Southwood Psychiatric Hospital image

Southwood Psychiatric Hospital

Mental health service Mental health clinic Psychiatric hospital Addiction treatment center

😠 This place was so bad. I met only one good staff there. The staff yell at you for anything they can and are so dramatic about it. The place is okay until you get into the back where they keep the kids. Your get put into a SMALL room that you share everyday with 14 other girls. Your bed is a mat with... People often mention staff, kids, days, Southwood, therapist, told, daughter, horrible, call, time,


Address

2575 Boyce Plaza Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15241, United States

Website

www.southwoodhospital.com

Contact

+1 888-597-3432

Rating on Google Maps

2.00 (203 reviews)

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Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: staff (41) kids (19) days (14) Southwood (14) therapist (12) told (12) daughter (12) horrible (11) call (10) time (10)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 1/5 Kat H. 1 year ago on Google
    This place was so bad. I met only one good staff there. The staff yell at you for anything they can and are so dramatic about it. The place is okay until you get into the back where they keep the kids. Your get put into a SMALL room that you share everyday with 14 other girls. Your bed is a mat with a plastic pillow and a blanket. There’s no therapist there and your doctor barely talks to you at all. Their goal is to give you meds without knowing specifically what problems you have. The diet lady has made many girls have break downs because she will tell them they are fat and need to eat salads instead. There’s a man that works there that had slept with a 17 year old patient that went there, she reported it and provided dates and times, yet he still works there. Sometimes he even works on the females unit. The place is very gross, they don’t even mop the floors back there. One staff kept spraying the lunch tables with tile cleaner that she was specifically told was not safe for us because we eat there and she just said “oh well.” They tell you 7-10 days but they will push it to 2 weeks minimum, some stay 3 weeks. The staff also leave vapes (nicotine), out in the nurses station right outside the rooms. The pictures provided are not evens what the place looks like. Someone needs to shut this place down. You have 2 days out of the week to make a 10 minute phone call. When my mom would call they would let the phones ring while watching Netflix or sitting on their phones. They also wouldn’t tell us our parents called or would lie and say they didn’t. Also note that most of the “good reviews” are fake. If it wasn’t completely obvious.
    27 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Jessyca H. 9 months ago on Google
    My niece was here... it's a horrible place the first day I called the guy started screaming at me about how I sounded like I had an attitude. Maybe I did but to scream at me really?!?! Yes, I did yell back...They don't answer calls when you call to check on your loved one for days! They hang up before you are even done asking questions. Don't bother calling to ask anything after your child leaves cause you will get nothing back. My niece had a skin infection she said it's dirty they don't clean anything.. puke in the bathroom and they just leave it there...staff is very rude. The family session is a waste of time. I am glad she is out if there please do not send your loved one here. Find a therapist that you can talk to and get the feel of them. we have made so much progress with the therapist she has now. Child review: Hi, my experience here was not the best. Honestly, I'd never go back. Most of the staff members were very rude. (Except for Ms. Alexis, she deserves a raise,) the food gave people food poisoning, foods with meat were raw sometimes. There were period blood stains on the shower curtains, black mold in the showers, and pentagrams drawn in crayon on the doors (although, that's the children's fault.) The place is very cold during the night, especially in Girls 1. The units get treated unfairly, with unit 5 being the "best unit," although codes get called on them frequently. Unit 5 gets better treatment than the other units. The nurses never would tell me if my family called and I didn't get to make a phone call for the first 3 days. Staff would yell at the kids for no reason all the time and they yelled at me for having my stuffed animal which I am very emotionally attached to. The doctors always take the parent's side and won't listen to you at all. Anyways, zero stars from me, this place is trash. 😁🇱🇺
    21 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Jacinta A. 1 year ago on Google
