OSF Behavioral & Mental Health

“I recently visited OSF Behavioral Health for the first time. The office staff were not knowledgeable about processing a name change, and I learned that some employees do not respect the preferred name field. The intake process is a long, cold questionnaire that asks the same questions you've already been asked on the phone and at check-in, so prepare to repeat your medication list three times even though everyone can see the list you've already given! Additionally, the office staff did NOT disclose that the form they asked me to sign would authorize AI to record and transcribe my appointment until I asked - and when I declined, the receptionist was very rude. The questionnaire asked by the doctor is impersonal but also asks for ghoulish detail about family members' suicide methods. The doctor I saw insisted that I would be taking the one medication I mentioned having taken and reacted poorly to. I will not be returning.”

“I was a voluntary admit for 2 days. Before even meeting me Dr. Su prescribed me Oxycarbazepine 300mg 2x day. One of the nurses informed me he prescribes this often and to almost every patient. I chose to deny the medication and to meet and speak with him first. When I questioned his use of the medication as well as prescribing something before even meeting me, he began to get loud with me. I again chose to deny the medication. He then tried to prescribe abilify 5mg 1x day, hydroxyzine 25mg 3x day, trazodone 50mg 1x day on top of that. I let him know kindly that while in his care, I would not be taking the prescribed medications. I would choose a different Dr. outside of this practice. He lied in notes stating untrue facts. Called me an alcoholic with no prior or current drug or alcohol issues. He discredits ADHD as well and says nobody should be prescribed medication for it. He was rude, arrogant and just downright unpleasant to work with during my voluntary stay. He spends less than 5 minutes with each patient each day and is somehow allowed to continue prescribing in this way. Very hands off, voice on. Little man syndrome diagnosis present. I would avoid at all costs any interaction with this "Doctor" if you take your mental health seriously.”

“Surely there cannot be a medical school that teaches you to diagnose patients after asking them “How are you feeling? How is the medicine?” 3 times within a week, the conversation going on for less than a minute. I was nothing but a quiet, shy, U of I student who was missing classes for a week straight, and also missing my placement for my major of being an educator. Being above the age of 18, I asked to sign myself out, and they refused. My grandmother, who legally adopted me as a baby, was not given correct information about me, while other nurses refused her to visit me. While calling my grandma, I lied as to the reason I was in there- I had a panic attack because my boyfriend and I of 10 years had almost broke up after I told him I was assaulted on campus. Someone in my dorm at Wassaja offered me a hit off of what I thought was a vape, but was actually a weed cart. This sent me into the panic attack, but I didn’t want to tell my grandma I got assaulted, so I just blamed the whole thing on the weed. An older asian nurse with long black hair and rectangle glasses put a sticky note on my back saying “grey” the first time she saw me. I wonder how someone can be full of so much hate. During “group”, she always acted as if I did something horrible to her. She didn’t even try to know me, only heard what others said about me. Kind of crazy to judge someone at a RELIGIOUS place… (judge yet ye be judged). This is a mental health hospital; not knowing what someone has been through before they came in? That could’ve been the breaking point for them. Luckily I could name about 2 nurses who actually cared, and they know who they are. One wore rainbow earrings and was older and had short hair- always called me darling. The other was african american, long straight hair, and the most beautiful smile and biggest kindest eyes. She even gave me hair products for my natural hair, as I’m mixed- to which Dr. Su said in my notes my hair was “messy and unwashed”. That’s what happens when you use products not meant for your hair, and don’t have the 5 leave in products to use after the shower. They attempted Christian Conversion Therapy, but failed horrible through trying to be discreet. It’s easy to tell when the folder you get in your room has a Nun and the 10 commandments on it. Do you think every person who comes in is going to be Christian? Or wants to be? I honestly and truly thought they thought I was transgender at first. At the time, I had very short blonde curly hair. I have a small chest, and even get mistaken for a boy in baggy clothes with no makeup. In fact, I know so because I was placed on the “males”. How do I know? My second visit, after I had a seizure, which the U of I police failed to recognize (with one of the cops even suing me because I accidentally bit them while seizing), I was told I couldn’t walk on the side of that hallway (the side I was originally on) because that was the men’s side. Dr. Su Fatang, as mentioned by others, lied to me about medication in my MyChart. I only took the pills there, as I thought if I complied they’d let me go. He also proceeded to remove my birth control from there. I was given oxicarbazepine at 300mg, never taken it before. It felt like my brain was dying, and I remember being so scared to go to sleep because I thought I’d lose my life at 21. I wasn’t ready to die. I find it so hard to understand why other humans can be so cruel. Time and time again I try to forgive every one there, even Dr. Su. I live my life as a reality, and I still believe justice is something that’s meant to be served. OSF, you have security cameras because of me. I would honestly go back and do it all again, if it meant others wouldn’t have to experience that pain and confusion; more importantly, when I think back at OSF, I try to remember the patients there. I can only hope things I did, or said to them, made them feel seen, and that they’re okay now. Through my suffering came something good, and I can only hope that people start treating others with kindness.”

“I reached out to every facility I could find in Champaign County while trying to locate services for a friend. Missy and the team at OSF were the only ones who truly took the time to listen and guide me during a moment when I felt completely helpless. Words cannot fully express how much I appreciate your compassion, time, and support. Please accept my most sincere thanks.”