If I could leave zero stars for any place I've ever had the privilege of dealing with, this institution would be it. We took our child there in an attempt to get him help multiple times and were turned away for invalid reasons. I honestly thought a place that specializes in mental health would be the place to seek out for help with these types of issues, but this was not the experience. There was no sense of urgency nor care with our suicidal child. They were cold in fact and I was stunned that this would even be legal. This place needs investigated and I hope that happens so that people that truly need the help can receive it.

This place is a mess. The staff is rude and unhelpful. You only see a doctor after five miserable days of living in one ugly gown and blue socks. They treat you like an invalid. Western pysch is far more stigmatizing than the general public. They hold a mental health court after five days while providing worse amenities than a jail. It is embarrassing to be dirty for five days because they can’t find a shampoo bottle for you or bother with your hygiene at all. I had a yeast infection for five days no one treated. It is dehumanizing to be here. It’s a huge money making scheme. It would be nice if they provided services while you were incarcerated here, but they don’t. They give you a broken bin of old crayons and printed out papers to color on. They should be beyond ashamed of the conditions they make people live in here. I will be traumatized for life. The entire protocol of involuntary commitment is based on a lack of trust or respect for your patients. I consider anything that ends in handcuffs as a degrading experience, which is how people are transported here if you are involuntary. It has constrained my ability to see future possibilities with trauma recovery. Partnering with the police violates the social workers code of ethics that sets their patients safety, self determination, and autonomy as paramount in treatment. This was beyond humiliating and degrading. How is this place rehabilitating anyone? The food is cardboard so they don’t care about your nutrition, the bathrooms are locked and the key holders act annoyed if you need to use the bathroom. It is co-Ed and I am a sex abuse survivor so this is particularly upsetting to me to be so disrespected as to be subjected to something like this, especially when they take your real clothes and make you sit in a nearly naked gown. They don’t care or stop any fights or patient on patient harm. There’s no patient safety or recovery in mind, it’s about warehousing the mentally ill. This place is unsanitary, there’s no services provided here. They make fun of you and do not keep their voices down for you to not hear. It made me feel like cattle. No one respects mentally ill people as humans, especially not here.

I went here after being in children’s hospital for an attempt. My group of people were very fun to be around, even with some crazy experiences. They aren’t good at stopping people from injuring themselves, but most of the staff was amazing. Miss Abby was absolutely amazing and was always supportive of the patients, and even gave us stickers. I’ve never been to another unit but they made me feel extremely safe :)

As a patient, they misdiagnosed me as having schizophrenia. I am not, nor have I ever been, schizo. Before my eviction, I was actively being harassed, and I called the police many times, and I was ignored. I have valid reasons to be worried for my safety. Nails in tires. Smashed windows. Driven off the road...twice. Brakes cut. I'm a victim of domestic abuse who was stalked for a year. I've cut ties with a physically and emotionally abusive family, that might extend to the police. Somehow though, I'm paranoid for worrying about my own safety?! Make it make sense. They gave me "medicine" that they didn't tell me to continue with when I left?? How does 5 days of medicine do anything to help long-term?? Why not address the housing issue, which is the reason I ended up in Western Psych in the first place? I'm not crazy. I am, however, still in need of a long-term housing solution and have had valid safety issues that I can't tie to anyone specific but seem to keep following me. As long as that's an issue, I'm going to continue to have issues with mental health. When I told someone what my issues were, I was dismissed as pretending to need help and i was told there was nowhere to go except to the homeless shelter. When I came into Western Psych, I had a sleeping bag and a backpack full of my belongings. I couldn't carry all of my stuff when I left, being in pain and upset and left it there, thinking that someone would make sure it was returned. Somehow it's "lost" now. I had a $700 phone with pictures that can't be replaced, an expensive charger bank, clothes, a sleeping bag, and other personal items in a brand new expensive backpack. I've called a few times to follow up and I've been told no one can find it and it gets thrown away after a few months. So...someone who is homeless is losing the very few things they have left...at a place that is supposed to be helping them find mental health resources, and hopefully providing them with other "essential" services?? Again, make it make sense.

The worst of the worst. Only the “doctors” and “nurses” think this is a great place. Every single patient they’ve ever had has said otherwise. It is well known amongst patients as being horrifically abusive in every way one can imagine. It’s part of a teaching medical school (pitt) as well, which is heartbreaking. They’re teaching a new generation of medical professionals how to be judgmental, ignorant, uncaring, unsympathetic abusers. This place should’ve been shutdown years ago. I have significant trauma from this place. Please avoid for your own physical and mental wellbeing. Please avoid.

I wrote out a whole long explanation of what it was like for me here but deleted it because it felt too personal and also all the things I would like to acknowledge that were effed up about my experience at this place wouldn’t even fit on this review. Ultimately this place made my problems significantly worse. Terrified of what will happen if I ever need a higher level of care because I will definitely not want to reach out for help after my experiences here which were over a year ago now that I am still processing and recovering from. I think the people who work here are too burnt out to remember they are supposed to be caring for human beings. Ones who have significant problems. As long as you don’t have any mental health needs they’ll be nice and accommodate you. Luckily I was eventually able to mask and get out so I could actually get the help I need elsewhere.

