Bakersfield Behavioral Healthcare Hospital

Checked myself in due to overwhelming anxiety and felt better after waiting 3+ hours for someone to attend me, pointless

My name is Irene, I am 11 years old. I had a severe trauma in Dec 2010 and had ongoing depression since. I had a meltdown March 2022. My overall experience was good and fun. The first night they gave me strong medication to sleep which made me sleep entire next day but after the nurse lowered the dose and I was able to participate in activities they had a play area, basketball, coloring and the food was healthy and good with snacks in between. I did have a overall good experience! I would just say be careful with over medication. I was given Zoloft, it made me feel crazy and emotional and I do not think this is a good medication for kids. The nurses and doctors were professional and nice and even the other kids there were almost all foster kids and were in for dangerous violent acts but they were all nice to me and I had fun with the other kids.

If I could give this place 0 stars, I would. Parents, do not send your children here. I needed a stuffed animal that I had for 7 years for comfort and they LOST IT. The staff is extremely unorganized and constantly sent me the wrong things and provided my friend who was allergic to gluten with gluten even though on the meal it said "NO GLUTEN". Absolutely horrid.

Like many others…I had a very traumatic experience…I don’t even have the energy to type it all out but I can vouch for many of these negative reviews…I hope I never have to go to any place like this again. Not all the staff was terrible, though.

But I was basically held hostage against my own will. So that was fun

So i was sent here two times for the most dumbest reasons that weren't even a big deal I even told them that I had coping skills and that the lady that I was talking to made all of my words into a completely different story and when I said that I didn't want to be on medication, but one of the stuff said that I had to call my mom to go on medication but i didn't go on it thank god they put my mom though hell and made her life go downhill she is now doing better which i'm happy about if i could give this place 0 stars I would I was 11 years old when this all happened barley stared the 6th grade even when I told on of the staff that I had a bad headache and didn't do anything for ONE DAY they really put me though hell. I would recommend NOT SENDING YOU CHILD HERE if they need help TALK TO THEM HELP THEM YOURSELF DON'T SENT THEM TO A HOSPITAL IF YOU DO LOOK INTO THEM TO SEE IF THEY CAN HELP YOUR CHILD.

I ended up spending some time at this hospital voluntarily.and I have to say the staff were all completely professional… and brought a certain human element to the environment which I appreciated greatly. I felt completely safe in their care.they truly just want what’s best for you and want to help if you let them. Not only that.a man there called a Lyft for me to get home all the way to Simi Valley.a complete stranger. Thank you so much for helping me in my time of need. Would greatly recommend 10/10.

I had a loved one that went there and I was horrified by what all goes on inside this very important hospital care. I went in Jan. 2020 just at the beginning of the Covid pandemic and other patients from out of the area were not being screened properly. A Covid positive patient was not quarantined and was active with other patients and staff. She was transferred there from Fresno. When my loved one asked why this patient was able to be around others and staff. Staff told my loved one that they deny her being Covid Positive. When I would come to visit they held visitation in the cafeteria and social distancing but I was being informed that this patient did have a mask but not wearing it or social distancing. I went to visit and brought my loved one some clothes and they never made it past the nurses station, when she asked for them not all items were inventory and of course items were missing. This happened 2 times going there. During the break of Covid I know things were really chaotic at the time, but this a HOSPITAL and there should have been no reason to be out of hand sanitizer, no social distancing in the lobby or on patients units. I reported the information that I got from my loved one to the health dept.as soon as they were notified changes were made on the patients units. People were told to social distance but Doctors and nurses did not display any care of Covid and did not implement or enforce any precautions. All things were out of sorts. This is supposed to be a safe place for mentally ill and all behavioral disorder patients adults and kids. The front office receptionist in the lobby were inefficient on handling patients personal items being brought in. They did not have any precautions enforced for Covid at that time. The patients were scared and concerned as well. This has to be resolved from administration and higher up's not just including the doctors. It for sure was a very frightening experience for my loved one and for myself and others, not to mention the clothing items being stolen or misplaced with no explanations. This was supposed to be a positive situation for helping those in dire need. I personally did not see any care or compassion for anyone who went there in January of 2020. I do hope they have made some drastic changes and are following the Covid precautions and hiring better staffing of nurses and other staff. This is the only Mental health facility/hospital in Bakersfield to go to besides Kern Medical Center's emergency. Patients from other cities come here to this hospital because mental health facilities are oversaturated and coming here for help. This hospital needs alot of help! Need to say no more except beware of the quality of care your going to receive there.

