I'm really surprised to see the number of negative reviews on this site. Ridgeview changed my life and I loved my experience there. The case managers and the educational staff were amazing, caring people who helped me with coping tools, creating boundaries, things to do to keep depression and anxiety away, etc. I went to the day programs for about 6 weeks, and I've been active in their support groups and volunteering ever since. Going back to Ridgeview campus is a great feeling for me; I have met the most amazing support network there in the 12-step groups. Definitely helped me cope with depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and more. read more

DO NOT GO HERE!!! All of these reviews let me know we are not alone. I have never written a yelp review before but this was so bad, that I feel like it's necessary. Most of the staff were rude and the very few that did care were overworked. Ridgeview made everything worse and I had to nurse my wife back to health upon release. Due to one of the 3 attacks she experienced, we are now drowning in hospital bills and had to replace dentures (6 grand). Taking her to Ridgeview was one of the worst mistakes ever. Back in February, my wife went here due to mania/hypomania caused by a new antidepressant her psychiatrist gave her. On her first day, she was attacked (the first time out of 3) and taken to the ER. During the attack (punched in the face), she was knocked out, and her brand new implant dentures were knocked out. She was attacked at 11am and they got her to the hospital so late, she had to stay the night. I thought it would be going on their insurance but we started receiving bills a month later. The staff member who called me to tell me about the attack was completely rude. When I asked what happened she screamed at me, saying "I just told you, she was attacked!!" I asked her "how did it transpire" and she then got frustrated not knowing what the word "transpire" means. I was then told when she gets back from the hospital they're gonna move her out of that unit, the ICU. She got back the next day and they didn't move her and she got attacked again (punched in the face repeatedly by another patient, yet again) . While she was at the hospital. I got a call from the nurse practitioner for the psychiatrist there. He told me they had no record of my wife's medications. I told him to contact her psychiatrist, made sure he had the number, and then spent the next week telling anybody who would listen to contact her psychiatrist. No one ever did. After 7-10 days, I was wondering why she wasn't getting better. While there, she was getting noticeably worse. Once released, I found out that they were not only giving her the medication that she had the reaction to but had upped it five times the amount she was taking before going there. On top of that, they were also giving her a very large dose of Depakote. That was to sedating her so much, she was falling asleep in chairs. That med was only hiding the mania. When I looked up the medicine it said do not take if you have "liver or pancreas issues." I was appalled they were giving her that since my wife has had pancreatitis multiple times in the past 10 years and they were all well aware of that. It could've killed her. She was released on a Monday and they told us she had an appointment with her psychiatrist, the next Monday at 1:30. After a few days, I called the psychiatrist office to see if we could get an emergency visit because of the worries with the medicines. That's when I learned there wasn't an appointment even made. Whichever Ridgeview employee wrote down the date and time for the appointment completely made it up. Now, just like when she was there, I can not get in touch with anyone. We have all these hospital bills from them not keeping her safe. I have contacted the patient advocate multiple times and wrote an email but have not heard anything back. From reading the newer reviews, she probably has her hands full. The incompetence with this place was so over the top, I'm shocked it is open. Needs to be shut down. A person looking for help, shouldn't be coming out mentally, physically, and financially worse. read more

Avoid this place if at all possible. While the nurses and a few (few) of the techs that work the cottage for seniors were nice, most of the tech workers were rude and non-caring. My wife was physically yanked out of her bed (read that again) by a tech worker because "we don't lay down during the day around here". She saw people fall out of their chair only to be yelled at (for falling out) by the tech workers and either told to get up or were basically "placed" back in their chair (read between the lines here). We are talking about senior citizens here. She knew to keep her mouth shut out of fear. The A/C for her cottage either wasn't working (June, in Georgia) or it was set too high. Yet in the Admin building, it was nice and cool. And if you try to call them, have fun with that, if you can understand them. The exception were the H/R personnel, as they were nice over the phone and you could understand them. The lady who went over your bill when checking out was professional. But the lady behind the admin desk (the one with the fake eyelashes) that you have to deal with when receiving your loved one's personal items needs to be replaced with someone that has customer service skills. She does not! The doctor was nice but spent little time when meeting with my wife. But he did help my wife which I am thankful for. A beautiful place on the outside looking in. A nightmare for those inside looking out. read more

