AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital Hoffman Estates

My love one has been in this hospital almost a month already, I don’t really understand why Dr Brilliant doesn’t call me back after many messages left with the staff and case worker. Some stuff are very rude and don’t take time to answers my concerns but Maggie and Kim are so kind they really help me to calm me down while my love on is there. I call 20 times since 5 pm and no one answer the phone!!nThis makes me worried and very concern about the safety and help in that place.nCase workers takes days even a whole week to call me back.

I was in the care of this facility for 6 months during my senior year in high school (2010). This facility offered virtually no long or short term help. Therapy was not sincere, you hardly saw your therapists. They instead push you to see a psychiatrist to load you up on medication prior to understanding the core of your issues. They put me in the self harm program because I wanted to end my life. They did not have a group for suicidal teenagers so the coping mechanisms never aligned with my thought patterns. I had no history of abusive drug use but they put me in the drug program to scare me (they thought I would turn to hard drugs to cope even though they were the ones wanting to load me up on them). During multiple family sessions, I would look down/not maintain eye contact and my counselor (Corey) would raise his voice, force eye contact and tell me I was going no where in life and that I would never get better unless I “followed their rules” which consisted of taking medication and being attentive during sessions. I tended to be critical of my care because I knew how much my family was paying and truly wanted to get better. At one point, my father stood up to Corey and told him off. I had a very poor relationship with my mother at this time and they did absolutely nothing to get to the core of my issues. Instead, they convinced my family that I had mental health issues and needed to stay for 6 months versus my initial 3 month agreement. If you’re looking for actual care for your child, please look for a place with better therapists. Most unruly children really just need someone to talk to them about proper coping mechanisms one on one (not in a group- I would never share my trauma with other kids). This place simply wants to profit off of mental illness, not provide genuine rehab for their patients.

I've been to inpatient at this place 2 times in the past year. I remember my first time I was terrified because I had never had to go through it even though I should have many times. But I grew to love it there. The other kids you meet while you're there, become more like family in the end. They know more about you than you know about yourself. They help you become a better person. I still talk and hang with several of them and we all are very positive thanks to each other. I loved the staff Sue has always been my favorite and I miss her so much. She helped me through each inpatient visit.nWhen it comes to the second time I was there though, I was a mess. I had to be in quarentine for 3 or 4 days and I felt really lonely. When I got out, I met more amazing people. I actually knew one of the guys there with me and we have become like brother and sister now thanks to Alexian. If it wasn't for this place, I might not be where I am today. The counselors were decent for me. The staff was so sweet and comforting for me when I needed them. And when it came to me having panic attacks, they would let me leave the room and take a break.nIf you're thinking about putting a teenager in this place, do it! They will love it. And you'll be so happy to see how well they became in the short amount of time they were there. I never thought I'd stop smoking weed and other bad stuff but when I got there the second time, and was going through withdrawls, when I got out, I didn't even think about getting something or going back. It felt useless to me.

Someone very close to me is in the care of AMITA. My first impression has been negative. There has been very little communication from the DR. and a bunch of confusion regarding the treatment for my loved one. My family member has been there for almost 8 days now and was supposed to be released today, at least this is what I was informed by the case manager and Dr. All of a sudden, last night the Dr. ordered that my loved one be placed on a new medication and held for observation. I have made plans to pick her up and the staff members have no idea what the Dr. has ordered. They emailed him at 8am and he still hasn't responded. It's nearly 1pm. I had him paged also around 9am and he hasn't contacted me either. This is very upsetting and unprofessional and definitely is affecting the mood of my family member and adding much more stress on her. She was very excited to be released and to have that stripped away is heartbreaking. They have not set up any visitation because of covid and we are left to try to support her over the phone which is even worse. Right now I feel hopeless and I would not recommend anyone to take their loved ones here. Obviously, the Dr. and case manager can ensure you one thing and then change their mind with no consequences or care for the arrangements that has been made.nnI am praying that whoever is caring for someone who is suffering from mental illness, please do your research to find out if the staff members actions align with their actions. The lack of it is causing my family great anxiety, confusion and depression. I have emailed AMITA health and no one has gotten back to me yet. Sending love and light to all the families that are made to feel hopeless and helpless by the cold ways of some mental health establishments. Honestly, most times, your loved one is just a check to them and a lot of times the staff just doesn't care about anything but that. The treatment and support of family plays a huge role in recovery and the Dr. that is caring for my family member can not even be reached, so she is not receiving any treatment at all which is making her symptoms persist. It is truly heartbreaking and traumatizing. Please do your research before allowing this facility to treat your family and friends.

AMITA's eating disorders program is a wonderful resource for clients working towards long term recovery from their eating disorders. I appreciate that they aim to accommodate the clinical needs present and can offer comprehensive care to those that I refer. I have found them to be responsive when I need assistance getting a client to care and wonderful at providing information on the details of their care. I am grateful there are here in Chicagoland to serve all people in need.