Maggie Spillane

Review of Hillside, inc

i was there for around 2 months. i was in Kiwanis....

i was there for around 2 months. i was in Kiwanis... it wasnt fun, staff was pretty rude and invasive. i wouldnt recommend unless it really is an emergency. doctors and psychiatrists were okay (the doctor was amazing, she listened to me and helped me write some grievances.) . im sure outpatient is amazing.

there were a few incidents involving staff being rude and sometimes physically abusive. i saw a fellow patient being thrown down by male staff. although sometimes restraining is necessary, sometimes it really isnt the best thing to do.

i filed a few grievances, and staff would make fun of me for it.
i should have filled out a review earlier (i was let out in october 2020, its now april 2021, but im sure that the situations are the same as when i left.)

the staff would split us up if we made friends, isolating us more. i had a roomate but they took me out of the room because i was 'a danger' to the other residents. which is untrue. i learned after a month that i cant talk about some things, but i was a bit rebellious in the beginning. i was never a danger and i never threatened, hurt, or talked about hurting someone. i never did anything with any other patients (sexual stuff), and i never talked about doing anything with other patients. they lied about this to my parents of course.

some staff would talk about how they liked restraining patients and talk smack about others. there was a lot of drama and it was unprofessional for the staff to talk about it. although the staff talked about a lot of unprofessional subjects.

i overheard (in a zoom call at school) the staff and a few patients talking about me. they then lied about it and told me i was overreacting when i confronted them about it. i cant believe they would talk WITH A PATIENT about another patient. they would also talk with me about other people there, staff and residents.

they made me feel isolated and bad for going there.
i feel awkward about my actual name going on this review but i guess it doesnt really matter. they would eat doughnuts, cookies, and other sweets in front of us, taunting us.

i had a lot of fun during the activities, especially gardening.
most of the staff really did try their best to control the situations that we found ourselves in. it just wasnt the place for me.

staff would lie about things to try to make us confess to things we didnt do. they believed who they wanted and definitely played favorites. i was not a favorite.

they did a very bad job at helping people calm down, usually resulting in them yelling and restraints. i wasnt there for very long but i finished my program.

they would read notes i wrote (which is understandable looking back on it) and then laugh and pass them around. they would limit my paper use because i would write so much, which i dont think is very nice.. they made me feel so alone and like i couldnt do anything to help the situation i was in. the staff probably remember me so i hope they dont see this. if they do im sure they are having a big laugh.
this place really stripped me of my confidence and feelings of security. it wasnt the place for me.

the DBT training was helpful. the cottage activities were fun, and most of the staff tried to be nice.
i havent been hospitalized (well i havent been institutionalized) since.

for real though, i wouldnt recommend sending your child here unless its absolutely necessary. any mental hospital isnt fun but this one is hardcore.
they really teach you to follow rules, so if your child has a behavioral problem i would recommend.
i would not recommend if your child has severe anxiety or an eating disorder. they dont really know how to deal with those problems.

honestly the food was really good. the chocolate milk was something else.

overall im giving it a 3 star rating, although if i was writing this a few months ago i would give it a 1 star.

i hope everyone has a good day.

and ms.chariece (idk how to spell your name im sorry, but im talking about the "manager"/head of the Kiwanis cottage), im still waiting for my cookies.
-thanks, maggie