Western State Hospital

Jinnie Moon (Kitten)

2024-04

I should have died here, but I'm grateful I didn't. This place has given me unfixable trauma, and I will never trust another healthcare professional. The food is inedible, patients are given a sauce cup of hand soap to wash themselves, and staff is grossly negligent, dishonest, and disrespectful. This place needs to be investigated for human cruelty. Closest thing to a medieval mental hospital i've ever experienced.

Ron Barnhart

2024-04

The fact that this 'snake pit' purports to be a behavioral health facility is laughable. The physicians and staff are beyond negligent, posing serious risks to the health and well being of the patients. Large doses of obsolete phenothiazine derivatives are the norm and often precipitate tardive dyskinesia, dystonia, akathisia and other severe extrapyramidal symptoms. There seems to be no effort on the part of psychiatrists and staff to attain an acceptable standard of care. Employees are there to collect an easy paycheck and lack any sort of commitment to excellence. This institution is an insult to the competent and compassionate treatment of mental illness and is seemingly oblivious to the despicable behavior of its employees. There needs to be an investigation into such egregious behavior!!

Misty Keele

2024-03

NEEDS EXTRA DISCOUNTS ON WORK ON RESTORATION MUCH NEED HELP FOR THIS WHOLE FACILITY. Charges are 11,000 for a forced stay at This facility when it was not in compliance with any of the activities or mental health care. Absolutely disgusting facilites!

Kay mac

2023-09

This is one of the worst places I’ve ever worked. The nurses abuse the patients, it’s really disgusting inside. The men’s unit has roaches and I’ve witnessed them call codes to give shots when a patient does not do what they want even if the patient is not violent. Someone needs to call and have this place shut down. The PA’s are lazy and they don’t document the correct vitals on patients or do rounds like they should. This place is dangerous, for patients. Staff is very neglectful and trifling.

Myco

2023-06

They helped me and were kind to me in my time of need.Many will say this place is a house of horrors. However, when you are actively in severe mental distress, I think anywhere would seem that way.They helped me with issues I have struggled with for almost a decade.If things are dire, this is a good place to take someone. They will not be in harm’s way.Kindness and sympathy are bountiful here.

Abigail Sanders

2023-05

I cannot say enough horrible things about this hospital. It is like something out of the old days in terms of how grotesque and unprofessional they are in their treatment of patients. I was only there for 3 days and have seen horrifying things. A hysteric patient banged her head on the wall so much she developed a literal crack in her forehead, they didn't even put a helmet on her. They don't even offer you bottled water without basically having to beg and you never get enough to drink or eat. Beds are lumpy with paper thin blankets and treatment is mediocre. The nurses are burnt out and MEAN!!! I watched a woman hang up the phone on a patient who was talking about something she didn't like. The nurses were very rough with staff and inconsiderate. HORRIBLE CREEPY OUTDATED place. I will never forget the horror of that experience.

David Martinie

2023-07

I have never been to such a place amber at the ward was trying to kill me by giving me to much blood pressure meds. Lucky I survived an attempt to kill me. I mean, 5 pills in 1 day. Come on now. I'll never be back to the state of Kentucky.

Jasper Valery

2023-05

Better than nothing.My experience here was complicated. I'll start with the positive, then the negative.It was great having people look after me, and the focus being on me getting better. The food was the highlight of my day. The nurses tried their best, except this one with a big attitude. The same ones from the day were still there at night, and I felt bad for them as they laid their heads down on the desk trying to get some rest.There was hardly anything to do. I was bored out of my mind, which felt like torture. All we had were coloring pages, and sometimes the TV was on in the morning and at night. That's where I urgently suggest your easiest improvements.They put me on old-class medications that caused tardive dyskinesia. I wish someone had told me that's what it was. I spent a ton of my time walking back and forth down the halls and on the balcony trying to fight through whatever it was, only able to walk in a shuffle.I also knew I was already on medications from my psychiatrist before this, and I told them that, but they didn't at least explain to me why I was going cold turkey off of Zoloft. For the last few days I was almost entirely unable to sleep. At night I would beg the nurses to give me something to let me sleep. As said, they were tired too, they barely did anything to help that and I quickly wanted to stop bothering them.So when I got home, I stopped taking my meds because I (somewhat rightfully) blamed them for the dyskinesia and sleeplessness, and thought they were poison when I should be going back to my normal meds. To say what followed was a disaster would be an understatement. I went to the ER when my dyskinesia seemed to be affecting my heart and breathing, where a doctor gave us info for Vanderbilt Psych in Nashville. They would go on to finally set me straight.Oh, and I'm transgender. My legal name was already changed for a long time, but Wellcare of KY has been IMPOSSIBLE to try to get to update my name. I improved more after they moved me from women's ward to acute co-ed. I'd been taking testosterone HRT for a little while, so I had some of those effects on my body. They had checked my thyroid and it was fine, but an old woman on the video call kept giving me thyroid medication anyway.I would've been better off if I kept taking the antipsychotics Western State gave me and gradually going back to normal. Maybe I would've if they'd told me Jack about what was going on. But as said, there are good people trying their best, and it was better than nothing. Still better than if I'd been psychotic at home. This was just a short summary omitting a lot of things. Man, they really need help. And STUFF TO DO.

