UK Healthcare EmPATH Psychiatric Unit

“I went In a couple days ago after going to good Sam with thoughts of harming myself, I went in around 1am so it was dark and quiet, I will say the nurse who greeted me was very very sweet. After asking me a few questions she said we have chairs to sleep in not beds and they gave me a stinky blanket so very uncomfortable, gave me sleeping pills but I hate the fact that people are just roaming around there was a creepy guy who kept getting very close to me who had just peed all over the wall and he kept trying to talk to me….so then in the morning I woke up to some crazy guy shouting but other then that I just sat in that same chair until someone quickly talked to me about therapy before I was released so idk kinda a weird experience but it wasn’t the worst thing in the world and yes the nurses do chat and laugh all night”

“This place is horrible honestly. I went there a few days ago and have been there 2 other times. My very first experience was terrifying and made me even more anxious than before I walked in there. But this most recent visit was the worst. I was in a downward spiral with depression and anxiety, I am also diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. I was advised to go to Good Sam, they took blood and urine. I never got test results back before they just walked in and said I was going to Empath. I had asked about test results and was told they didn’t have access to that and that I could ask at Empath. I asked at Empath when I arrived (5:30) and was told they didn’t have access then I walked in and spoke to a nurse practitioner for maybe 10 minutes before they started asking me if I wanted something for my anxiety. They give everyone who steps foot in there some kind of medicine to put you to sleep. I didn’t want to take it but they kept suggesting all different kinds of medication to put me to sleep so I took it anyway. I fought the medicine so I could talk to someone before becoming drowsy and out of it like everyone else that was there already. You can’t walk around the facility or they will push more meds at you and tell you to sit down and go to sleep. I asked to speak to someone about what I’m dealing with and was told there was nobody there (6pm) I could talk to and that I’d have to wait till 7am so I asked if there was something I could write on so I can get it all down on paper before passing out from the meds they basically shoved down my throat. I was given crayons and a small notebook. These outlets and coping skills are not offered or encouraged by anyone. Also if you’ve got a lot on your mind, sitting in a quiet room with nobody to talk to, it’s very easy to get stuck in your head and spiral downward even more. I then went to sleep without eating anything that day before going to empath considering I had been at good sam for about 3 hours and was sent straight to Empath. All they have to offer is a plain turkey sandwich on a wheat bun with the option of mayo or mustard. I ate one sandwich and only had unhealthy snacks filled with mystery ingredients. After I passed out from meds I woke up around 7:19 hoping to read a psychiatrist my journaling when I was told there was nobody available as they were in a meeting until 7:30. I then asked again around 7:45 and was told again that they were busy and would be with me shortly. So I snacked again on cookies and goldfish. Nobody got to me until around 9am (an hour and 45 minutes before I was released). I spoke with a psychiatrist for 5 minutes before she decided what meds I should take not even knowing my history. I was told about my test results an hour before release when they told me I had a bladder infection and my liver was not happy. I was never once offered meds or explained my liver issue. Not to mention the fact that they openly talk about your private medical information out loud in front of other patients totally violating my privacy. The nurses are not friendly they laugh and giggle all night and make jokes about mental health and depression. It’s sick honestly. You are put in there with people who are picked up by the cops that are drunk or coming down on drugs ( which isn’t a bad thing, I just don’t think we should all be put in a room together as this can make anxiety and fear worse to the point of traumatizing you). I didn’t think Empath would be a “drunk tank” for people who were caught publicly intoxicated. I was under the impression this was a calming space to quickly receive therapy, counseling and access to quick coping skills. As far as therapy and counseling goes, they just refer you to one they don’t actually offer it there on site. The one positive about this place is they can refer you to helpful services right before release such as therapy, housing, rehab, Behavioral Health Unit etc. It’s basically a place to get a quick med change, a drink tank, a place for the homeless and be put to sleep in a recliner.”

