LPS Designate

I am licensed in the County of Los Angeles to place people into Psychiatric facilities for 72 hours if they are a danger to themselves, a danger to others, or gravely disabled. I don't take this responsibility lightly. If I was to go into a facility and be held there against my will, it would probably be the most traumatic experience I could think of.

In assessing people for dangerousness, I try to be sensitive and get them involved in the process. Ninety percent of the people who need to go into the hospital, want to go into the hospital. It is the other ten percent that can be a little unruly.

Once a man who weighed twice my weight didn't think it was such a good idea and immediately marched out of my office to the front entry. Unfortunately for him the front doors are locked day and night. He was causing quite a scene. The people up front scattered, staff members from around the hospital were called to the front and ultimately a solitary policeman showed up that was a third of his size. Wouldn't you know it, without any weapons the policeman calmed him down and transported the client himself to the hospital. HE WAS A HERO!

When somebody who weighs well over four hundred pounds is upset like that, I feared not for the people, but for the building!

Being sensitive to people that need hospitalization is paramount! Medication is helpful but often it kicks in in six weeks! That is a lot of suffering before relief.

Today I placed another person on what is called a 5150 hold. By law we can place an individual in a hospital for 72 hours and it is up to that hospital to reinterview the person in case they still need to be there. Three days can turn into a week, a month, and years under the right circumstances. Trust me, the people in mental health facilities are so overworked they don't want people in hospitals. We all are extremely sensitive to client's needs.

Like the old saying: An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. If you are feeling unstable - depressed, angry, moody, psychotic - take care of these symptoms as soon as possible. When the symptoms get out of hand, you will probably be sent to me. I will do everything in my power to keep you out of the hospital if need be.