River Park Hospital

the staff were nice. food wasn’t too bad, was always offered a pbj if we didn’t like what they were serving. they had coloring books, markers, board games, and more. honestly, not a bad place.

I stayed here for a week in late October-early November. I really like some of the staff like Alex, Cheryl, Aiden, and Emily. There was another really sweet younger girl. Her name started with an N I think, I wish I could remember. I did like April, although some people thought she was mean. I liked the toughness of her. A little discipline can go a long way for troubled youth lol. I actually did like the school part of the day. Instead of tablets, I liked to read. I still want to finish Narnia (thank you alex you’re cool) !! I doubt anyone who sees this will remember me, and i’m not writing this for that reason anyways. I’m writing it just to close that chapter in my life. Not to be overly graphic or to dump my trauma onto google for the whole world to see, but I did go in on attempted suicide. I don’t believe that being at River Park made me any happier. In a way, it brought me closer to my life outside of the hospital. It’s like being slapped in the face with reality. When I woke up at Cabell hospital and realized where I was off to next (RPH 3E lol) I sobbed!! No phone, no piercings, no cute clothes?? How can a teen survive?!? But I did. I’m glad I did. Some of my fellow patients would call me an angel, or “memaw.” (IFYKYK) Well, I’m not an angel! I’m a 17 year old girl who was struggling really badly. I thought that maybe if I treated the patients younger than me with respect and kindness, that they maybe weren’t used to, that I could change their lives even a little bit. Onto my actual stay there, lol, I know I talk a lot! But again, this is more for me than you!! Sorry not sorry. I once asked for a staff to talk to, I was crying and missed my family a whole lot, and no one came to talk to me. That’s a major issue!!! That was my biggest complaint! And once when my family came to visit, they started around 15 minutes late. Those are my only real issues, you know? I don't see River Park as the place to come to fix all your issues, but it definitely is a start! It was great for me to be away from the toxicity of social media. I wish the place was way more energetic, way happier. I wish the staff would do a little group stretch! I led those when I was there. That was fun. More art!! Maybe even theatre related stuff? Idk i’m a nerd. So anyways, don’t think you’re sending your kid to River Park and they’re gonna come back squeaky clean. They won’t. They’re gonna smell bad, they’re gonna be sad, hurt, angry, happy, ALL the things and emotions. Just understand that your kid was in a mental facility. It’s gonna take some time to get back what was once there, or to find something that maybe never was. Just be KIND. Be understanding. Same with the staff. Imagine how scared you’d be at 11-17 in that situation. When I attempted, I didn’t think i’d ever be sitting playing Jinga with random 14 year olds. None of us ever thought we’d be in that situation. Take it easy on your patients, on your kids. Okay, okay, i’ll stop yapping now !! (if a staff is reading this who ever met me, you know how I talk lol) I’d like to thank River Park for giving me a chance to get away from my phone, to get a reset. I’d also like to thank Cabell Hospital for saving my life. I hope the next time I see someone from RPH 3E, it’s at a Walmart or something!! Or at church. Jesus loves you, I love you!!! P.S thanks for trick or treating on the 4th floor - Sarah from Oct-Nov ‘25 with the long black hair (it’s short and red now!!)