Mental Institution, do the patients have rights?

My best friend is thinking of hurting himself and I told him he needs to go to a mental institution, he said they probably won't let him use a cell phone or any phones for a long time, and that he can't leave when he wants to and they can keep him there as long as they want to... Is what he is saying true?

depends on the facility. i work in a psych hospital and the patients have more rights than staff!!!! they can use the phone as soon as they get there, but they are not allowed to keep their cell phone on their person, no he can't leave the hospital grounds, but these rules are in place to keep them safe from hurting themselves or others

No, not if he is hurting himself. He likely wants attention in that situation. Mental institutions are for people with mental conditions such as alziemers and schizophrenia. You can do what you want as long as you take your magic pills that make you think normal. If not they stick you in a straight jacket so-to-speak inject you with sedatives, force the medicine down your throught then let you do what you want till it wears off.

Possibly. It depends on the contract he is signing. I would tell him to read the contract very thoroughly and get a lawyer if he doesn't understand.
FYI - There are other options than going to a mental institution for that! Your friend could go through counceling first.

Only if he is committed by a court. If he voluntarily admits himself he can leave at any time and if they stop him he can sue them for false imprisonment.

I believe, no matter what state you're in, if you self-commit you can leave whenever you want. However, with regard to using a telephone or seeing visitors...there most likely would be a time-constraint on that. The only reason being that you need to concentrate on yourself and your problems when you're first admitted. Seeing others or talking to them by phone could affect your treatment (if they tell you something that would upset you)...that's the reason why no outside contact is permitted in the beginning.

If your friend needs help...if you think there's a chance he might hurt himself...please encourage him to seek help. Emphasize the fact that it's not a "forever" situation, and the reason it's important to you is because you care what happens to him.

Not true. Most places have phones and a location to accept visitors for inpatients. But there is usually a strict schedule to follow. They don't shut you off from the outside world unless there is some extreme severe disturbance.
First of all, they would have to evaluate him and see if putting him in the hospital is a good option. If it isn't, they may get him therapy on an outpatient basis.

They usually hold them for 72 hrs., if the doctor wants to keep them longer they can.However if they want to keep them for more than two weeks there has to be a hearing to determine if it is necissary.

It depends. I believe that once you commit yourself, you do give the doctors control over when it is appropriate to release you. As long as he may be a danger to himself or others, they will likely keep him, at least until the insurance runs out (its funny how everyone gets well as soon as the insurance limit is hit).

In any case, they might decide he needs to forgo outside contact (which would mean no cell phone) but I don't think that's always the case, and they wouldn't do it unless they felt it a necessary part of treatment.

But keep in mind your friend is not in his right mind. He's being paranoid and may well feel too far gone to benefit from help. That's unfortunately not uncommon for depressed people. They feel so bad they can't understand how a doctor, meds or therapy might help.

Doctors are not villians and they don't keep people "in" that don't need to be there. On the contrary, insurance companies pressure doctors to get people OUT as fast as possible. This is not the 50's and people are not being locked in institutions for indeterminant periods of time anymore.

It is possible that all your friend needs is meds and a good therapist. He might not need inpatient. Even if he is suicidal, he probably wouldn't be inpatient for more than a day or two.

I've heard of such restrictions for eating disorder and drug addicts, but not for general depression.

Anyhow, I'm not a health professional and if your friend is needing help, he MUST be seen and immediately. If he's over 18 and you take him, they can't commit him against his wishes (without a court order). If he's under 18, his parents CAN commit him.

Anyhow..I think sweating commitment is the cart before the horse. He needs to be evaluated by a professional immediately. Let a pro figure out the rest.

yes they do but you have to earn them by getting better, they put you under a couple of weeks or 72 hours observation first. my advice get him help before he hurts someone or himself.

In 1978 the US Supreme Court ruled that people in mental institutions have full civil rights. It was further held that certain rights may be "regulated" IF there is a clear and present danger to the patient or others. Certain rightts cannot be regulated such as the right to vote, send and receive mail are examples.