“My name is Hannah. I'm using my name because I want the staff to see this and remember who I am, ESPECIALLY the woman who did my intake. I came to this facility via ambulance at the end of August, 2025. I was there for suicidal ideation caused by an episode of stimulant-induced psychosis. My pharmacy where I live accidentally gave me 60 mg of Jornay PM instead of my usual prescribed 40mg. I was quite literally not in my right mind, and that should have been apparent. During intake, after a male provider had left the room, a female healthcare worker with a very pretty, big hair asked me if I had any self harm scars. Not thinking clearly, I pulled down my pants just to show her my thigh. There are many reasons why I thought this action was completely okay: 1) MOST other Psych facilities REQUIRE you to strip to show them every mark on your body. I had been to the Ridge several years prior, and assumed this was a normal part of the intake procedure. 2) We were in a private setting, both women, and she was a healthcare provider. A healthcare provider is someone you are SUPPOSED to be able to show your body to in a medical context without being judged. 3) I'm neurodivergent, and don't always understand social cues. So while I would know not to do this to some random person, I rightfully assumed it would be okay to show a fellow woman and healthcare provider my scars in a private, medical setting. 4) Oh! and did I MENTION I WAS IN LITERAL PSYCHOSIS? So tell me why this woman IMMEDIATELY starts treating me like I'm some kind of pervert who was trying to flash her?? Even in my psychotic, barely coherent state, I tried to explain to her that it was a CLEAR MISUNDERSTANDING, and I thought I was doing what I was SUPPOSED to do. I said "I thought you were a nurse" clearly trying to express that I thought it was appropriate to show her the lacerations on my thigh. So, once again, even after explaining, tell me WHY when the male provider comes back, she turns to him as SOON as walked in and said "she just pulled her pants down". I was MORTIFIED. Now, from her sick perspective, I guess she could have interpreted me waiting until after he left the room to pull my pants down as some sort of attempt to sexually harass her while she was alone, but that was CLEARLY not what this was. I waited until the man left the room because 1) She asked about my scars AFTER he left the room, 2) As a childhood sexual assault survivor, I did NOT WANT TO PULL MY PANTS DOWN IN FRONT OF A MAN. I thought I was in a safe, private space, with a fellow woman and healthcare provider, and that showing your scars was part of the intake process like it is at DOZENS OF FACILTIES. So tell me why I was made to feel absolutely ashamed of myself for something that was NOT my fault. She told the man "she just pulled her pants down" as if I had COVERTLY WAITED FOR HIM TO LEAVE SO I COULD FLASH HER LIKE A DAMN VILLAIN SCHEME??? I was made to feel shame as if I had the INTENT to be inappropriate. Her reaction twisted this clear misunderstanding of me showing my body in a MEDICAL CONTEXT into something perverse, and I will not stand for that. As a Psychology major myself, DO BETTER. Other than being treated like a damn streaker, my experience was alright. The providers gave me my first ever dose of Risperdal, an atypical anti-psychotic to help calm me down. I loved Risperdal, but unfortunately, my body did NOT- I had a dystonic reaction to the medication and began experiencing severe extrapyramidal symptoms from the medication. I do not fault the staff for this. While having my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth and my eyes forcefully jut upwards WAS scary, this is unfortunately not an uncommon side effect of antipsychotic medications, and neither of us knew at the time that this medication was under the "high-risk" category of my previously performed Gene Sight test\ Also they put "severe temper tantrums" (A PEDIATRIC DIAGNOSIS), in the chart of my 21yo autistic self instead of "overstimulation". Ableist, infantilizing, and inaccurate med term.”

“DO NOT GO HERE. you might think they help but there are no social workers, no counselors, no peer support specialists, just nurses who give medicine and that’s ALL they do.in fact they basically sedate everyone once 8pm rolls around, and you all sleep in a recliner. not to mention night shift staff was horrible. you’ll leave just as you came if not worse.”