    My son was in this facility from January 2019 until October 2020 and the experience was concerning. My son is special needs and has autism and this place did not help my son. For the length of time my son was in this place he was discharged and during the discharge meeting I was told he was not a successful discharge and I had to get the state involved to find my son another facility to help him where this place failed. My son started having seizures while here and he hadn’t had seizures since he was 3 and he was 14 when he was in there when the seizures started. Terrible things happened to my son there and the staff did not call me to tell me. My son called me crying on the phone. When an incident happens there is a serious delay with the staff informing the parent. My son’s first therapist would always blame me for not being at the “family therapy” sessions but at those sessions she wouldn’t talk about anything but the level my son was on and what he was learning at school. My son did FINALLY get a good therapist but it was 2 months before he was released which was too little too late. When my son would call me all I would hear was the staff YELLING AT THE KIDS DISRESPECTFULLY! My son was given contraband while he was there. One item was a CD labeled “MUSIC THERAPY” and all it had was rap songs filled with curse words and rap song about sex and drugs…descriptive rap song about sex. My son was also given print outs of web pages of various pop singers biographies and their pictures which the artists were dressed wearing practically nothing. THE STAFF KNOWS THE KIDS TRIGGERS AND THEY FEED INTO IT!! SICK PEOPLE WHO HURT CHILDREN!! My son wanted to put in a formal complaint, maybe he will get his chance!
    19 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Brewer 8 months ago on Google
    I went here as a 10-11 year old. i watched the staff allow physical fights between the children take place. Staff argued amongst each other in front of the children. The comments the staff made to some of the children were absolutely disgusting. One of the many therapist there had attempted to have me “admit” to feelings of suicide, even though I never mentioned it once. As bad as the therapist experience was, it was somewhat similar of an inmate being able to talk to his lawyer while being incarcerated. I had a run in the the law that had landed me in juvenile lockup some years later and found that Southwood is almost IDENTICAL to juvenile lockup. Please whatever you do, do not send your kids here. thank you.
    16 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 a 1 year ago on Google
    I was here for about 8 days. In those 8 days I was made fun of for my anger issues by the staff, and there was only one cool kid there named Thor. Other then that I was moved beds 3 times, my last bed having blood on the sheets and hair with boogers on the walls. They don’t teach you to help yourself. What they do is threaten you to be better or else your forced to stay there longer. I cried myself to sleep every night and was told to shut up every time. You weren’t even aloud to have a social life there. If you were talking to someone your were told to shut up or else you’ll get in trouble. Overall, this place is horrible, so don’t send your kids here
    14 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Abby N. 8 months ago on Google
    Please don’t send your child here. It is a dark, dirty, terrifying place. You don’t get real therapy. All you get is a maximum of 5 minutes with the psychiatrist. They wake you up in the middle of the night for bloodwork. All day and night theres girl’s screaming and banging on the door of the CDR (Calm Down Room). The food is horrible, the beds are impossible to sleep on, and we hardly get any real recreation. A lot of the staff are very rude and disrespectful and cause more trauma when they are supposed to help. The only nice people there are the social workers, which hardly ever meet with you, and the teacher. If you love your kid, and want whats best for them, do not send them to this place. It truly does not help.
    14 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Annabelle D. 7 months ago on Google
    I went here and if actually traumatized me. Staff would yell, physical fights, and staff wouldn’t comfort you. I had a panic attack after one of the fights, I couldn’t breathe and the staff didn’t care, only other patients. I would cry myself to sleep. I signed a 72 hour thing just to get out of there. There was only two staff who genuinely cared for the patients, unfortunately I can’t remember their names. But really don’t send anyone here.
    12 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Leah A. 5 months ago on Google
    Miss Deja thought I was lying about my trauma and would treat me differently because of it. She didn’t know what was going on with my life, but chose to make it miserable. She would yell at me for yelling at my parents. Do you know what goes on at home. Do you understand why I have to yell. She read my case and she told another staff member she didn’t believe me. She should really get fired
    10 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Apple B. 4 months ago on Google
    It is sad that this is the "best place in the state." I was sent here for a week and a half and the best thing about it was school. Ms. Dejah was horrible and would yell at us if we were even the slightest bit too loud (yelling was an extreme trigger for many of us, including myself.) It looks like the place hasn't been cleaned since 1443 and it smells terrible. They make us sit in a cramped room with about 20 - 25 other people in super uncomfortable plastic chairs. I also personally had a stuffed animal and a shirt from my dad that were my comfort objects and they lost it for two days. I cried myself to sleep every night and the one thing I wanted was a hug that I couldn't get. The rooms we slept in were freezing and we were only allowed 2 thin blankets that smelled like cat piss. If I could give this place 0 stars I would.
