Dallas Behavioral HealthCare Hospital

“I would not recommend this place at all for children. We went for an assessment and the environment is not suitable for children. I wish I had listened to my initial gut reaction when we waited in the lobby and left instead of waiting for an assessment. I had no idea as it was my first experience looking for an assessment of my child, but glad I eventually stuck with my gut and refused services. Will be taking my child to Children's instead. This place is incredibly manipulative and unethical. While we were waiting in the lobby area, we witnessed a girl that was being detained and cussing out the police. I witnessed patients being discharged that looked like they had been fed so much medicine they were almost zombie like. They kept my ID and insurance card until we were called back to be seen and now I understand that is a tactic they use to keep you at the facility. When we were called back, I clarified again for the 3rd time that we were only there for an assessment and to get options for out patient therapy and resources for therapists. They confirmed that was totally what we were doing. In the meantime, they locked away my belongings and then put my son and I in a room with another patient (child) who looked to be no more than 9. She had no parent with her and she looked like she had been heavily medicated as well. They ended up taking that patient somewhere and in the meantime, the cops and girl who had been cussing and fighting them were brought down. They took the girl's picture and then put her in the same waiting room and my son and I with no cops or workers to ensure our safety. At this point, I made the decision to leave and take my son to Children's for his assessment. When I asked for my belongings and let them know, they informed me that we had already filled out paperwork to be admitted so if we left it would be against medical advisement and they would call CPS on us ... Told me that they were ready to do his assessment now and then they could get us out of there. So against my better instincts, we stayed and did the assessment. They kept feeding me more paperwork and looked like they were trying to keep my 7 year old there in-patient even though I had told them we would not be doing that and he did not need that level of therapy. I went as far to write that on one of his forms. After the "licensed" therapist came to assess my son, the head lady came back and said that if we left it would be against medical advice and they would call CPS...we signed the paperwork and left. We went to children's the next day and had an amazing experience for his assessment, he was cleared and we were provided resources to set him up with weekly therapy. Dallas Behavioral is incredibly unethical and even if someone did indeed need in patient care, I would highly advise you stay away from there. Every patient I saw was heavily medicated and very zombie like. I feel so terrible for all of the kids there with no parent to advocate for them. I will say while the staff was very manipulative, they were kind in all of my personal interactions. It was the most traumatizing day of my life and would advise you to stay away!”

“This place is disgraceful. Walked in with my 16 year old to the intake part and it smelled so bad like weed I almost vomited. The place was so dirty, I went in restroom and it looked as though someone vomited in the sink. Although the intake nurse was very welcoming and knowledgeable, the other intake staff were not so friendly and almost seemed bothered to have a job. We were told there was a bed available, sat there for hours and then told there wasn’t, and was told they could transfer her but they also couldn’t get that together. As I sat there, even though my 16 yo needed help I don’t think I could have left her there. The staff was in a locked room while patients and other people waiting were left within a locked hallway. Spoke to a manager, who seemed nice, but definitely didn’t seem to want to believe that they had a definite lack of communication and cleanliness issue. I feel for any patients in this facility that truly need and deserve help. With there intake part being in such disrepair I cannot imagine what the other parts looked like that housed patients. Please stay clear of this place!”

“When I arrived at the hospital at 10:30 p.m., I was left completely unattended isolated until 6 a.m. when they finally put me in unit 7. I have serious medical conditions—vertigo, sickle cell disease, epilepsy, and type 2 diabetes—and when I had seizures, the staff did nothing, dismissing my episodes as fake. Meanwhile, they gave me insulin without informing my mother, despite my endocrinologist’s instructions not to. To make matters worse, multiple girls in the unit bullied me—yelling at me, calling me names—and the staff acted as if nothing was happening, ignoring the harassment entirely. The staff was negligent, fixated on their phones, and dismissive of the pain we were in. I write this review, so no other child or family has to suffer this callous disregard.”

“PLEASE DO NOT TAKE YOUR CHILDREN OR LOVED ONES HERE!!! i came to this facility when i was 13 and was treated so horribly along with the other patients. The kids unit was so un taken care of and kids were running around, screaming, fighting, all the above. i recommend Millwood Hospital in Arlington. So much nicer, organized and they even have programs where you can do school work so your child won't miss out on school during their stay! im 19 now and i am so traumatized from this place.”