Billings Clinic – Billings

I was in the secure unit of the youth section here in 2021 and 2022. I needed help, and what I got was the exact opposite. We had few things to do, and no real therapy. What few attempts were made at therapy were done… in a way that was the opposite of theraputic. We rarely got the opportunity to go outside, if you could even call being in the small courtyard surrounded by brick walls on all sides that. It was almost like a prison, with how "stop or you'll be secluded [in the 'quiet room,' a room with nothing but the hard walls and floor]" and often chemical restraints (forced sedative injections) was their response to all problems. Scheduled medication was changed without telling us or listening to our concerns, and "emergency" chemical restraints were common and often given unnecessarily. Their "solution" to me ending up in chemical restraints almost every day was to force me to take a medication that did nothing but harm every day in addition to their normal chemical restraint practices. I wasn't even told I could ask for information about the drug - I only learned that when a staff (not the one who forced the medication) mentioned it in casual conversation. When I ended up hurting myself, the wounds weren't looked at. The only exception was the time a cop was there, and even then it was just a quick look. I was constantly hungry because I couldn't stand the food there, and their "solution" to me not eating much was to take away desserts (the main food I could stand there) until I ate a certain percentage of the normal meal. They didn't adjust when I simply didn't eat any of many meals instead, nor did they consider that it was more than just me being stubborn. Some staff tried to ask for Boost drinks for me, but nurses asking wasn't enough and when I did get them it was only because of food orders not being done correctly (which was common, and usually didn't work out for the better). We weren't talked to after incidents happened. You could tell the staff assumed our motives in how most of them treated us, as problems to be dealt with rather than patients to be helped. We were treated like that from the beginning, but it got worse when we acted out (even if "acting out" was just us exhibiting natural human reactions to being in the situation we were in, like fighting while held down or trying to advocate for ourselves in a not-completely-calm-but-not-violent-or-anything manner). Overall, this place tends to do nothing at best and leave you permenantly worse at worst. If you want to recieve therapy rather than be left needing more of it, don't come here. To parents and other guardians: please listen to your kid/charge if they get sent here - them "not being complaint" isn't them being bad or not wanting to get better, it's a natural survival response to being in such a bad enviornment.

Wouldn’t send my worst enemy to this place they let people having a crisis out to run the streets they don’t give the meds it’s bs this place needs to be shut down

Billings Clinic treats people so badly, that I don’t have a place to go if I have a mental health episode. I will never recommend that someone in crisis go here, they are not equipped to care for people in crisis. They… are not trauma-informed and lack resources and basic training on how to help patients through mental health crises. What happened to me under their care, should never happen to anyone. I will drive to Bozeman for mental health emergencies before I step foot in BC for anything. I stopped going to them over a decade ago when their staff stigmatized me during the worst time of my life, following attempted murder and the PTSD to go with it. They lost my FMLA paperwork FIVE times and required me to pay for a new appointment each time. No one helped me. It took me six months to get the paperwork, so I could stay employed. They saw it as giving me a pass or special treatment to get out of work.

This place needs to be shut down, reviewed, and staff either replaced or retrained before being allowed to open again. I had a medical episode that could have been incredibly serious and my nurse at the time (Darcy)… told me taking psychiatric meds would help and then walked away from me, refusing to acknowledge the immense amount of pain I was in. She then later asked me if I was feeling better from "being upset." This is unacceptable. I was in a medical facility and was ignored for a documented medical issue and treated *immediately* as if I was lying. They even called me rude for being upset with my treatment after this. This is when I knew that I was in danger here and lost trust with my entire "treatment" team. I was assaulted by another patient and staff allowed him to be around me again. After shift change, nobody even bothered to tell any of the next nurses that this had happened and I was *once again* dismissed and told to wait while they "verified." Nobody even bothered to check if I was ok. Two seperate nurses told me explicitly this was *prison,* and yeah, it sure is. They will not help you. My "therapist" told me I "wasn't her problem anymore" after I asked her a question. My mental health has taken a nose dive from an already dark place since I was admitted here. The psychiatrists are a joke and act as if their training hasn't been updated in 20 years. My psychiatrist tried to undiagnose me with stuff I have been diagnosed with for 10 years and have been receiving treatment for. The nurses treat everyone like zoo animals.They will literally walk into a patient and refuse to acknowledge their existence, forcing patients to stop and walk around them. They act like COs. Why on earth would you go into this field if you seem like you don't care about the patients you are treating? I was concerned during my admittance that I heard two seperate patients screaming bloody murder, but I understood after less than 24 hours in this facility. I have *never* in my entire life been driven by other people to the point of screaming because there is literally no other option. I was driven to this breaking point within the first day I was here. They almost labeled me non-compliant because I tried to excercise my rights and be involved in my own care. They tried (and succeeded once) into coercing me into signing legally questionable paperwork so they could hold me longer and speak to people I didn't want them to speak to. Absolutely *do not* come here if you have the choice. I feel so, so bad for the other patients in this facility who do not know their rights and think they have to endure the kind of treatment that is considered acceptable here. They will break you further and force you to accept whatever they do to you with threats of the state hospital. I know this review will go unacknowledged, as well.