Staff is crazier than the patients, I’ve been here 5 times and it has changed a lot over the years. I first went in 2018 when I was 12 and last came in May of this year I’m 18 now and they didn’t help anymore. Was in feb they Put me on some med that I told them I was on before and didn’t work and I told them I’d be back, and I was. They don’t listen to the patients, we don’t have a voice we are viewed as less. The patients there are chill for the most Part and easy to relate to. Overall I wouldn’t go here unless it’s the last resort and even then you have to be a level of mentally strong to handle being in there for weeks at a time

If I had the option to rate 0 stars, I would. I should've posted this a long time ago, but I was 9 at the time and was trying to forget all about this place. I was at this hospital about 11 years ago. It was just terrible. I was wrongly mistreated by the staff. I was there for suicide and trying to get help, but we have staff yelling at us? On top of that I also happen to be autistic. That just makes it worse!!!! The food was disgusting aswell. DO NOT and I mean DO NOT send your kids here.

I went here in 2021 for 2 weeks due to mental health. Although my admission was involuntary, this was the first hospital I’ve been to. Out of all the hospitals I’ve been to this is probably the best one. Food is a bit questionable, but I mean it’s a hospital so who cares. The staff were very kind and supportive. We were allowed to play just dance, and use iPads at night for a bit if we were good. Overall, this place isn’t bad :)

Staff lied to me and I was sent fraudulent bills from UPMC for months upon my release. The security they have is aggressive and violent. The social worker lied to me and told people confidential information that I told her she didn't have permission to share. She later admitted to doing this but the damage had already been done. I had to pay for my own bus ride home, and they didnt even give me the right medications. It was an awful experience inside and caused me so many problems once i was released. Only to be made worse by UPMC trying to charge me $15k+ despite me being 302'd and not liable for the cost of my stay. It took months of arguing for them to finally drop the fraudulent bills. Therapists employed by UPMC will funnel people into western psych to turn a quick buck. DO NOT TRUST THIS PLACE AND DONT PAY THEIR BILLS

Western Psychiatric hospital does not test their staff for covid. They are not made to test unless they have symptoms. Then when one does get sick and tests positive the whole floor of patients is prohibited from having visitors which causes great pain and stress to both the patient and their family

Looking back 17 years, I had the same to say as many reviewers here; the food sucked, the staff was indifferent, no help etc…truth be told, the staff with all their shortcomings are phenomenal, and the food, even the turkey sandwiches, is amazing for institutional food service. The doctors are some of the best in the world! Sooooo, be thankful/grateful you bungled into this top notch organization

I went here over the summer and it was lowkey kind of bad. It was cool how they had a ps4 and stuff and a little bit of stuff to do, but they didn’t help me. It was VERY COLD there all of the time. The staff could have cared less about the patients. All they did was give me meds and I never once had a therapy session. They said they had therapy thwre but we had maybe a time where we would fill out a safety plan and that was only ONCE during the time I stayed. I lied my way out so that I wouldn’t be kept longer. It’s better than southwood because it’s pretty sanitary but would not recommend

This facility saved my life. The staff I encountered was amazing. Every member of staff showed how dedicated they were to the wellbeing of their patients and also in creating a therapeutic environment. They made me feel safe and not alone in my suffering as most of the staff could relate to having struggles of their own. The days were filled with activities including group therapy sessions, engagement groups, art and music therapy, and even patient led activities. The staff was very involved in patient care spending time with the patients doing activities and playing games along side us which created a healing and fun environment. The food was more then edible and they always fed us more than enough. I hope to never have to return to a mental health facility but if I have to I would only go to this hospital. I gave them a 5 star rating and I would go higher if I could. Nobody wants to have to visit a psychiatric hospital but if you are struggling with mental health issues I would highly recommend western pa psych.

Son put in n medication that he show an allergic reaction to and instead of taking him off it they increased dosage! He spent a month in there and they just made him worse then when he went in! Children's found out what was wrong after spending 3 days there and running tests! He was finally taken off of medicine and went through withdrawal for almost 3 weeks with the shaking being so bad he could barely hold anything! This place is aspose to help but it's a joke for kids that really need help! Some staff is very good and helpful where others could careless!Place is dirty and barely cleaned well and also dead roach in between glass window between hallway and there room they do group! Once asked a worker there if he could hear up my son's pizza since he slept thru lunch and he told me it would explode in microwave! Another I asked to write on my son's board in room the nurse and day that they are aspose to do and was told she had no marker on her while she sat in hallway playing on phone!Best decision ever was to get him out of there and he's 100 times better now!

The first time at WPIC I had a relatively good experience. Friendly staff, clean spaces, and good care. I was on the 13th floor. However, my second time was traumatizing. I wasn't even admitted, even though I presented at their ER with suicidal means and intent. The doctor who did my third screening highly discouraged me from admitting myself, as he said "the hospital doesn't help people with borderline personality disorder." The first time I went to WPIC I did not have BPD on my chart, but the second time I did. I filed a complaint with UPMC. This kind of gross negligence and discrimination is utterly unacceptable.