BAM BAM

2021-05

It's a nightmare. Please, never send your loved one here. Some of the staff are ok, but some are heartless. They could be there much longer than necessary, be practically forced medication that doesn't help or have to stay longer if they refuse. Sometimes the medication can help for some, but if it has harmful side effects good luck being listened to here! Most of the people who work here seem like they hate their job. They may say that your shoes not fitting is a delusional thought in your head. If you're bullied by another patient then the staff will probably either be callous or join in. May get ringworm while here or see the biggest cockroaches I've ever seen in my life. They don't give people enough food here. They can sometimes keep violent people around others. They really could care less about you here. I met a cool nurse who was traveling and a nice peer support lady and other than that I received 0 help here and if anything, got more psychologically damaged. I left here fat and hardly able to walk because my physical disabilities were not looked after. They sent me to a homeless shelter hundreds of miles away from home. Ended up in worse condition than if I had just gone somewhere else or confided in a friend or therapist.

Anonymous

2022-05

I can’t share all the details of my visit here, but it would have gotten a negative star rating if the system would let me. I watched overdoses inflicted by staff, over medication in general, and who wouldn’t love a little dash of misdiagnosis; or, A LOT. Your not allowed outside EVER, your constantly hungry, and the ‘people’ who look after you; are young, inexperienced, cruel, and trained to gaslight. There’s so much more. It was a horrible experience. If your loved one needs help and can’t get it on their own, PLEASE find another option. Being in this place was top three, worst experiences of my life.

Christopher Lane

2023-12

They kept my prescription medication that I desperately needed. That's definitely illegal.

Nathaniel Benham

2023-05

The pay could be better. HIPPA law is used as an excuse for irresponsible and lazy higher ups. This is a state building. No cameras. Minimal security. Crime is rampant in this area. When I asked why there isn't cameras at least outside the building, they had nothing better than a single phrase about HIPPA laws. A lie really. Then explain to me why the local medical institution has cameras you can find on drones. So many things go wrong that could easily be avoided if a sort of camera system would be implemented.

Niccole Terry

2018-05

A family member was recently admitted to this facility, which is out of state and about a 6.5 hour drive for me. Before making the drive I got in touch with the nursing staff and case workers who were in charge to let them know we would be making the long drive to visit. I had previously read reviews about this facility and was a little mortified by the low scores, but I can understand how virtually no one wants to be hospitalized. I have to say that after arriving, the reviews were completely spot on. This institution is horrible and most of the staff is unprofessional and uncaring. Not only do they treat patients like inmates, the family members are also not treated with respect. As stated before, I drove 6.5 hours to visit and asked if we could arrange a family visit rather than the normal 2 at a time visit. I explained that I understood if it could not be arranged that day, but before we left I would like for the entire family to be able to have time together as this is crucial in the recovery of patients who are suffering from mental illness. I was told that I would need to request a doctor to write an order, which was fine with me. I requested the the order and was told a nurse would call me back. The nurse I had spoken with to request the order had no idea what I was talking about and seemed to have an attitude with me, so I gave her the name of the person that I had previously spoken with so that she could obtain additional details. When I received the call back about 5 minutes later I was told that they would not allow the family visit even though we had driven 6.5 hours and would only be in town a few days. This lead me to believe that the nurse did not speak with the doctor. I requested to speak with the doctor, but never received a call back. The next day, there was a treatment team meeting for my family member to discuss progress and come up with a plan for discharge. During the meeting, there were some team members who were engaged and genuinely seemed as though they wanted to assist, however I caught the doctor who was in charge of my family members case nodding off to sleep several times (I know because I was sitting right next to him). This is totally unacceptable and unprofessional. After the meeting, I spoke with one of the team members and expressed my concerns, not only regarding the doctor, but about the facility as well. I was told by this team member that they themselves were shocked by what they saw and it took them time to get used to the conditions of this facility. Needless to say I requested that my family member be discharged, so that I could seek care elsewhere. This facility is not up to par, so please be aware. I have a degrees in psychology and was completely appalled by what I witnessed.