    9 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Noah H. 2 years ago on Google
    I stayed at Southwood for about 4 days and my experience was okay. Overall, the treatment is good and they do a lot to help and heal what you go in for. Some of the staff, (the music, yoga and school teacher) were amazing and you could tell they really cared, but the some of the staff that watched over the unit were horrible. For example we had of couple special needs kids in our unit. In the mornings, they would list their triggers to the staff and would say things like yelling, and fighting and then staff would proceed to SCREAM at them for the smallest things like talking during a movie, or asking a question. I will say, staff did a good job of keeping control over the unit and making sure everyone was safe and CLEAN. Food was ok, and everything was decent. Just if you have a special needs child, consider somewhere else.
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Charlette O. 11 months ago on Google
    My child is currently there, they have no communication with the parent. I've been trying to speak with my child and have been denied that right. The very few times I have spoken with my child, my child has told me how horrible the staff is. I do NOT recommend this facility by any means. I will be removing my child promptly, as I'm already working with a more reputable agency. If I were able to give a negative star review, I would gladly do so. Despicable establishment is an understatement.
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Luke D. 1 year ago on Google
    I stayed here for about 16 days and nights in said time here it was practically hell for someone with extreme anxiety and depression. First and foremost the staff here yell at the kids for the littles things all day even though if you have to keep yelling it’s obviously not working. Second as a patient I barely ever spoke with my therapist or doctor and when I did they only spoke to me for at most like 10 minutes. Third it is extremely dirty here I never once saw anyone mop even after poop had been throw of blood dragged around. The only good thing about being here was that some of the staff were helpful when talking to them. In conclusion if your a parent who loves your kid even a little don’t send them here.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Maggie 1 year ago on Google
    I was here twice about ten years apart (the last time was about 2004). I felt that I was treated well and with respect. A lot of what I see people complaining about are things that need to be done in order to keep the patients and staff safe. Although I was there for my psychiatric well-being, I have relatively fond memories and am beyond grateful of the help that was provided to me. This place has helped shaped who I am now as an adult in many positive ways.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Caitlyn A. 1 year ago on Google
    I have some trauma from this place. I had a family based therapist named Jim Mormon from Southwood. We closed our case or whatever with him. I ended up back in Southwood. Despite MANY proclaimations of unease and general discomfort with Jim, I was told that my mother wanted him as my family based therapist again so I had to go along with this creepy old man who made me feel unsafe. Jim sucked. He didn't help. You know what he did do? Sided with my mother in every single session.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jennifer M. 2 years ago on Google
    My husband and I made the impossible decision to send our daughter here last year. We were very nervous but her stay turned out to be very beneficial. Our daughter learned alot of different coping techniques while she was there, and said though she could have been a little more comfortable she felt that it helped her alot. We are very grateful for the Southwood Staff.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Lady r. 9 months ago on Google
    I went to southwood and all I can say is my experience was ok. However I wasnt very comfortable there due to the fact that they sedated their patients when they were very clearly upset. I didnt feel very comfortable there because i felt like someone would walk in on me at any moment while i was showering. There were a few staff that i actually really loved and still remember to this very day. Overall nothing negative happened to me, but im glad im out of there now. Im 20 now and will never forget the friends i made along the way
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 livi X. 3 months ago on Google New
