Involuntary commitment in psychiatric facilities

I’m not entirely sure if this is the right thread for this... but I ended up being held at a facility in Brooklyn for maybe three or four days after I overdosed on some pills. And, well, I told them my intention wasn't actually to end things, I just wanted to sleep for a long, long time.
I am an adult, technically. But, I guess, my parents had to sign off on everything anyway.
It was a pretty horrible experience for me. Though, looking back, I didn't really have any say in the matter.
Is that just how it works??

Robin Hernandez8 said:I’m not entirely sure if this is the right thread for this... but I ended up being held at a facility in Brooklyn for maybe three or four days after I overdosed on some pills. And, well, I told them my intention wasn't actually to end things, I just wanted to sleep for a long, long time.
I am an adult, technically. But, I guess, my parents had to sign off on everything anyway.
It was a pretty horrible experience for me. Though, looking back, I didn't really have any say in the matter.
Is that just how it works??

In the US, they can hold you in psychiatric care without your consent for up to 72 hours; after that window, they must either release you or initiate formal involuntary commitment proceedings. Parents can only sign on your behalf if you have been legally deemed incapacitated and one of them has been appointed your legal guardian.

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The police were called, and they actually took me to a psychiatric ward just to determine if I was even fit to give a statement. I spent 12 days under observation in the psych unit, only to be handed a diagnosis of F 23.2. Apparently, if you get into frequent arguments or clashes with others, they can haul you in for observation and slap you with a diagnosis. I’ve had outbursts before, sure, but nothing beyond that. I’m just a temperamental person—much like many others out there. I react intensely in the moment, but then I cool off instantly. Honestly, I can't even remember half the things I said when I was worked up.

Am I considered a free person now, or can she just call the cops every single time we have a disagreement? I need to get away from this community immediately. There was no physical violence or property damage involved; it was strictly verbal arguing and shouting. Does this mean she can report me every time she feels like it???

I was wondering if anyone here could clarify what the actual legal process looks like for the involuntary commitment of someone suffering from a mental health crisis. Does it really play out like this in practice?

Basically, a primary care physician issues a referral for psychiatric treatment, outlining the specific reasons why they believe it’s necessary. I've heard that, in reality, the date doesn't even necessarily need to be included on the referral form itself.

Then, the doctor sends all that documentation over to a legal guardian or perhaps a local social services agency—like a county welfare department. Once that agency receives the medical files, they pass them along to the police. From there, officers arrive to pick up the individual and take them into custody against their will, acting on the orders provided by both the doctor and the social services office.

Once the person is admitted to a psychiatric facility, they undergo an evaluation by a psychiatrist, who then determines if there is legitimate cause for involuntary detention. That decision is sent to the presiding court, which is supposed to issue a ruling on whether the forced hold is justified within eight days. After that initial period, the court is meant to review the case every 30 days—and later at three-month and six-month intervals—to extend the commitment order.

It honestly sounds like a nightmare scenario where someone with bad intentions—maybe a corrupt doctor or a crooked judge—could just lock you away indefinitely. I've also heard whispers that, in many cases, patients aren't even notified of the court rulings or given the chance to participate in their own hearings.

Thanks in advance for any insight, especially if anyone knows how this actually functions on the ground.

blueranger35 said:I was wondering if anyone here could clarify what the actual legal process looks like for the involuntary commitment of someone suffering from a mental health crisis. Does it really play out like this in practice?

Basically, a primary care physician issues a referral for psychiatric treatment, outlining the specific reasons why they believe it’s necessary. I've heard that, in reality, the date doesn't even necessarily need to be included on the referral form itself.

Then, the doctor sends all that documentation over to a legal guardian or perhaps a local social services agency—like a county welfare department. Once that agency receives the medical files, they pass them along to the police. From there, officers arrive to pick up the individual and take them into custody against their will, acting on the orders provided by both the doctor and the social services office.

Once the person is admitted to a psychiatric facility, they undergo an evaluation by a psychiatrist, who then determines if there is legitimate cause for involuntary detention. That decision is sent to the presiding court, which is supposed to issue a ruling on whether the forced hold is justified within eight days. After that initial period, the court is meant to review the case every 30 days—and later at three-month and six-month intervals—to extend the commitment order.

It honestly sounds like a nightmare scenario where someone with bad intentions—maybe a corrupt doctor or a crooked judge—could just lock you away indefinitely. I've also heard whispers that, in many cases, patients aren't even notified of the court rulings or given the chance to participate in their own hearings.

