Meridian Outpatient Gainesville Office

“I was baker acted and sent to this facility. The main staff aren't so bad, but the higher ups are emotionally manipulative and abusive. Being here is a punishment, instead of focusing on treating and helping the patients. I felt as if I was being punished for a crime when all I did was hurt myself. They constantly guilt tripped me about it (specifically doctor Nguyen whom demands your utmost respect but cannot spare the smallest amount of kindness to people in need of help nobody I talked to had anything good to say about him and patients would commonly have panic attacks before talking to him due to how stressful it is. If you say something he doesn't like, you're forced to stay for longer and If you act out you are drugged with Abilify. It is extremely obvious to anyone with a heart that he only wants this job because it gives him power over people, instead of actually caring about helping patients in need of getting better.) and made me feel just horrible about my actions instead of actually counseling me and helping deal with my feelings. The first night I was held in the waiting room for over 3 hours completely alone, and when I got inside I was forced to sleep in the hallway where they keep very bright lights on at all times, I got horrible sleep and could never tell what time it was for there was no clocks nor windows visible. Being in there only breeds negative thoughts, the only time I was happy was when I was chatting with the other patients (which was technically against the rules, thank goodness they don't enforce all of them.) At least in jail you get a phone call every 2 hours, meanwhile here you get maybe one 15 minute call a day. Not to mention the abominable food, I was there for multiple days and ate in total one thin piece of bacon and a small bag of pretzels. There was also an 8 year old with all of us, whenever he'd slam his head on the walls or floor they wouldn't help at all, just telling him he was only hurting himself. It broke my heart seeing someone so young in there especially when its clear his behavior problems came from his parents. If he had a tantrum (Y'know, like most kids do) they would give him a shot of some drug that isn't disclosed to patients. People going through a mental health crisis need a support system but this place absolutely does not support anyone there, you sit in there every day bored out of your mind replaying horrible thoughts in your head. If you don't bring clothes they have a "donation bin" where I was forced to wear a child's small hoodie (I'm 17) because half the clothes in there you aren't even allowed to wear, and if you don't have proper clothes (best hope you have a good family that will bring them) you will get in trouble with the "doctor" and I'd assume get more days for something completely out of your control. I'm very grateful that my family brought my bible because they have a total of three books, and all the board games are missing pieces. The only thing I learned from this place is that if you're going to commit, then you better make sure it actually ends you. Or at least that's what I thought, but what do I know, according to them I'm crazy. They treat everyone like they're insane when I was only depressed. I'm usually very calm but Nguyen made me want to just yell at him and tell him how horrible he is. It's not like he has feelings though so it wouldn't matter anyway, he'd just give you more days and a shot of the Calm Drug. My sister visited me and afterwards tried to voice her concerns to the workers about how I was treated, she is now banned from ever returning. If you send your child here you are sentencing them to a visit to hell, they should have a sign that says "Abandon all hope, ye who enters here." Every negative review I've seen so far I completely believe for its things they commonly do. Overall this facility and meridian as a whole is horribly abusive and focus more on punishment instead of treatment and rehabilitation, the only people that belong in there are the higher ups who only work there to hold power over helpless kids.”

“I’m very happy with meridian. My son was in a different state before coming here and we had nothing but problems from them and thought it was just normal until we came to meridian. The staff is very good and professional. In and out with no problems. Very much recommend them.”

“Mental health patients need to know they are not alone. One hour visits in the middle of the working day doesn't allow family and support systems to be there for their loved ones while they are in treatment. Phone system is hardly working on adult unit and makes it hard to hear your loved one when they call home. Patients allowed to sign discharge papers and then told they can't leave until a doctor sees them, even though they were just seen by the doctor, and their loved ones cannot wait in the lobby of the facility for them. Staff will not call emergency contact, nor release any info to them when they call, even if patient signs all paperwork allowing them to do so. Experience is with adult unit”

“This place has to be the worst thing I have ever experienced in my three years of struggling with mental health I’ve been to multiple psychiatric awards and this has to be the worst place I’ve ever been upon arriving. I was locked in a room with nothing but a chair for three hours while waiting for them to come and ask me questions after they asked me questions I was placed in a room with a mat on the floor as I held my bladder for multiple hours and I got told I could pee on the floor. They did not care then would not let me speak to my mother and when I did they cut my phone call off because I was telling her how things were going. She later showed up and had to sign me out of the hospital because a woman was screaming in my face and spitting at me as I was bawling my eyes out because I did not want to be there as she was telling me that me crying wasn’t gonna get me nowhere but stuck there for longer. Please don’t go to Meridian and don’t send your loved ones.”