Answer #1 for IS THERE STILL ABUSE IN PSYCHIATRIC WARDS, ASYLUMS, MENTAL HSPITALS,ETC,?

On Quora answered by John xxxxx "... I would like to point out that electroconvulsive therapy is no longer used routinely in mental hospitals or psychiatric institutions. I have never seen it used as a form of punishment. At least in the state of California, and probably in most other states and countries. You cannot request for an ECT and expect to be granted automatically. Just like you cannot request for certain medicines, such as benzodiazipine, and expect the medicines would be prescribed to you. In order to get an ECT, normally you will need to have a second opinion of another psychiatrist, and you will usually need to be medically cleared by your GP. With that said, ECT is an amazingly effective treatment for severe depression when psychotherapy and pharmaceutical interventions fail. Unfortunately, force medication and physical restraints are almost routinely use to 'manage' the behavior of the patients. Many staff see themselves as not much different than glorified prison guards. If you can't afford to check into a private facility, then my advice is try not to be in a public mental hospital or a public psychiatric. The treatment is often inhuman, and there is very little oversight. I would recommend trying to be treated as an outpatient if at all possible."