Wish i could make ZERO STARS , Wow i had thee worst experience ive ever had in my life at any place, anywhere IN THE WORLD yesterday january 22nd, 2023 in the ER of Western Psychiatric Hospital. Dr. Peter Shartel had absolutely no interest in my crises or helping me. was very extreme he literally even turned his back on me at the end as i was balling my eyes out.. This man not only did nothing, he also proceeded to make a very rude comment about my PCP. he said "My doctor doesnt know what hes talking about" which he was wrong i found out through higher ups at western that they were able to treat my crises but this doctor refused! refused! Steer clear of this place and make sure you tell them you do NOT want Dr. Peter Shartel. The most unprofessional doctor ive ever come across. After this? My doctor fixed the problem on his day off, on sunday night.. Instead i waited 7 hours for peter shartel to tell me to kick rocks. Guess what YOU were wrong and it shows you do not care one bit about ANYONE. you shouldnt even have your license to practice.

Awful! This place is terrible. Did nothing to help my sister. She’s clearly a threat to herself and others and they keep sending her away with a “safety plan”. They are Impossible to get ahold of. Even when she was admitted. It took the doctor 4 days of her being there to call us or update us. And when you call they don’t answer or answer and hang up. Keep in mind she’s 15…. It doesn’t take much to see She’s bipolar. Hereditary. Runs in her family, fits every single check mark. And they “tested her for bipolar and she doesn’t fit the criteria” they have her on numerous medications. None of which are helping because she’s BIPOLAR and no one will get her on the right medicine or help she needs. They keep upping her dosages of whatever antidepressant or anger meds they have her on and each time she gets worse and worse. They refuse to listen. they do the bare minimum This hospital is a joke. JOKE. They make the parents wait ALL DAY and if you leave to get food or run home they take it as you abandoned the child and call cps. ? Do better

THIS HOSPITAL DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOU. After having been strung along for months about being able to do outpatient, having to do inpatient, having them accept and then not accept my insurance, various times doing labs, I was told I will absolutely not be accepted into the hospital despite being told with every single call that I am at risk of refeeding syndrome. That means I’m at risk of organ failure if I am not monitored while I gain weight. I do not have an eating disorder, which I’ve made extremely clear since the start of my venture into trying to get care for my weight. I just have ibs, and need help learning how to eat with that to gain weight. I was instead told to go to a hospital and request a feeding tube, which isn’t something that hospitals can or will do. This hospital does not care about you, it does not put your health first. I was told my only option was now to not receive care, as this was my final option. Everyone else rejected me, even numerous dietitians reject me because I am dangerously underweight, and told me to come here. I’ve been working on getting care since the beginning of august, and now it’s November, and they rejected me from very potentially like saving care. I am unintentionally 98lbs, I weight less than I did at 13 years old.

One of the most useless places on the planet. My daugther is suffering from multple issues. And had to be admitted to to the hospital. I was assured that both of her issues would be addressed. They held her for the minumum amount of time necessary and put her back on the street with no plan for recovery ongoing. Absolutely the biggest waste of time ever. Do not take your loved one there unless you have no other choice. They take your insurance money and you get back exactly what you had before even going there.

I was billed more than twice the amount I was estimated. Shameful business practices. EDIT: UPMC responded with their canned response asking me to fill out a form describing what happened. I did, they deleted their comment, and I haven't heard back since. I wish I had the money to fight this legally.

I am 16. I came to this hospital because of suicidal thoughts. The wait to get a room was long but it was worth it. When I finally got to the floor and got into my room,it was very clean. The nurses and staff were very nice and they helped me. They had me diagnosed after 2 or 3 days and I was put on medication. The staff is very encouraging,patient,and welcoming. I would recommend this place to anyone who needs help! If I start struggling again I would 100% go back. I am thankful for the hospital,nurses,and staff.

Not great so far. Have been trying to schedule my daughter for outpatient for 6 months, left messages multiple times, its urgent at this point and I have said so in my message and scheduling still hasn't called me back yet!!

I called almost 2 weeks ago to schedule an appointment. Called again late last week. Left 2 voicemails and no call back. Great job UPMC dealing with peoples issues. I’m stuck with your insurance because of work, but if I could change, I would in a heartbeat. You’re a joke.

When finding a psychiatrist I was given the number to Western Psych. After following all prompts I was rudely greeted by a women who informed me that I called the wrong extension. I explained who I was trying to reach and was told they had no way of transferring my call or connecting me. I asked for the providers number to call myself and was told they didn’t have it. I asked how I was supposed to get my appointments scheduled and was told she didn’t know. I asked why this number is the only contact number for that provider and again was told she didn’t know.

I was treated here for I think five days cause of psychosis and delusions and this hospital is hands down the best cause they treated me like a person and explained everything to me.

Don't ever go here staff was ignorant and rude. I was waiting for 2 and half days in a waiting room where I couldn't leave. Then I got assaulted by some crazy person in the unit staff did nothing except give me some tissues to wipe away my sorrows.

I went for a psychological evaluation. All the staff I encountered were friendly, compassionate and smiled at me. They seemed to love what they do. The young doctor was very helpful in getting me a referral to the IOP.