John Schwartz

2022-05

Never send anyone to Western State Hospital. It is the worst place for anyone to go. They do nothing to help. People come out more mentally ill than when they went in. It should be shut down. The patients sleep in filth, and only have some broken crayons to color with for enjoyment. I wouldn't send my dog, or my worst enemy there. STAY AWAY!!!!!

Zach Ellis (TupacSalad)

2019-05

I worked there for a year, so that being said, they're were good people that worked there. But also terrible people, my boss was an absolute joke, her and her son sat in the office and inhaled food all day, some employees would fall asleep on the wards. Their was harassment of all kinds, nurses that didn't check on patients, just a mess, I wouldn't want anyone there.

Melissa Rippy

2016-05

I just received a phone call about my sister. She has been in Western State for a couple of weeks. They suddenly released her without warning. They said come and get her or we will put her in a taxi. When they got there to get her they were putting many of the patients into taxis and sending them on their way. They give the paperwork to my sister instead of her husband. She is just as paranoid as she was and will not let anyone know what is going on. Nobody knows what medicine she is supposed to be on and she wouldn't take it anyway. They refused to get them a doctor to talk to and nothing has been resolved. The situation at home is still dangerous and I guess the only thing they could consider was that Christmas is next week. I wish we had read the other review earlier.

Tiffany Bushman

2018-05

My brother has been placed here several times. He always comes home worst because they do nothing to make him better. They also always send him home in a taxi and only a couple hrs notice of him being released. They do not have residential service and over the last few years the treatment keeps going more down hill. For a state ran facility something needs to be done to make this place better. If you have other options I would try those because this is the last place anyone should come to actually get better.

Ilene Muncy

2022-05

I wouldn’t take my dog there. Filthy, demeaning, untrained, no compassion, a adult daycare, over medicating, safety issues and I could on. I’m shocked this place has been allowed to operate as long as it has. Professional’s who refer this place should stay a few days to experience what a person that they have admitted there suffers through. The treatment and knowledge of Mental illness is sadly still in the Stone Age. I know my comments are probably not going to change the situation. But, I believe with enough people banning together, complaining and bringing this unjust treatment to the light. It will force them to provide professional mental healthcare and treatment. Mental illness is not a choice, it’s a disease.

Hot Cheats

2023-05

This place is the absolutely worst health facility I have ever been too. Why hasn’t this place been condemned. They make money off the people with actually mental health problems who have been checked in there, and torment you. The food was always cold, and another count, I lost 10 pounds whilst being in there for 72hr hold, due to the lack of nutritions and food. I was never given a sandwich to eat when they swapped me to pre-packaged foods, only small things, including; peanut butter crackers, yogurt, maybe a a small thing of cereal and occasionally semi cold, or just flat warm milk in general. Please, condemn this place. Give these people in there a chance that are trapped in here. This place literally tears apart your mental stability, when this place is meant to help you get to a stable mental stability. I wish I couldn’t even give it any stars at all!!

Matt Maverick

2021-05

I usually don't post reviews for places that I've worked, but I felt the need to make an exception for here. Just working here briefly, I feel that I have a decent amount of insight as to what it is like both as a patient and an employee here. Both experiences seem overwhelmingly negative and counterintuitive when you see how this place is run.The supposed "goal" of a psychiatric hospital is to rehabilitate people that are deemed a threat to themselves or others. I'm not exactly sure how demeaning, insulting, and yelling at patients is supposed to help them (though in their defense, they drew the line and fired a PA when they tackled a patient to the ground...they're smart enough to know that they don't want to be sued), but that seems to be a reflection of their general attitude towards people with mental illness. Staff there mostly (with some exceptions) view people committed to this hospital as a burden and as nusiances. They basically view the patients as though they are in daycare and are being babysat by them. If patients ask for anything, plenty of the PAs and nurses get very annoyed, as if they expect the patients to just be quiet when they need toilet paper, for example. Anytime patients ask for things that they need, many of the staff has a negative attitude towards these patients regardless of whether the answer is "yes" or "no", and would rather do nothing but sit around in the office and be on their phones. It is very clear that there is a problem with many of the staff not caring about the mental well being of the patients.The negativity carries over to the employee experiences as well. The people as a whole are extremely toxic to work with, as they have accepted that "high school" drama is the norm and is to be expected. Gossip is very common, as is accusations towards other staff of saying and doing things that they did not do. This is particularly common towards either new people or people that certain staff do not like.The only saving grace about this place is that people needing immediate help can get on medications quickly. That's really it. As for the actual care there, it seems more destructive and potentially traumatizing to someone's mental health than beneficial.If you have a loved one who needs help, I'd strongly advise against letting them get committed here. This place will likely do more harm to the patient than good. It's a toxic cesspool both for both patients and employees...and they wonder why the turnover rate is so high and they are frequently understaffed and having to call PAs on their off days to come in.