Thanks in advance for any insight, especially if anyone knows how this actually functions on the ground.

There are definitely quite a few half-truths and little insinuations floating around here about various things, but the bottom line is... if you stay sharp and keep your wits about you, nobody can touch you. Not a psychiatrist, not social services, not Medicare, and certainly not your primary care physician or anyone else. No one is going to just hand you a referral for psychoanalysis out of the blue.

It’s also a plain fact that if you start acting out—regardless of whether it's due to illness, your natural temperament, or just a rough situation—you could face some pretty serious consequences. This is especially true if you're behaving exactly like the person described in this thread, or if you cause trouble during your actual hospital stay (though I should mention that being a bit restless while adjusting to the facility is totally normal, as long as it doesn't become a long-term thing).

The general consensus is that as long as you remain calm and cooperative while in the hospital, they won't have any reason to keep you once you're discharged. The whole situation is usually evaluated by the department head, who is typically a specialist psychiatrist working alongside the head nurses and medical technicians.

On a side note: I’d suggest to the daughter acting as her mother's guardian that she should have someone very level-headed accompany her when visiting during scheduled hours, especially if she suspects any irregularities. That might include having some informative chats directly with the department head or the attending specialist.

First off, thanks for the reply, swiftowl7.

A few years back, I lost my mother, and honestly, it absolutely wrecked me mentally. I didn't spiral out of control or anything, but the grief and depression were just... overwhelming. It’s understandable, I guess.

During those rough years, I went to see my primary care doctor, who ended up referring me to a psychiatrist to get some antidepressants. That psychiatric evaluation was a complete disaster—partly because I was in such a bad headspace at the time, and partly because the doctor just used all those classic, cookie-cutter phrases you see in reports, like "potential aggressive behavior toward self or others" or "suspected endogenous process"... even though we were having a perfectly calm, normal conversation at the time. It's hard to believe.

Fast forward to now: I’ve managed to pull myself together mentally, but I’m struggling immensely because I just cannot find a job—no matter what I try. I have a degree in Economics, which should technically open a lot of doors, but nothing. To make matters worse, things with my family are a total wreck, so unfortunately, I’m still stuck taking those antidepressants—yeah, I know, I feel like an idiot.

My father sees the same doctor I do. He’s the kind of man who essentially destroyed my mother's life, and he pretty much hates me. It’s hard to wrap your head around, but that’s just the reality.

I recently found out that my own father has been constantly badmouthing me to our shared doctor—telling him these unbelievable lies about me that just don't make sense. Of course, the doctor believes him entirely; he’s a master actor, and they’re from the same generation—who would ever take my side? He’s basically trying to convince the doctor to commit me to a mental institution. He harasses me every single day, just waiting for me to slip up so he can have all his bases covered.

And he’s doing all of this simply because we live under the same roof—I’m upstairs, he’s downstairs—but the house is actually in my name. Now, this sick individual is prepared to do whatever it takes to get his hands on the property. I even found out he’s pulled some strings at the courthouse; apparently, there’s a judge with deep connections who will help rig a ruling so they can forcibly keep me out of my own home.

I know how paranoid and insane this all sounds, but unfortunately, it's the truth. What am I supposed to do? If I go to social services, the doctor will just claim I'm harassing a poor, elderly man for no reason. If I hire a lawyer, I don't have the money to pay them. I'm at a loss. It's a nightmare situation.

blueranger35 said:First off, thanks for the reply, swiftowl7.

A few years back, I lost my mother, and honestly, it absolutely wrecked me mentally. I didn't spiral out of control or anything, but the grief and depression were just... overwhelming. It’s understandable, I guess.

During those rough years, I went to see my primary care doctor, who ended up referring me to a psychiatrist to get some antidepressants. That psychiatric evaluation was a complete disaster—partly because I was in such a bad headspace at the time, and partly because the doctor just used all those classic, cookie-cutter phrases you see in reports, like "potential aggressive behavior toward self or others" or "suspected endogenous process"... even though we were having a perfectly calm, normal conversation at the time. It's hard to believe.

Fast forward to now: I’ve managed to pull myself together mentally, but I’m struggling immensely because I just cannot find a job—no matter what I try. I have a degree in Economics, which should technically open a lot of doors, but nothing. To make matters worse, things with my family are a total wreck, so unfortunately, I’m still stuck taking those antidepressants—yeah, I know, I feel like an idiot.

