Rachel Linn

Review of Marillac Center

I have had two children admitted here, both teenag...

I have had two children admitted here, both teenagers with depression. This review is not written by an angry teenager. I found our experience with this facility to be poor, and very disappointing. The students are given what are functionally cells to sleep in, and are all treated equally as if they are about to commit suicide at any moment. I understand that may be a risk for some, but this was not the case for either of my children, and being treated like toddlers who were not only at risk for self harm, but were assumed to attempting it at every turn was demoralizing. They actually felt worse after their stay rather than better. This facility meets the need to "do something!" and makes everyone from the school counselors to family physicians feel like they have at least done something. But what they accomplish is limited at best, and harmful at worst. My child has terrible separation anxiety, phobic social anxiety, and crippling depression. They put her in a prison for teens, refused any physical contact like a warm and loving hug, no windows, or plants or sunlight, no pens or pencils (my children are gifted artists who use drawing to express themselves), leave the lights on and doors open while they attempt to sleep while the staff chats at the nurses station, tell them both implicitly and explicitly that they are probably going to hurt themselves if left alone, and it adds up to a traumatizing experience. My child felt unloved. She felt like she was being punished for having depressive thoughts. She was not trusted to even draw with a pencil (she might stab herself or someone else you know...). She was not allowed to wear shoes (she might strangle herself or someone else with the laces, or hit someone with the shoe). She got very little sleep, which made her anxiety worse. She was cold and uncomfortable, and grew more upset and depressed the longer she was there. Essentially, their 'one size fits all' model of care is not helpful, nor is it good mental health treatment. Their coordination of services and treatment after discharge is non-existent. They have no plan for how to move your child into therapy, medically supervised psychiatric medication, or even simple follow-up care. I am still trying to find appropriate services for my children. I hope others will read this and know what they are getting into when they send their child here. If your child is truly an acute violence or suicide risk, this kind of treatment, while regrettable, may be necessary to keep them alive long enough to get real help. But do not think they are actually going to help your child, either while in patient, or after discharge.