    I stayed here a two years ago, my first time being put in a psychiatric hospital. I was terrified. Some of the staff were horrible. One staff would put her middle finger up and would curse at the patients there. They would bang on your beds, shake them, kick them to wake you up. I reacted to some girls panic attack one night. I was crying and hyperventilating in a ball in my chair and was told “Oh not this again, stop your fine”. Found razors in windowsills. psychiatrist hospitals aren't supposed to be five stars but south-wood could have been so much better. Safety was horrible there. I will never put myself through that ever again. Luckily i am so much better now. That place did not help. I just wanted to get out! Physical fights broke out, constantly yelling. I was put down on children's unit no explanation, I saw two grown men dragging a 2-4 year old to the isolation room because she wanted her dad. Please dont send your children or loved ones here. I was told i was going home on a Wednesday but instead i waited another week till i was finally taken home, my mom said the communication with the doctor was horrible. I will never forget how traumatic this place was. They never even let you have your comfort items, even if you had to wait days to weeks to get them from what i heard from my roomate. I was so relieved to be home.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Naya F. 3 months ago on Google New
    Told on my father during therapy about sexual abuse and was blackmailed by my therapist jon benay and my father to retract my statements or I will loose any contact with family. I refused too they took away any contact with my family and when I had retracted my statement like asked I was put on multiple medications which caused intense hallucinations and I could t even tell you my own name for 3 months. It was terrible. I still am traumatized by there unethical actions and it tore my whole family apart. Take it from a medical specialist like me do not send your kids here.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Chris L. 1 year ago on Google
    Southwood has been a wonderful place for me to grow and learn professionally over the years. When I first began my career at the facility, I started out in a direct care capacity. Since that time, i have held various roles over the years, (including non-leadership), before moving into my current position. From my firsthand experience, I can tell you that the executive team and leadership team members recognize the internal talent of employees and provide individuals with the ability to grow professionally. I have been with the agency for over 14yrs because of the dedication and commitment exhibited by the staff and the leadership of the facility. Patients / residents have always, and will always be, the first and foremost priority of the facility. Each member of the team has tremendous commitment to the agency’s mission to ensure that the best quality of care is provided to children, adolescents and their families. I am proud of the hard work and dedication exhibited by staff on a daily basis and would recommend the facility to those looking for employment and/or as a resource to families in need.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ella L. 10 months ago on Google
    My daughter was here for a week and every time I asked to call her they would put her on the phone or call me back and put her on the phone. My daughter said all the staff where really nice and if she had to go back to another hospital she would go there, she also said the food was really good and the beds where comfortable besides some boogers on the walls. But while my daughter was there I’m glad she got all the help that she wanted and needed. I also appreciate that they have school there so the kids can still learn. My daughter said her favorite staff was Mrs. Kel and thank you Southwood for helping my daughter I really recommend sending your kids here. The reviews might look bad but they are not true this place took wonderful care of my daughter and made sure she was fed and got a shower and had a hoodie so she didn’t get cold. I also love the fact they don’t share their last names to protect the privacy of our and other families. Thank you so much Southwood for helping my daughter.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Thera G. 1 year ago on Google
    There is excellent work being done at Southwood with employees, patients, and families. As employees, we enjoy flexible scheduling and the opportunity to work with great people! Patients and families have the opportunity to work with great treatment teams that care about the health and safety of all who are served. Southwood is a great place to work.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mary K. 1 year ago on Google
    I have worked as a pediatrician independent contractor at Southwood— primarily at the RTFs—-for 10 years. I have been overly impressed by the extra efforts by the entire staff caring for very difficult patients at all times! The children are treated like family! The nursing staff is always helpful to the physicians, making our job enjoyable and productive! The administration has been generous, awarding all employees with holiday gifts every year. I am honored to work there!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jason b. 1 year ago on Google
