"A pretty relaxed ward"

I've been in the mental health system for a few years now and have had a range of experiences. However, the mental health nurses were some of the nicest I have ever met. The student nurses were especially lovely. They made me feel 'normal' when I sort of felt inhuman. The psychiatrists were a bit detached, but fine. There was a psychologist who I never met in person because of lockdown limitations but they seemed nice.

I was prescribed an antispychotic medication when I was there. I'm sorry but I hate this medication, it makes me feel like a shell of a person. It did 'stabilise' me but made me extremely sluggish and tired literally all the time. This is why I spent around 12-13 hours of the days in the ward just sleeping. Also, I gained more weight than I ever have in my life while on that medication.

I was transitioning between different CMHTs around the time I was admitted. Before, I had a CPN, and when I was discharged, they didn't arrange for me to have a CPN because they thought I didn't need one. I think it would have been really helpful and I was disappointed that I left the hospital with less care than I had before.

McNair House at the Gartnavel Royal Hospital is a pretty 'relaxed' ward. I hear about psych wards which will not allow you to have phones & other devices, or limit the clothes you can wear or bring. This wasn't the case for me. It's a good thing too, because I was in the same four walls for most of the time I was there, and there weren't any activities to do because it was during the first COVID lockdown. 

You get your own room and a private bathroom with a shower. These were... less than optimal. I spotted large insects multiple times there, including in the shower. Still, I am glad I didn't have to share these things with anyone else. 

Just an FYI, you should bring your own soap/shampoo/conditioner/shower gel. There are towels and hand soap, though. 

The food is pretty darn bad. I don't know how, but the texture of so many of the meals was off somehow. You can, however, order food to the hospital, which I did a few times. The nurses come around the ward every few hours and give you hot drinks and snacks if you want them, and toast at night. The snacks and toast were the most edible things there, probably.

I can't say it was a nice or even comfortable place to be, but as far as psychiatric hospitals go, this was alright. It could've definitely been worse - still, I hope I never have to go again!