My father sees the same doctor I do. He’s the kind of man who essentially destroyed my mother's life, and he pretty much hates me. It’s hard to wrap your head around, but that’s just the reality.

I recently found out that my own father has been constantly badmouthing me to our shared doctor—telling him these unbelievable lies about me that just don't make sense. Of course, the doctor believes him entirely; he’s a master actor, and they’re from the same generation—who would ever take my side? He’s basically trying to convince the doctor to commit me to a mental institution. He harasses me every single day, just waiting for me to slip up so he can have all his bases covered.

And he’s doing all of this simply because we live under the same roof—I’m upstairs, he’s downstairs—but the house is actually in my name. Now, this sick individual is prepared to do whatever it takes to get his hands on the property. I even found out he’s pulled some strings at the courthouse; apparently, there’s a judge with deep connections who will help rig a ruling so they can forcibly keep me out of my own home.

I know how paranoid and insane this all sounds, but unfortunately, it's the truth. What am I supposed to do? If I go to social services, the doctor will just claim I'm harassing a poor, elderly man for no reason. If I hire a lawyer, I don't have the money to pay them. I'm at a loss. It's a nightmare situation.

You aren't being paranoid. What you're describing actually happens in the real world more often than people think, and if everything you've said is 100% accurate, then you could genuinely be in danger right now.

Sadly, posting about this on a forum isn't going to solve anything. I’d just suggest a few practical steps:
- Go directly to Medicare and sit down with someone in charge to explain the situation—ask them to facilitate a mandatory change of your primary care physician.
- Then, request new evaluations from a second, or even a third, psychiatrist regarding your mental state.
- If those psychiatrists conclude that nothing is wrong with you, my advice would be to voluntarily check yourself into a hospital.
- Find a solid lawyer and talk through everything with them; you might really need one soon.

If you're struggling to act on this because you're unemployed or lacking health insurance, please reach out to a reliable friend for help. From my own experience, I can tell you that psychiatrists are generally very wary of dealing with mentally stable observers or legal guardians.

PS: Just keep in mind... if you present these facts to anyone and they turn out to be untrue, they will immediately dismiss you as paranoid. So, don't speculate or make accusations; stick strictly to the hard facts. First, deal with that doctor to get him out of the equation, and then we can figure out the next steps.

By the way, what city or area are you located in?

Thomas Jackson7 said:The police were called, and they actually took me to a psychiatric ward just to determine if I was even fit to give a statement. I spent 12 days under observation in the psych unit, only to be handed a diagnosis of F 23.2. Apparently, if you get into frequent arguments or clashes with others, they can haul you in for observation and slap you with a diagnosis. I’ve had outbursts before, sure, but nothing beyond that. I’m just a temperamental person—much like many others out there. I react intensely in the moment, but then I cool off instantly. Honestly, I can't even remember half the things I said when I was worked up.

Am I considered a free person now, or can she just call the cops every single time we have a disagreement? I need to get away from this community immediately. There was no physical violence or property damage involved; it was strictly verbal arguing and shouting. Does this mean she can report me every time she feels like it???

You are living in a world where lies aren't punished, where murderers get weekends off, and where there's zero accountability. Where I could let a dog loose on you and nobody would care. And you call that chaos? A verbal argument? Raising your voice? That is perfectly normal behavior for anyone, especially when someone is lying to your face.

Most people today just hide behind their four walls when they see politicians lying and stealing because they can't do anything about it, but almost everyone is on the side of the establishment if you think about it.
Furthermore, everything here follows a strict directive—the leadership, the secretaries, the military—they will crush a farmer if they have to. At that level, the machine works perfectly. If you hold enough power, you can do whatever you want; it's quite obvious.

So, this isn't about being "crazy." It's about character in a world where people are forced to turn a blind eye to all the lies and evil. People like that are considered undesirable.
Basically, whoever rules creates the laws to suit their own needs, and you aren't allowed to so much as make a sound. Your solution isn't found within the system you think exists, but in some other, more righteous way.
If murderers from "good families" can kill with impunity and then walk free, you don't need much intelligence to realize that the law is firmly in their hands. There is a cure for this, of course, but I won't go into that.
In short, psychiatric institutions are already in the hands of those same powerful families who draft the laws. It is quite simple to understand.