Traumatized me more than I already was

Definitely not the Hilton but the Hilton isn’t suicide proof. Doctors and nurses are there to keep you physically safe and to monitor you. There is group therapy, yes, but this isn’t a therapeutic retreat. Your comfort… isn’t going to be a top priority but it by all means isn’t a bad place.

I showed up twice on the adult side to visit my mom only to be turned away because visiting hours had already started and I wasn't allowed to be let in I drove across town for that this place has always been nothing but… a joke they don't help you they just make you worse. Billings clinic is trash

My daughter was admitted to the youth ward and received nothing but a trauma, coming out worse for the experience. It pains me to say that, as I received real help there as a teenager in the eighties. It is not the… facility it once was.

I was in a lot of emotional pain and the doctors/nurses suggested that I get put on 65 mg of medication

3 years ago I visited the psychic center I was suicidal they didn't care let me out the next day. The admitting docter (I didnt get the Docter name I wish I did. I would have reported her. But she was a Afician American… Docter) she was not friendly told me I wouldnt be telling people if I was actually suicidal .The only person I told was the docter I didn't go telling anyone. I was actually embarrassed I was feeling suicidal .she made me feel worse . They don't want to help or even care here pls don't go here and God Bless

Most unprofessional and unorganized group of people. Had a scheduled appointment and they failed to provide any assistance. Unable to speak to a person and had to leave messages for a person that was out of town due to… not having anyone else to answer the phone. I would recommend if you or a lived one has mental health issues you should find another place as these people do not care or want to help.

Decided to write a review for the parents who may have children going there. I went to this psych ward 3-4 years ago. Staff were rude but there were some good ones. The rooms they had for us felt like prison cells. Me… and my roommate had ants in ours when I went there. The mattress were not comfortable and once I got there I was crying and screaming all night and only had one person come check on me. I’ve had multiple of the staff get mad at me. For instance, I was doing art and drew a picture of a drop of blood and one of the staff yelled at me for it. There were times when it was okay there but overall I think the hospital could put a few more dollars into making the place more comfortable for everyone especially the kids because it’s very hard for them. Either that or new staff.

Emotionally and psycholologically abusive,felt like torture. They mocked my suicidality. Cruel,sadistiic RNs and staff.

Julie is incapable of enforcing a consistent visiting policy with her co-workers, specifically a larger male who was working earlier in the week of Nov 19 2023

It depends on why you are there and how serious your family is about you. If you truly want to get better and you have your family support, just make sure that someone always your best interest at heart and have them… sign a medical power of attorney before you go in there. They have done some questionable things in the past and this is to protect everyone. So long as this is done and they are aware of this you will be ok.

This place is a nightmare.

Was on hold for over 1.5 hours to make an appointment. Drove to habitat for humanity did some shopping then to Lowes all while on hold then just drove to the clinic to make the appointment in person. THE CEO needs to be… fired this kind of incompetence is unacceptable.

No place is perfect I admit. I have had a family member at this location multiple times and overall glad we have this in our town. They kept them safe, treated then with respect, and overall did their best to help with… our situation. Again not perfect but a great facility if you need or have someone who needs help.

Absolutely inhumane. I had been struggling with neurological issues go some time. And had been living in the homeless while in Montana. I had been taken to the hospital and after being admitted to the neurology ward,… they decided to just slap me in the psych ward after aweek or two. At first two doctors came in and started asking me questions, trying to pick information from me that could get me admitted. I didnt answer them and ultimately they said I had no choice but to go to the psych ward. I couldn't breath very well and the nurses were absolutely rude and careless. Atfirst,they put me in a small room that looked like a jail cell. They had security guards who treated you like you had just committed a horrible crime. I ended up going catatonic. They threatened that if I didnt talk to them they would have to send me to a state hospital. The nurses literally knew that my health wasnt good and didnt do anything. They took me to get an eeg at one point and then finally I convinced them to let me go becuase I was so terrified of what would happen if they kept me. The nurses have no idea what is going on nor do they seem interested in gathering any info.

Nurse practitioner Lashelle Henderson on the "Psychiatric Stabilization Unit" told me "we can't stop you from killing yourself" and discharged me, I told my mom I was still suicidal after discharge and she arranged for… me to return, the same nurse practitioner told me the same thing upon my return as well as that I shouldn't tell someone else if I'm suicidal because "suicidal people just do it", and that I should "go in my room" when I get home, assuming to kill myself in private without telling someone. She also said I was "gangy", seemed like an all-around inappropriate way to speak to someone with active plans of suicide.

A family member was admitted due to a suicide attempt. 8 hours later he asked if he could check himself out and was immediately allowed to and his knife, with a 6" length blade was returned to him in his property. He… was briefly evaluated in the E.D., but never in the psych center. I'm giving them 2 stars instead of 1 because 99.9% of the time, Billings Clinic is the best within 550 miles in any direction with only Denver & Mayo in Minneapolis having better services.

After fighting with the cops and said he felt suicidal my son was put in the psych and let right back out .....he said he received zero help you are cold cuz of the how. He need to were and basically everyone sits in… chairs all day and get pills so if this what your looking for enjoy

Our daughter attempted suicide and, after the ER finished treating her and she was admitted to a bed in the hospital overnight, she was moved to the psych center. They released her less than 24 hours later. That doesn't… accomplish anything with a suicidal person.