Meagan G

2020-05

DO NOT SEND YOUR LOVED ONES HERE!!!!I worked there for a short time and left!The whole place is corrupted!! Everything I learned in the classes before joining went out the window when I finally started! First day on the job and me and my new coworker saw this girl being hurtful to one of the patients and nothing was done about it! ( we told HR and er) and so much more I saw and noticed. :(Almost everyone is just rude and does not follow the rules!!!!! DO NOT SEND YOUR LOVED ONES HERE TRUST ME!!!!!

db

2023-05

Merrick, an employee at Western State Hospital, should be awarded for his compassion and for going the extra mile! Every institution in any state need more people like you :) Thank you! From Donna Berry

Janikia Bailey

2023-08

I had the worse experience working there the workers there are messy and toxic they don’t care about their patients needs all they care about is their pay checks instead of the patients well being and their safety they are so cold hearted low down sneaky as a snake and evil and they don’t care about nobody else well-being and safety but themselves they don’t take the patients health very seriously and the patience to can’t help it that they have a mental illness but that doesn’t give the workers the right to be hateful and mean to them and yell at them like they are eleven year old kids they don’t deserve to be treated that way and I think that whole building needs to be shut down and investigated I feel sorry for the patients who are going through this neglect and they need some good people on their side to speak up for them 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

Taylor Hayes

2023-05

If I could rate this place negative I would. They don't treat people like patients or even human beings for that matter. Groups was the only good thing here (in my opinion) definitely room for improvement

James Mccook

2023-11

I work in the dietary department. Great place to work. Love all the people I work with. Very interesting place to work.

Asyden Yeckering

2018-05

I have been a patient there three different times. Twice for ten days and once for two days. I received nothing but the very best of service. I was monitored. I was seen by an entire team of Drs who helped me out of my funk and got me properly medicated. I give this place FIVE STARS because ten aren't available.

Joe Hall

2020-05

When i went there all we did was sleep. Now my girlfriend has been there 2 times the first time she. Ame home she was alot worse. We are looking into suing this hospital for negligence she went in the beginning of april. Thats when they did a urine test. They waited almost 2 months to tell her she had a bladder infection. She has currently been sent there amd instead of helping her everytime she gets upset they gove her a shot. They dont care about the pateints all you are to the staff there is a paycheck.

Eric Davis

2019-05

My wife is currently there. This is her fourth trip there in 4 years, every time she comes back she's worse than when she went. This last time she cut her throat so severely that the doctors at the hospital said if she had went 1/4 in deeper she would have severed her carotid and bled out and there would have been nothing I could do when I found her in the bathroom that morning and called the ambulance, that she would have bled out before the ambulance got there no matter what I did. Although there are other places that she could be sent life skills in Bowling Green each time has reviewed her case and then sent her on to Western State again even though she's obviously getting worse and not better.like most people we are poor enough that we cannot afford to pay for proper help for her, so every morning I am doomed to wake up wondering if this is the morning I'm going to find her when she is finally finished the job.please please please pray for all the patients that are in this hospital I am too ashamed to convey any of the stories that I've heard from my wife from her previous stays there but I can assure you that you would be shocked if appalled by any of them.if anyone reading this post has any kind of contacts this place needs to be investigated shut down and then burned to the ground!!!

RobertAndMechelle Moroney

2018-05

Most unsanitary place I've ever been in, it's scary, and feels and looks like something out of a horror movie. The doctors kept trying to make me take medication I didn't feel that I needed. After giving in and letting them drug me up, I was too high to care about how I felt or about the cold draft, or the thin jail blankets and gross beds... I didn't care about the poop and pee smeared on the walls floors and ceiling, or the occasional turds flying when a patient with a far more severe illness became irate. The screams and cries of other patients still made me sad and scared wanting to go home. I went because I needed help. This place should be burned to the ground

Kyssun ski

2023-12

Is a dog pound for peopleStaff vapes and cussed and we sit and wait to be let out no real help