Eastern State Hospital — Local services in Medical Lake

I feel anyone applying to work at Eastern, whether it be a permanent or agency you should know some of what you're getting into. My issue with this facility has been going on for 3+ years. If you're a person of color, please read. Don’t get me wrong there are decent people who work at this state facility. I feel like most of the 2nd and 3rd shift staff on the unit floors, in EVS and in switchboard are awesome. But as far as administration and the so-called, and I really use this word loosely “supervisors” go, not so much. I'm meaning the Chief Nursing Officer, some of the HR staff, a couple MHT5s, and a lot of the RN4s, along with few others in the CNO and admin offices who just go along with things even though it may completely violate policy and/or ruins peoples livelyhood. Not all of them, but from what I’ve experienced there’s enough. For those who dont know CNO stands for The Central Nursing office. They have to be, in my opinion, THE most unprofessional, racially prejudice, INCOMPETENT, and Immoral group of people I've ever seen or met in my life. These people I'm refering to aren't held accountable for hardly anything, so they can get away with almost everything. I've heard them, with my own ears disrespecting good floor workers. Saying childish stuff like name calling, and doing other little retaliation acts like refusing overtime even though the floors really need them or taking back overtime already scheduled. These people target certain staff they don’t like. They only hire who they can keep in their pocket and turn on anyone they don't like. Yes, I mean LIKE. It rarely has anything to do with how well they do their jobs. It feels like it's become a social club for degenerates and bullies. I've seen amazing workers fired, demoted, and/or forced to step down. While horrible workers who shouldn't even still be working there get promoted. These people know exactly who they are. Example: My old NOC shift RN3 on 2N3, was racially prejudice. She discriminated against myself and other people of color. Mainly agency staff who weren't under the union contract. I wrote a grievance about work place harassment and discrimination. A week or so later, to me appeared to be in retaliation to my grievance or to at least cover it up. I was put under a 4 month investigation for Insubordination. I was basically being punished for sticking up for myself. Then the Chief Nursing Officer, attempted to force me back under this prejudice woman despite me telling her I didn't feel SAFE there. Because I didn't feel safe, I obviously refused to go back. I was placed on another 4 month investigation for Insubordination. No investigation was ever done regarding the racial injustice nor did anyone care to even ask. The focus was on my reaction to the situation instead resolving the entire issue. They even coursed several staff to lie about the situation and say I was the aggressor. Which was the farthest thing from the truth. It didn’t even end with that. To further tarnish me they spread rumors about me being a problem, labeling me to other staff and supervisors as "Aggressive and uses intimidating tactics." Well, doesn't that sound familiar. Every time any person of color doesn't stand for the BS. That's what we're labeled. But not a single HONEST person I’ve worked with before or since has EVER said this about me. So, lets just say if it ever happens again I will be seeking legal counsel. With over a decade of experience in mental health. This is top 2 worst places I've experienced when it comes to discrimination and intimidation from upper management. Don't get me started on Inland Northwest Behavioral,...

I am a heartbroken parent whose severely mentally ill son has been failed by the mental health system — most notably by Eastern State Hospital and Bridges Mental Health Facility in Washington State.

Eastern State Hospital released my son — who suffers from a serious psychiatric illness — into a motel room in Ellensburg with nothing but a bag full of his psychiatric medications. Just days later, he attempted to take his own life using the very medications the hospital gave him, and nearly succeeded. He was found and rushed to the ICU in critical condition. This tragic event was entirely preventable and highlights a serious lack of care and oversight.

After stabilizing in the ICU, he was sent to Bridges in Yakima for six weeks. Unfortunately, the same pattern repeated. He was discharged to Royal Halfway House in the Tri-Cities, and within just two hours of arriving, he escaped. He was missing for an entire month — with no clear plan in place for his supervision or safety.

Eventually, we learned he had somehow made it to Walla Walla, where he has now been arrested three separate times, including once for indecent exposure. I still have no idea how he even got there. He is clearly not well and continues to cycle through crises, while the very institutions meant to protect and treat him have repeatedly released him into unstable and unsafe situations.

Both Eastern State Hospital and Bridges Mental Health Facility must be held accountable for these deeply irresponsible decisions. Releasing a severely mentally ill individual with a bag of powerful medications, no real safety net, and no long-term support is not treatment — it’s abandonment.

If you are a loved one of someone with serious mental illness, please know: this system is broken, and those we trust to care for our most vulnerable...

Life is full of surprises, you want to live healthy and for some reason your life isn't healthy you don't have structure, well when I was incarcerated I've been sent to Eastern State hospital it changed my whole life in a good way I bought in to the system and trusted the doctors two of the doctors that I healed with are the best doctors in the business, Dr hackemiller in Dr.C, you have to be on the same level and you have to trust the system I know the systems are hard to trust but you have to trust the system it will help you in every way of your life you have structure you live healthy 6 months out of the hospital and I broke addiction and I broke homelessness I have relationships with my family, and I'm back like I was, I know you'll feel all alone when you get out of the hospital it's all up to you it's all up to you how you turn out you have to take your own medication you have to go to your counseling, you have to trust your counselors in every way and they will help you I'm at frontier behavioral health for 6 months now can I plan on going there for a couple years more trust me it can't hurt. I was in a work-related accident I felt my life spiraling out of control, my behaviors was impulsive and trust me it was dangerous for society. Thanks Eastern. Sincerely...