    Southwood Hospital is a fantastic place to work. We help adolescents and children daily. Southwood is a rewarding place to work. We do great things for the kids. To see them get the assistance they need, and grow, this is rewarding as an employee. There are many activities for the kids to engage in, for example, yoga, music, art etc. The therapeutic help from each staff to patient is wonderful. The patients learn many coping skills to deal with anything that troubles them in society.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Deanna B. 10 months ago on Google
    My daughter was just discharged after 2 1/2 weeks and I have to say our experience was very positive. The social worker that handled our case was wonderful. She updated me daily with med changes, how my daughter was feeling, possible upcoming changes. Great job southwood hospital on making this mama feel at ease while you took care of my daughter!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Angela B. 1 year ago on Google
    Southwood Psychiatric has been such a pleasing experience. I have the great opportunity to work with employees and leadership that are the most welcoming and caring co workers I have encountered. The amount of dedication that I see is copious across all employees. The willingness and dedication to the kids that we service is unmeasurable. The personal acknowledgment of each patients needs and wants, that are accommodated are by far impressive to ensure patient safety, health, wellbeing and comfort is impressive to me. This is contagious and rewarding to work with the utmost caring, kindest individuals that you see make a difference in our patience life is the most rewarding experience I have ever encountered.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Jayden C. 1 year ago on Google
    I was at southwood it was fine yes the beds were uncomfy and there were fights some staff I did not like but I loved the people there and the staff helped me from my troubles and self-harm yes I did not like all of them but I liked a lot of them the food was really good in my own words I liked it there it felt like my 2nd home and I leaned a lot of new positive things to do <33
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Edwardo L. 1 year ago on Google
    My son Edwardo is there now ( Samantha lies and says I don't call in and leave messages on the answer machine And she lies about nurses station they don't answer or return calls or hang up on you ) this is for the owner southwood please answer my review ( this place needs to be reorganized especially redone this place needs be investigated so I'm going to call someone
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Riley 4 months ago on Google
    Mr. Khal is definitely one of the best staff here, Mrs. Abby, Mr. Bill, Mrs. Ashleigh, Mr. Tim, etc etc. they all made my stay here better, southwood isnt as bad as people make it out to be. Yeah there is some crazy stuff that happens here but most people need to see that crazy stuff and or experience it to get some sense into their minds. Overall my stay wasnt so bad.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Jamie D. 1 year ago on Google
    Im a therapist and i had a client who went here and was encouraged/lied to I believe to stay longer than necessary and did not receive anymore than an 1 hour check in a day with someone and the rest of the time had nothing to do but remain in bed.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Amanda B. 3 months ago on Google New
    Parent review- If I could rate 0 starts I would. My 9 year old went here for 5 days to get some help, and was more terrified of the place than the thoughts inside her own head! She witnessed staff dragging kids by their feet into their rooms (not combative kids, just screaming kids). She witness staff screaming at kids for not moving or working fast enough. When she started to cry from all the screaming she was told that if she cried it would go on her permanent record and she would have to stay longer. The night before she was being picked up to come home, she was crying because she was anxious and missed home. Staff told her they would take her bed and make her sleep in a room without a bed if she didn’t stop crying. Also told her that if that happened, she would not be allowed to go home even if someone showed up to get her. This place is an absolute disgrace! Doctors and nurses either turn a blind eye or are completely negligent in seeing how these children are treated. Trust me, nothing they are going through is going to be helped by this place. They will just be too scared to go back! Child review- I was here for 5 days and this absolutely disgusting I saw kids get DRAGGED in rooms for doing absolutely NOTHING and the fact that these are not there kids and also NOT EVEN RELATED TO THEM there was a saying that was myob mind ur own business and also they used it when the kids were DOING NOTHING WRONG! This place was horrible and dirty I never saw them clean ever in my 5 days there! If u look at the photo below that is where I spent 5 days! I don’t recommend this and if u don’t want ur child to have horrible experiences then find another place.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍


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