MovieChat Forums > It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010) Discussion > Psych Wards are not cute or life affirmi...

Psych Wards are not cute or life affirming. They are soul crushing.

posted 10 years ago by AmericanMovieFan
9 replies | jump to latest

I've been in a psych ward "Exactly" like the one depicted in this film. I was there on a 72 hour 5150 hold after my folks and I got into an argument. Obviously you can question the circumstances and the he said/she said aspects of any situation in which someone is stuck in a psych ward, but the bottom line is that I was there and it was NOT fun. Yes, there are some smoking hot chicks in the psych ward with you, yes there are some chummy people you might be able to form a temporary friendship with, but the bottom line is that these places are not the same as therapy. The nurses and doctors and orderlies all develop god-complexes because all they have to do is say you're unstable and you're stuck there, or you're moved to a ward where they drug you into sedation. Pretty much the only way to get out is to act like you WANT to be there...I was "diagnosed" with bipolar disorder by the attending psychiatrist after a single five minute conversation, which subsequent doctors all guffawed at, telling me I had an anger management issue, but nothing worthy of hospitalization or sedation.

Anyway, this cutesy, romantic, hopefuly adventure into psychic prison is a sham. Psych wards are among worst places/experiences on earth.

YEAH, BITCH! MAGNETS!

americanmoviefan.wordpress.com

[–] sabotage177 10 years ago

I volunteered for two years on a couple psych wards in a hospital. Not the most fun places as you know, but from what I saw, its not like the patients there are raving maniacs. Almost all the people I met were just people with some mental health issues, but good and decent people.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] grammartrollcop 10 years ago

I'm pretty sure that's common sense. But seeing as how this is a movie, I think we can suspend disbelief for a little less than two hours.

[–] andyschoppe 10 years ago

I've been torn about this movie for quite some time.
Having been in many a mental hospital, I thought they got the "atmosphere" of the places pretty spot on. That being said, the stuff about romance and escaping to the roof, for example, while possible, is highly unlikely.
Most of the doctors/nurses are nice if you're nice to them.
Same with the patients - pretty much a microcosm of society as a whole.
But then again, what does my opinion matter - I'm crazy, right? :-)
I'm still waiting for a good movie about men and depression...seems like no one will make it...perhaps I'll have to.
-A

[–] Nl50148 10 years ago

Have you seen Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself? Although it is not a story just about depression, the lead is suicidal, and it allows for a lighthearted edge to a sad tale without making mental illness seem like something that a song and dance can clear away. Maybe you should make your movie anyway.

[–] Nl50148 10 years ago

I was in a psych ward for a few days when some meds I was on caused hallucinations. After re-hydrating the visions stopped but I had to stay under observation for a few days and then released to the "sane" part of the hospital. Being "well" in a ward can be fascinating. In fact I didn't want to leave but as the nurses fortunately pointed out "I didn't belong there". The ward in the film seemed pretty easy going and low security. Everything in my ward was either bolted down or made of extremely heavy metal so you couldn't get into a tantrum and chuck it at someone. There was a major good cop/bad cop thing going on with the staff. Either I was being hugged and spoken to in hushed calming motherly tones or spoken to like I was an idiot inconveniencing everyone and not worth the air I breathed. I really didn't get what that was all about or how it was supposed to be healthy for a muddled brain.

[–] lakealice 9 years ago

I've been to several different psych wards (as a visitor), and they are always locked. There is no way two patients could get out and roam around the hospital the way they did in this movie. There might be a minimum security ward as well as a locked ward, but this boy would have been put in the latter if he was diagnosed as a danger to himself.

[–] legolass-90395 7 years ago

The film was based off of a novel. In the novel, things are portrayed so much better than in the film. It shows you much more than what's witnessed in what I can only call a 'loose adaptation'. If you read the book, you probably wouldn't feel that way.

[–] legolass-90395 7 years ago

Not to mean that 'you wouldn't feel that way'. I've realized my mistake.
I meant perhaps you wouldn't be so adverse toward the film if you had insight with the book.