Holly Hills or UNC for treating Major Depression? (insurance, safety)

[cdsmudge]

We're in a depression situation where we might need a hospital to keep safe.

Does anyone have any experience, or heard anything, as to which is a better place - or what either of these hospitals are like?

Where we moved from, there were also two hospitals - but one had a reputation of not being a very caring environment, where the other we did go to was quite good.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[JimmyO]

Keep in mind Duke... They have a psych department as well. I can't make a recommendation one way or the other, though, just throwing another option out there.

Good luck. Depression is all too familiar to my family, so I have an idea what you're going through.

[ardita]

I'd be interested to hear what folks say. Our health ins. sends folks to Holly Hill...

[skaternum]

I asked a good friend who has been treated in-patient for depression at both. He said he preferred UNC. He got the feeling that Holly Hill was really in it for the money.

[CHTransplant]

Oh Lord, my very limited experience with Holly Hill is that it's a frightening, clinical (in a horror movie kind of way), prison-like atmosphere. I would not send anyone there if I could avoid it.

[sbanawan]

Neither Holly Hill nor UNC will actually treat the depression. Chances are the stay will be a few days for you to stabilize on some new meds and be able to contract for safety while they find an outpatient therapist for you to be referred to. I've worked* with the Duke psych unit and they're competent and it's not "scary" like it might be other places. I can't speak to UNC or Holly Hill (though the contact I've had with HH hasn't left me impressed).

* I'm a psychologist who gets referrals from all 3 hospitals. I've actually been the psychology consult on the Duke unit so I have more experience with them.

[skaternum]

Originally Posted by sbanawan

Neither Holly Hill nor UNC will actually treat the depression. Chances are the stay will be a few days for you to stabilize on some new meds and be able to contract for safety while they find an outpatient therapist for you to be referred to.

Correct. They'll pretty much keep you in for as long as your insurance pays for in-patient treatment. Since anti-depressants can take a long time before they kick in, it's not practical for a patient to be hospitalized that long.

[Clever User Name]

I don't work in the field of clinical psychology, but I have had enough coursework in related areas that would guide me towards whoever would have a solid grounding in scientifically, research based practice and treatment methods. I would imagine that UNC would fit the bill and would be on the forefront of both research and practice. Best of luck.

[Tony Stark]

I had a family member at UNC for awhile and I found it to be a very competent, professional, and clean place. I've heard horror stories about Holly Hills though. I think UNC and Duke are pretty much the top hospitals in this area.

[skaternum]

Originally Posted by ausmerika

I agree! DO NOT GO TO UNC!!! <snip> They have been known to only keep patients as long as insurance will pay.

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Just to be clear, I did not make the quoted statement exclusively about UNC. It was made as a generality. Pretty much EVERY hospital does that -- hardly exclusive to UNC.