"Ignored or shouted at in a prison cell.Solitary..."

I was recently discharged from Springfield Hospital. Being incarcerated there was the worst experience of my life.

I understand that depression is an illness.

However, I was treated like a criminal.

The room that I was put into could have been a prison cell.

I was literally locked in. The room only contained a plastic mattress in the floor.

There was an internal window, which I presume was to allow the staff to observe me.

This added to my feelings of being a caged animal.

I was left in wet clothes. (I had been homeless). A female nurse shouted at me, ' Why you keep wetting your clothes'. I tried to explain that it had. been raining and I had been outside. The female nurse insisted that I had intentionally soaked my clothes by leaving them on the floor of the shower.

I pointed out that there was nowhere to hang my clothes while showering. The alternative would have been to walk naked in front of the window. This I would not inflict upon anyone, not even the staff at Springfield hospital. The female nurse eventually took my clothes away to dry them. I was left with a sheet to cover my dignity.

I told a male nurse that I was cold, he gave me a duvet cover, minus the duvet. I was admonished by the female nurse that I did not appear to be grateful for this.

When I asked for some soap and a towel, so that I could have a warm shower to raise my body temperature, themale nurse told me he would get me these items, after he had finished his paperwork. I had to wait for at least an hour. After my shower, the female nurse shouted, 'Why do you wet your hair?'. So I asked for a hair dryer but that request was ignored.

I asked for my toothbrush and toothpaste, which were in that we're in a locker next to where the female nurse was sitting. The female nurse's response was, ' I can't hear you.'

I pleaded with staff to allow me to ring my mother in Leicester. The female nurse pretended the phone would not reach the little hatch.

Eventually she conceded but managed to mis dial four times (Intentionally) She then cut the 'phone call short, saying that she was expecting a call.

I watched through the window. No call was received.

Generally I was either ignored or shouted at.

I resorted to standing in front of the window repeating ' Please don't ignore me.

Please don't ignore me.' To no avail. Maybe the female nurse really could not hear me as her gum chewing was deafening. So, I wrote on loo roll and held it to the window.

I was treated with disdain, cruelty and a lack of dignity.

This experience was not conducive to improving my mental health.

I feel traumatised.

I am having flash backs of my time in Springfield Hospital. I am concerned for other patients whose mental health may not be as resilient as mine.