In their voices: Experiences of adolescents during involuntary psychiatric hospitalization

Mental health–related hospitalizations among adolescents and emerging adults with autism in the United States: A retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of national hospital discharge data

“…This is problematic, as mental health–related hospitalizations in community-based hospitals suggest a deficit in community-based care (Chen et al, 2018), are costly, and disruptive. Young people hospitalized for mental health issues may feel lonely, inadequate, fearful, criminalized, and stigmatized (Geanellos, 2002; Rice et al, 2021). There is also an increased risk of suicide post-discharge (Doupnik et al, 2018).…”

The ambiguities of coercion: Mapping adolescents' experiences of coercion in institutional everyday life

“…The analysis shows that adolescents experience multiple forms of coercion in their everyday institutional life ranging from hard forms of power with no or little possibilities to escape the situation (Nyttingnes, 2018; Pelto‐Piri et al, 2016) to soft forms of power regulating adolescents' conduct and self (Foucault, 1976/2003). While these restrictions are set in place for their protection and/or treatment, adolescents experience many of these coercive practices as punitive, resulting in loneliness, anxiety, fear and feeling unworthy (Rice et al, 2021; Schliehe, 2014; Ulset & Tjelflaat, 2012) and reduced trust in staff (Furre et al, 2016; Pelto‐Piri et al, 2016). However, coercion can also confirm their sense of being cared for and protected against themselves or a chaotic everyday life at home or on the street (Steckley & Kendrick, 2008).…”

“…Or like… the way you have to give them all your stuff and put on these outfits. It feels like I'm in jail here’ (Rice et al, 2021, p. 6). After some time inside a locked institution, many adolescents adapt to the institutional context and confinement is normalised (Ulset & Tjelflaat, 2012).…”

“…This results in frustration and insecurity for the adolescents and a sense of being punished (Bengtsson, 2012; Henriksen & Refsgaard, 2020). A study on adolescents in compulsory psychiatric treatment in the United States reports that peer support during the inpatient treatment was viewed by the adolescents as the most empowering aspect of their treatment (Rice et al, 2021; see also Hejtmanek, 2016).…”

“…A study from psychiatric inpatient care in the UK paraphrase adolescents describing the closed ward as ‘living in an alternative reality’ (Haynes et al, 2011). Across diverse institutional contexts and jurisdictions studies report on children feeling alone, afraid and left to themselves in locked institutional care (Ibid, Walker et al, 2005, Schliehe, 2014, Rice et al, 2021). An adolescent in secure care expresses the following, ‘The most difficult moments are when you have to go to bed in your room.…”