I have mixed feelings about my stay at Ridgeview Institute. I was admitted during a difficult period in my life involving substance use, medication issues, and significant stress. On the positive side, the structured environment helped me stabilize. The regular meals, medication management, sleep, group activities, and time away from outside distractions allowed me to recover physically and mentally. By the time I was discharged, I felt significantly better and more clear-headed than when I arrived. Unfortunately, my experience was overshadowed by a serious incident involving a staff member. After being told it was common practice for staff to purchase cigarettes for patients, I entrusted an employee with my debit card. Shortly thereafter, approximately $1,365 in unauthorized ATM withdrawals and cash-back transactions occurred on my account. I immediately reported the transactions to my bank and to the facility. Ridgeview took the matter seriously, terminated the employee, and law enforcement became involved. As of this review, the matter remains under investigation. I want to give credit where it is due: the facility's administration responded when the issue was brought to their attention. However, the fact that a patient could be placed in that situation in the first place raises serious concerns about patient safety, supervision, and protection of vulnerable individuals. My advice to future patients and families is simple: never give cash, debit cards, credit cards, PIN numbers, or financial information to anyone. If purchases need to be made, go through official channels and document everything. While the treatment itself helped me, the financial incident was something no patient should have to experience while trying to recover. read more

Everyday in this place was hell for me.From being in holding for 12 hrs to only meeting with a psychiatrist in a hall , to horrible inconsiderate therapists (female) and evil behavioral technicians besides one wonderful one named Kaitlyn.These women here arent there to help, but only to make you feel less of a person. read more

Never ever go here. They're supposed to keep you for 5-7 days. The usual stay is 7-10, and if you look sad, act sad, or admit to feeling any negative emotions, they keep you longer. One girl was there for two straight weeks. Most of the techs treat you like trash (with two exceptions) One girl asked for Tylenol for her self-harm cuts and was rudely told no, you shouldn't have done that to yourself. When they asked me what medication to put me on, I expressly told them not to put me on anything that can lower blood pressure because I have a history of collapsing. They put me on a medication that lowers blood pressure and refused to give me a list of side effects. The place is disgusting, freezing, and overall unwelcoming. Do not ever go here. read more

This is the last place to go to if you need mental health rehabilitation. Ridgeview Smyrna is disgusting. Their cleaning lady does not show up on weekends, so that means roaches on the floor, sticky surfaces, and overflowing trash cans for two days. Maybe more. The techs and nurses are especially unkind to the children who stay here. I was admitted a few months ago, and one tech even admitted to triggering patients with how loud and insulting she could be, taking pride in her negligence to help patients feel safe. A nurse made inappropriate and unprofessional comments about my body when I went here. That did not make me feel safe. I truly believe that this place is not the right facility to ask for help from. read more

So, they made me stay for a week when i was only supposed to be held on a 10/13. And during my stay there i was raped by an employee and it took for my parents to investigate and not the facility. They were also trying to blame me for the wrongdoing of their own employee. read more

I am sharing my personal experience as a patient at Ridgeview Institute Smyrna so others can make informed decisions. I was admitted to Ridgeview on August 25, 2025 and discharged on September 3, 2025. I arrived fully able to walk. Within hours of being in their care, I woke up on the floor in a dark room, in pain, and suddenly couldn't stand or walk. I repeatedly told multiple staff members--including nurses, techs, and nurse practitioners--that something was seriously wrong with my leg and that I needed to see a medical doctor. For almost six days, I did not receive an evaluation from a physician. I continued to tell them I couldn't walk, that I was collapsing when I tried to stand, and that the pain was severe. I did not feel heard or taken seriously during this time, which was extremely frightening. I eventually demanded to be taken to an ER on August 30. An X-ray there confirmed an injury. A later MRI through Emory Orthopedics revealed the full extent of the damage, which included multiple ligament tears, meniscus damage, cartilage damage, and fractures. I am now scheduled for major reconstructive knee surgery because of the untreated injury. When I was discharged from Ridgeview, I still couldn't walk. I was not provided a wheelchair or crutches and had to use my walker as a makeshift wheelchair just to leave the building. This was one of the most distressing experiences of my life. I sincerely hope Ridgeview improves how they listen to and respond to patients--especially when someone is reporting sudden loss of mobility or severe pain. I am sharing my experience so others can advocate for themselves and know what to expect. read more

