  I've met a few voluntary clients housed with me under the same conditions.**  

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Only one facility had "rooms" which contained at least 8 "beds" &amp; there were no specific assignments, it has always been, well, find whatever "bed" is empty.  God help you if you end up somewhere already claimed without knowing.  

So when I say "bed" I put in quotations because they are actually fake leather more like plastic covered recliners.  I've never been to a place with pillows, but you can ask for 2 blankets &amp; use one as a pillow.  If there are enough blankets available, are very polite, and staff is available, engaged, and kind enough to make the effort to get you a 3rd blanket because you are cold, that can happen as well.   The other two facilities did not have rooms, just these "beds" all in one large room.  Sometimes the staff will let you know what is up for grabs.  I've never been anywhere that has separate gender hygiene facilities.  I've only been to one place actually that provided soap, towels, new clothes &amp; showers.  But it was not unusual to have extra wait times due to excrement in a bathroom or shower bathroom.  

I've never made any friends.  Everyone else there is either asleep, talking to themselves, or causing chaos.   I've been lucky to only have one instance where the doctor wanted to see me "engaged" before releasing me.  Otherwise I've mainly slept the whole time.  And although I've seen others so upset about a Haldol injection, I've appreciated them.  

The nurses are incredibly over-worked &amp; it is difficult to reach them.  Two places had a red tape line in front of the nurse's station that you were not allowed to cross, guarded by a security worker, and if you didn't know your nurses name it will be hours for them to get back to you.  If you do know your nurse's name it might be less.  When other nurses are on the floor and you ask literally any question or disclose any concern they completely ignore you.  As in, walk right past as if you are literally invisible.  The other staff supervising are sometimes kind, other times I ***felt*** disrespectful.  If you need to go to the bathroom, you need one of these staff member to open the door.  If you want some water, you need a staff member to get it for you.  Often, I would just suck it up and wait a couple hours for meal time to get some water because I felt so uncomfortable asking outside of meal time, because they really seemed bothered by the request.  

The staff members definitely had developed relationships with repeat clients, which is great I think.  They would talk to them, joke around, enjoyed each other's company.  I'm basically a repeat client because I recognize the staff members &amp; the clients they are friendly with.  However I've gone unnoticed.  

I don't talk to myself, I'm not very outgoing in these situations, and I'm a well-spoken white girl.  That is all I can say as far as what is different.  I'm not accusing anyone as racist because I've experienced the same sort of lack of attention/underestimate of severity/and difficulty achieving the level of care I've needed across all medical fields by white PHD doctors who assume they know everything about me by my bullet point medical records.  

Then, there is the violence I've witnessed.  I've worked in a lockdown facility for kids (up to 21 years old) with severe emotional disturbances leading to dangerous behaviors, or severe autism leading to the same.  I've been trained on physical interventions.  I've been very surprised by the physical interventions I've seen (even experienced) at these places &amp; lack of "respect &amp; safety" that was such a huge part of my training).  Anyways I'll stop there.  

I want to repeat this

**I have always met conditions 2 or 3 &amp; am not denying anything about myself being put on 5150's, I just want to share the difference in experience and honestly I just feel upset reading other's experiences...As uncomfortable as my experiences have been 5150'd and how little mental health or psychiatric care I received, no friends to be made, being removed from my situation for 3 days was absolutely necessary &amp; I cannot think of better options.**

I do believe the mental health system in CA is broken in certain areas.  That is all.  And I'm wondering if anyone else can relate, and also just giving a reality check for those with certain expectations.  

Like I said, vent (seeking comforting responses) and AMA if anyone has questions.