St. Vincent's Hospital Westchester at 275 North Street, Harrison, New York.

My stay at St. Joseph's/ St Vincent's was horrific to say the least. I was on the psychiatric unit 3 North. Dr. Cynthia Perry is the most inconsiderate psychiatrist I have ever met in my 20 years of being diagnosed with mental illness. I had a severe panic attack and was treated with indignity, hatred and utter contempt with four male staff traumatizing me and the therapist Claire whom prolonged my panic attack by keeping hold on to my hands when distraction or a self soothing method would have helped. I had crying spells the following morning. I have an additional trauma to add to my list of traumas at a hospital over the past 20 years of being diagnosed with mental illness and being on psychiatric units. The staff was indeed incompassionate, unkind, and terribly inept at their jobs. The morning staff were the laziest and disrespectful of all the staff I have ever been in contact during my stay. It seemed like werewolves came in the morning at 7am and the sheep came in the afternoon at 3pm. I stand to be corrected, the afternoon staff was just as bad. Moreover after 5 days there, I wrote a long 72 hours discharge letter and was discharged the same day.
Mental illness is stigmatized in society and I think that more voices need to be heard and because of the shame, many are afraid to speak up. I will no longer keep quiet. I'm terribly hurt and dismayed by the treatment I received at this hospital. It was very traumatic indeed. I plan on creating a website for my peers and family members so that my and their voice will be heard. I will no longer keep quiet.