One start only because you have to give it a star. My family member was there for a total of 9 days. He had little to no interactions with the physician and as soon as he was feeling better, he could not get a straight answer as to why he is still being held there. Steer clear. Went to visit on Sunday and the grounds were dirty and the lobby was disgusting. Trash everywhere. The meal room where visitation was held was nasty. The tables were disgusting and it looks like no one takes any care of the facility. Half of the staff members are dismissive and rude and those that try are very overworked. Staff members like Luisa, a nurse in cottage E3 are very rude and when asked for assistance just ignore your requests. Patient had signed a release and still no information has been provided to family, and family is told they will call back and never hear back. It's hard enough when family is dealing with a member who is having mental health issues and this place makes it much worse. Not sure how they are still open and licensed, but would never recommend this place to anyone ever. Come to find out they tell you that your plan to be discharged but fail to communicate with your family about setting up follow up and then tell you sorry you can't be discharged unless you have an appointment schedule only hours from your scheduled discharge time. The lack of communication is ridiculous, and they are horrible at taking care of the patient's mental health. Stay away and if your family member is placed on a hold and involuntarily placed refuse this place. read more

Don't know yet because my boy was just brought in tonight. We are waiting for his evaluation before being processed. He tried to shoot himself and failed. After facial reconstruction and healed a bit they decided to take him. He is so past those thoughts and wants to be back home getting to normal. But we are pretty much forced to let them take him. My hopes is they are good and accommodating to his needs as he is not fully healed and has a cast due to bone taken from leg. Plus I hope there's no problems with staff and other children like I've been hearing. I hope his stay is short and maybe I can give a good rating then. I work In The film industry and we've done shows on these types places. Too many horror stories I've heard. So I'm hoping this is not one of them. Edit: two days in and they moved my boy from B to A cottage which what's supposed to be more chill. But apparently some kids got mad and started throwing shit. A chair and juice bottle and not sure what else. Also my child's Deadpool shirt has already been stolen. More updates to come. UPDATE edit2 WELL!!! They said they were equipped with the medical capability to take care of my son. But they seem to have lost some things that were sent over from Arthur blanks CHOA. They sent over a whole care package. 5 days in I get a call from them asking if they can give antibiotics. I told them he was supposed to be taking them. That was what's in the care package that was sent over with a lot of other stuff. Today upon picking him up their nurse practitioner said that we should take him in within 24hrs because his foot looked infected and had drainage going on when it should be better at this point. She then claimed they had been giving him antibiotics the whole time but my boy said no they have not. So they are trying to lie and cover their tracks. Also my son, his mother and I have been asking them to give him a hospital care for him to be able to shower. They never got it to him! He has not been able to shower at all. We are now at CHOA emergency and they are concerned and not happy with this situation at all. His leg is infected due to their neglect. I will know more after the ENT team comes in to do their inspection and report. This is where you! Ridgeview need to prepare for what's coming. Edit3 YOU MOTHER FUCKERS!!! Apon going through all the care package sent with him from Arthur Blanks CHOA . You mother fuckers did not give him any of the very important medications crucial to his healing of his face and leg. Let's draw a picture more clearly of what happened to him. He tried to kill himself and blew his fucking jaw to pieces. They took a bone from his ankle and reconstructed a lower jaw for him!. He had antibiotics for his healing and some for his throat because of the trak site in his neck. The meds for his drooling due to The extensive surgery on his mouth. He is lucky he is alive. AND YOU FUCKS DIDNT HOLD UP ON YOUR END AND GIVE HIM HIS MEDICATION HE FUCKING NEEDED FOR HIM TO HEAL RIGHT!!! You can't take care of him and so his wound care. But you sure was wanting to give him Prozac! The one drug that make people have more suicidal thoughts and they end up doing it in some cases. Fuck you, you mother fuckers!!! I can't believe you have rights to operate that place at all. Oh and Regina H. We have your pills and pill case. They goofed and gave us your stuff too. Guess they were in a hurry to get us out with knowing they fucked up. Didn't want his leg infection to be on them. So he released earlier than we were told. Better for us anyway because YOU PEOPLE! Don't know how to or have any respect for children to do so. read more

