The whole subject of suicide is a very serious one, or at least it should be. But the problem is that in some places, those with mental issues, even in 2024, are being locked away. So it is in Albany County, New York. Here, with little or no justification, people are whisked away to the Capital District Psychiatric Center. From there, they disappear and may not see sunlight for four days or even more.
Here in Albany County, it doesn’t take much to get someone locked up. All you have to do is call the police department’s switchboard and tell them that someone is feeling suicidal. They will immediately send the police, who will then take the person into custody with no proof and no chance for a fair hearing.
If I so chose, I could call the police on my neighbor who plays loud music and he would be taken away to CDPC and off he’d go for as little as four days or as much as…well…as much as they want.
At CDPC, they do an examination and then decide if they’re going to keep someone. Conveniently, they always decide to keep someone and all on the word of an anonymous informant. To be fair, most people are released after three to four days after daily examinations. But far too many people are taken prisoner and have no hearings or rights.
A medical professional can get someone taken into custody without even seeing that person. All it takes is what is called around here a “pickup order.” The local police will, as the name suggests, come pick up a person, again without any proof or hearings or regard to due process. This is an obvious violation of the person’s constitutional rights.
What is comes down to is this: CDPC is in the business of locking people away, not helping them. With this in mind, the best course of action is to make sure you don’t go voluntarily. Make them arrest you if that’s what it takes. Once you get to CDPC, no matter how angry you are at your rights being violated, remain calm and balanced.
You have a better chance of getting released after a few hours than you would be making a scene. No matter what they do, be calm and give them no reason to keep you. However, it’s most likely that they will keep you for three days or more. And all on the word of one person who can’t provide justification.
Also, never ask for help. Never call the Albany Police Department, and never, ever call a crisis hotline (988) or anyone else for that matter. Trust no one.
If you voluntarily report yourself, you will absolutely be locked up with no visitors, very little food or drink and absolutely no rights whatsoever.
You can also unjustifiably be locked up for even acting like you have mental issues. The best way to avoid this is to, at all times, remain calm out in public. Don’t ever become angry. Don’t raise your voice. Don’t give anyone a reason to have you behind bars. Here in Albany County, even inmates at the jail are treated better.
I’ve seen far too many lives ruined by that four days. CDPC and the mental wings at the local hospitals are not there to help you. They’re there to hurt you and keep you so they can make money off of you. Trust them not. Don’t speak to doctors and nurses nor anyone else unless you absolutely have to. Even then, it’s name, rank and serial number.
So how do you protect yourself? If you’re feeling suicidal, it’s my opinion and suggestion that you keep it to yourself in Albany County. Don’t tell anyone. No one. Suck it up and shut up unless you want to put yourself in a situation where you could be locked up for days, weeks or even months.