This psych ward is disgusting. Notice how most of the positive reviews are people who haven’t first hand been there. It’s grossly unsupervised, their are maggots in the food, and people who work there often try to imprint their political views on teens in the ward. Sometimes their would be people who were in there for 3 months, and never once were outside that whole time. And to add on to the food they frequently ignored allergies and their were many times everyone got food poisoning. My time there as well as many others was traumatizing. The ‘therapy’ rarely happened, their were times we’d go 5 days without any therapy.

BBHH is a mental health hospital that provides therapy, medication (if you choose to not take the medication they will respect that and you will not have to take the medication) they also have group therapy social workers and case managers to talk to if you want to go to a residential or if you want to get into programs they will help you with that and they understand what you are going through and they do the best to their ability to help as much as they can they also have a gym and a movie theater room their food is also very delicious I don’t know any other hospital that serves chile rellenos they serve food from chinese to indian to american they have all types of ethnicities for food they do not discriminate and also for vegetarians aswell the food never disappoints so delicious I thought this was a hospital not a restaurant LOL and if you feel that what is happening to you is unfair and you are on an unnecessary hold they will have a court hearing and hear you out as to why you don’t need to be on a hold the psychiatrists are also very nice my personal favorite is Dr. Lance although I have to say that Dr. Nierman had me on some heavy medication and I do not recommend you have your child see that doctor he had me on lithium and high doses of Zyprexa he didn’t hear me out and he kept me there for over a month dr. Lance got me out in a week and heard me out and also gave me the medication that I feel suits me there is also this man named Danny who assessed me and he is so kind and very handsome every one I have came across is so kind and understanding they have not had to give me any shots of ativan or anything but I do feel that for the people who start fights they should be sent to juvenile hall because there is no consequence for their actions and being there I have been in four fights and they did nothing but tranquilize the person that started it and move them units there are currently 2 units only for the adolescent from ages 13-17 I will say that a lot of fights do happen and there needs to be another unit added but other then that my experience has been great with the hospital and I appreciate everyone dearly thank you for taking me in and helping me greatly BBHH

They have great treatment plans, therapy and programs you can get into to help if you don’t want to be with your family anymore and you want to stay in one of these places they can either send you to a residential or a group home or even the foster care system if you wanted to you will be able to talk to a therapist, social worker, psychiatrist, and a case manager if something is going on at home please do not hesitate to speak up there are people that want to help you to see you achieve your goals to see you thrive there are options, opportunities, and you will receive justice

Update 7/22/2021
HOLY HECK i see what others are saying now, between this stay and the last getting any information is like pulling teeth, I live over a 150 miles from this place, I cant get any straight answers. My son arrived at 2am on sunday 7/18/21 I called multiple times to talk to anyone because my sons diagnosis has changed since his last stay. Its now thursday 7/22/21 no case manager has called, had to deny med changes just to finally talk to a DR, therapist finally called me, says they usually dont communicate.um last time they were calling me multiple times a day.

My son may like this place, but I no longer do. He is a 12 year old minor, they are not checking with me the parent, not returning therapist calls from down here, case manager.does he even have one. Likely just going to go get him myself at this point, because Mental health with zero communication is pointless. Meanwhile his therapist because he has many are all asking me whats going on, and who knows.

10/31/2020My 12 year old is Bipolar type 2, adhd, ocd and was at the time of stay completely unbalanced and had done 5 51/50s in ERs. We live over 2 hours away. I had none of the problems others did, my son got full med adjustment, hes been more balanced since his 7 day hold than he has an entire year.

Staff called me multiple times daily. Nurse 2 to 3 times a day, dr every day, and my son even called me multiple times so i do not understand these complaints.

Mental facilities arent perfect, but with how many my son has been in and out of by police holds, this was by far his best experience, and mine with staff.

My 15 year old son was just admitted to this facility and after reading these reviews I am very concern.

I hope that "all" of these negative reviews have all been addressed as my son's treatment has just begun. I will monitor his care, treatment, and his diagnosis very carefully and take immediate action if I do not receive the services as promised on your website.

*****Update: My son was admitted for 9 days 7/4-7/12.
I will honestly say that all of my concerns were met in a satisfactory manner. I took notes and recorded every telephone conversation that I had was the staff in my son's care.