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I'm only giving one star because thats the minimum Google will allow. This place has been absolutely terrible for my partner. She was involuntarily transferred here with no-one telling her where she would be going and nome of her emergency contacts were notified. They are currently holding her against the wishes of her, her parents, her psychiatrist, and the outpatient program she will be attending. They also fail miserably to administer medications, even when informed about the dosage and frequency. Do not let your loved ones be caged here like animals. There is rampant abuse and negligence from the staff and this place has numerous allegations of sexual assault and abuse. This place needs to do better, it is frankly inhumane the way this facility treats people. read more

Not even sure how to start. My mother has dementia and was placed there on a 10-13 for combative behavior by her memory care home. What was supposed to be a medication evaluation turned into a 3 week of hell experience!!! About 30 minutes of communication in the three weeks she was there. She fell in a Friday and went to the er. Everything checked out clear as far as broken bones. I put off her groggy fatigued behavior and poor coloring as after effects of the fall. She had a skin tear on her hand, that stuff is expected. She had blood on her shirt. On the Monday following, we went for the one hour a week visitation, which is from 3 to 4 in the afternoon. You are in one room with everyone else that actually gets a visitor.She still had on the same shirt with blood on it and covered in dry nasty food, stinky smell no she's, torn up toenails and nasty hair. We had to get her discharged from Ridgeview to be able to bring her back to the memory care home. They did not include us in a single decision about her health in the three weeks that she was there. We had no knowledge of any medical information, care or even a care plan. You get transferred from one place to another rarely getting anyone on the phone. When you did you get somebody with a really bad attitude like you're inconveniencing them to check on your loved one. One guy on the phone thought I had hung up and as he was slamming the phone down, actually said the word asshole. Another lady said when asked not to transfer me to the 'cottage' she was in because they weren't 'able' to verify anything and the doctor would call me back. We called More than Nearly 40 times and every single time you got transferred to somebody who didn't care. Only three times did we receive actual communication. But it still was without any actual facts or clear communication. They just read the chart but still didn't update on quality of health or care plan. She had three different discharge dates and those kept getting pushed out longer. She was picked up on a forced discharge on day 21. The only way to get a doctor on the phone for discharge info was to call the other institute and beg for any help. She smelled strongly of perfume and had a hair style that brushed her hair over her forehead. She still had the groggy look and wasn't walking very good. We are a single week out of there still with no medical information or communication. We have emailed, called and even messaged the Facebook page. Social media was answered with another someone will call you back. We have tried again to get a medication list with no response on our way to the ER 36 hours later for drug side effects. She has grey coloring, drooling and barely able to stand. A happy go lucky dancing able bodied woman walked into there and came out in such poor shape that she has been hospitalized twice since. Turns out they were treating her for bipolar and schizophrenia. They even put her on a medicine. It's main warning is do not use on elderly or dementia patients as it causes stroke, heart attack and quick death. And guess what? STILL no call back about anything! 5 calls and several messages left with nothing. Let's now add Medicare fraud to that ongoing list. They are charging Medicare 4 room totaling 10 beds at $867 a day for 21 days. Because of her dementia she cannot tell us about her treatment but you can see that it was not cared about. We have turned them into health department, Humana and Medicare. Because they are a private institution the ombudsman group can't help us either. DO NOT USE THIS FACILITY especially for elderly! Do I expect anything other than a generic response from this review? Absolutely not! read more