For instance, I find myself shouting at people who let their dogs run loose while the police do absolutely nothing—even when a massive dog is charging toward children in strollers. There are no officers to be found. Those in power protect dogs more than they protect people, and I am starting to realize there is no point in complaining too much, instead...

swiftowl7 said:You aren't being paranoid. What you're describing actually happens in the real world more often than people think, and if everything you've said is 100% accurate, then you could genuinely be in danger right now.

Sadly, posting about this on a forum isn't going to solve anything. I’d just suggest a few practical steps:
- Go directly to Medicare and sit down with someone in charge to explain the situation—ask them to facilitate a mandatory change of your primary care physician.
- Then, request new evaluations from a second, or even a third, psychiatrist regarding your mental state.
- If those psychiatrists conclude that nothing is wrong with you, my advice would be to voluntarily check yourself into a hospital.
- Find a solid lawyer and talk through everything with them; you might really need one soon.

If you're struggling to act on this because you're unemployed or lacking health insurance, please reach out to a reliable friend for help. From my own experience, I can tell you that psychiatrists are generally very wary of dealing with mentally stable observers or legal guardians.

PS: Just keep in mind... if you present these facts to anyone and they turn out to be untrue, they will immediately dismiss you as paranoid. So, don't speculate or make accusations; stick strictly to the hard facts. First, deal with that doctor to get him out of the equation, and then we can figure out the next steps.

By the way, what city or area are you located in?

Listen,
when it comes to psychiatrists, I think it would be best to find someone who actually believes in God. If things go sideways, many of them are atheists who don't believe in anything other than the idea that man is the smartest thing on Earth.
With those types, you can't even explain things properly; they're typical idiots. It's useless, like talking to a brick wall.
On the other hand, you can't trust doctors too much because we're dealing with economic medicine tied to massive corporations. Helping a patient often takes a backseat to pushing pills and promoting drugs, so I don't even know what to tell you.

Maybe the best thing is to confront this guy if he's really as bad as you say. If he starts threatening you with his connections, just handle it. If he ever lays a hand on you, hit him back with a piece of wood until he realizes that isn't how this works. Fortunately, at the end of the day, everyone is just a mortal human being—whether they have connections, power, money, or are just corrupt bureaucrats.

It’s the same thing with certain dog owners; they threaten to let their dogs loose on people, and you can't do anything about it. At least, that's what plenty of people have told me. When I ask if they're a cop or a security guard, they just laugh in my face and let the dog go.
When I finally lose my cool, they won't be able to walk their dogs for a while, so that’s the best solution right there.
Try to stay polite and civil, but if they act out and you've already been waiting forever, and the person is truly immoral, the best thing is to just take them out. These people have connections everywhere, but everyone understands force once it's applied. Then, suddenly, the little kitty cat doesn't bite or make threats anymore. If they threaten to kill you again—which is what these thugs do—you preempt them before things get messy in their heads.

Amanda Robinson3 said:Listen,
when it comes to psychiatrists, I think it would be best to find someone who actually believes in God. If things go sideways, many of them are atheists who don't believe in anything other than the idea that man is the smartest thing on Earth.
With those types, you can't even explain things properly; they're typical idiots. It's useless, like talking to a brick wall.
On the other hand, you can't trust doctors too much because we're dealing with economic medicine tied to massive corporations. Helping a patient often takes a backseat to pushing pills and promoting drugs, so I don't even know what to tell you.

Maybe the best thing is to confront this guy if he's really as bad as you say. If he starts threatening you with his connections, just handle it. If he ever lays a hand on you, hit him back with a piece of wood until he realizes that isn't how this works. Fortunately, at the end of the day, everyone is just a mortal human being—whether they have connections, power, money, or are just corrupt bureaucrats.

It’s the same thing with certain dog owners; they threaten to let their dogs loose on people, and you can't do anything about it. At least, that's what plenty of people have told me. When I ask if they're a cop or a security guard, they just laugh in my face and let the dog go.
When I finally lose my cool, they won't be able to walk their dogs for a while, so that’s the best solution right there.
Try to stay polite and civil, but if they act out and you've already been waiting forever, and the person is truly immoral, the best thing is to just take them out. These people have connections everywhere, but everyone understands force once it's applied. Then, suddenly, the little kitty cat doesn't bite or make threats anymore. If they threaten to kill you again—which is what these thugs do—you preempt them before things get messy in their heads.

An eye for an eye... or whatever... right?
A thug who doesn't "get" how much of a thug he is... hitting him with a bat... repeatedly... until his thoughts... whatever they are... aren't in sync with mine anymore... oh boy...