I will attest that all treatment was satisfactory. My 15 yo son made it clear that he was not at all happy to be at a hospital on an involuntary basis. But intervention for his well being was needed.

BBHH provided the necessary structure in order to help me, help and understand what my son was going through. Unfortunately, mental illness is a common factor that our children are now dealing with. Our love as parents is not enough to help them overcome their hidden illness. Patients need to understand themselves, they need structure, stability, and they need guidance by caregivers that understand their illness.
Caregivers and staff are expected to pick up and intervene when we the parents are no longer in a position of helping our children get to an emotionally sound and positive place in their life. I was involved in asking questions in my son's care.

My son's Case Manager, Gabriel Sepulveda, addressed all my concerns. The assigned nurses gave me recorded information on his behavior and monitored his food intake. Medication was administered and the nurse assured me she double checked meds were swallowed by checking his mouth afterwards. I had no problem getting medical updates on my son's treatment. I always had access to contact and speak to my son during business hours and when staff was available. It seems that BBHH administration is actively involved in correcting any complaints that were addressed. It takes a village to raise a child and I am satisfied that my son received the necessary help at BBHH. My son's incentive is not to be hospitalized again. He and I will now work together to get him back on a path of a healthy well being. Thank you Gabriel for helping me help my son.

I've only been there two times one time it was only enjoyable because the other kids were enjoyable. I know everyone has bad days and life isn't easy for everyone but someone there with me had tourette's and was told so stop yelling profanities and another kid didn't have pants the entire time (I think that's because they didn't have any donated men's clothing. So if you do stop by please donate clothes you don't want for men and woman.)

Where to start? My child was just there about a month ago. He called me up and said that the kids were taking their pills out of their mouths hiding it in their hands. Also, my son witnessed an older boy in the room they shared, smashing up a pill and snorting it.

My son brought back home a paper of origami and on the back of it was the exchanging of medication. Which I will include. Hopefully someone will know their child handwriting and get their child the help thats needed.

No. 1 requirement-security person needed.worst management, short and unsafe staff,
less supplies, crazy and weird rules set by director make everybody quit.
0/10 points, they deserve 0 star, (but u hv 2 give atleast 1 star to post review)

If there were an option for 0 stars, that is what I would rate this facility. I had a loved one there, and did not have any clue as to what was going on. There was no treatment plan in place, the things that the doctor said were going to happen did not happen. There was zero communication between patient and employees and also between employees and family members. In a matter of 24 hours I attempted to get any info possible from the day shift nurse, the day shift supervisor, the PM shift nurse, and the PM shift supervisor, and not one person had any knowledge of my loved ones status. At one point, I was on hold for 45 minutes just waiting for someone to give me a NAME. The receptionist had more knowledge about the care and treatment of my loved one than the nurses that were supposed to be caring for him. THIS PLACE IS A JOKE.

I would give this place zero Stars. My daughter's been an inpatient three times, all they do is give her meds and let her sleep all day. So I pay my $250 copay just to let my daughter sleep.plus they will bill you even though you're making your bi-weekly payments you will still get a bill in the mail. And then when you call you get such rude staff, you get transferred all around. No one calls you back. I would not recommend this place for a monkey. I rather drive my daughter to Ventura than ever let her come back here again

As 12/23/2020 my 14 years old daughter was place here at the Bakersfield mental hospital. This mental place is a very poor place. The doctor and nurse there needs to pick up his job quickly as he can. This is a very poor and slow doctor and nurses. I wouldn’t recommend it and to have there child to be at this place.

Not surprised the rating is so low.i was a patient here in two of the adolescent units for 3 weeks and the staff there really need some more training. Plenty are very rude and JUDGEMENTAL to the most fragile of us. I watched them tear other patients apart. NURSES have told me that plenty of the kids were "faking" and lots of staff called patients "attention seekers". I hope they understand one day how much it hurts to be invalidated and told off by the ones you are supposed to TRUST. I was sat on by three staff and JUICED even while being COMPLETELY calm sitting on my bed. Of course i struggled when I saw them take in the shots, only because it was clear i did not need it to "calm down". The staff also believe they know how to handle every situation, and I watched several end VERY very poorly, as they showed lack of sensitivity and care. I 10000% LOVED Dana and Mo. Sad I can only say two names, when I should be able to say that i appreciated almost if not everyone there.

You get the runaround at this place and the nursing staff seems to have extremely poor communication. My granddaughter’s condition worsened while staying here.