Ridgeview Institute - Before - Counseling & Mental Health Near Me - Smyrna, Georgia

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I was put here due to very bad mental problems I'm not comfortable to say...but when I was here there were roaches, bedbugs, and a BIG lice infestation which I have now gotten lice from DO NOT GO HERE Mrs. Kiya or however you spell her name was very inappropriate one day she walked into peoples rooms to wake them up in the morning and yelled "Mrs Kiya is in loooovee" just reminding you THIS IS THE CHILDS WARD more about the employees is one nurse asked if I was cutting and said no so she turns to the other nurse and says "I really don't fucking car if she cuts or not" this nurses name was Mrs. Diana. Food, is very unhealthy I found hair, nails, spit in my juice and more. other conserns is one young girl has very bad eczema and she took a shower and her skin was purple and her arms were losing oxygen the nurses said she was fine and gave her a protein shake...HORRIBLE place I do not recommend at all if you have ANY problems PLEASE SUE I will be taking action as well this place was very tramatic (the doctors only see you once btw) FEEL BETTER LOVES! read more

it's horrible especially ms kya n ms morgan n ms Rochelle they were so lazy and so rude always having a attitude and food wasn't good these mental hospital staff and doctors don't help read more

Awful place. I went there because my psychiatrist recommended outpatient care. I had to sit in the waiting room for about 12 hours. And when I was finally seen, I made the mistake of being totally honest (NEVER do this!) and admitting to having suicidal thoughts. Instead of helping me meaningfully, they chose to cover their own ass and prevent liability instead, and they locked me up in inpatient care for 3 days. They said that because I had a "method," they had to. The doctor who had me admitted never even saw me in person. Just had their staff interview me for 15 minutes or so, then they went into another room to deliberate, then came back and determined I should be admitted. When I said I did not consent to that and asked what would happen if I didn't sign the agreement, the VERY kind and compassionate staffer simply said, "Then we'll have to admit you involuntarily." Which means you stay for even longer and have fewer rights. Got separated from my family, searched, and forced to change. No compassion from anyone involved in this process at any point. If you're in inpatient care, they treat you both like you're incompetent and a criminal. Out of bed early in the morning, and you must sit in the lobby watching TV all day. Only deviation from that is when you eat and when you have these useless daily mental health activities. You can't stay in your room. They put the beds up and lock the doors to make sure you don't. Several of the staff were legitimately confused about why I was even there, and the nice lady who was in charge of my case did a great job at getting me released in 3 days, which is the minimum amount of time you are legally required to stay once you are forced in. Nothing they did helped me whatsoever. I left that place even worse off than I was before I went in. They put me on medication that I immediately got off of once I found a new psychiatrist. And in the end, they charged me about $1,500 for a stay I had no say in, as I had no insurance. It's worth noting that this place is a private, for-profit organization, so they profit from every person they admit, and they very much can benefit financially from involuntarily admitting you. It's not like you can say no to having to pay them if they can force their "services" onto you. One of the staff I spoke to while I was there even admitted that sometimes they seem to admit you even when it's not really necessary. Had I known I might be forced into inpatient care, I never would have gone in the first place. Avoid this place, and if you go, understand what you could get yourself into if you're entirely honest with them. They will protect themselves before bothering with you, at great cost to your time, mental health, and your money. read more

I was admitted to Ridgeview on May 25, 2025, and had what I can only describe as a truly confusing time. I was admitted after a drug overdose where I mentioned quote "Let's just say if a truck were coming at me I wouldn't get out of the way" my parents were given the ultimatum of either sending me to Ridgeview or losing custody of me. I showed up via ambulance (we weren't given another transport option) and spent 4 hours in the intake area, although this felt like years in my psychosis, the employees got frustrated and upset whenever I asked the time. In my week stay my parents received incorrect records stating that I was suffering from severe depression, suicidal/homicidal thoughts, as well as hearing and seeing things, none of this was true. The room I was placed in was horrid, it had a massive light out the window that was so bright that I had to put underwear over my eyes so I could sleep, along with that there was a towel covered in human feces in the middle of the room. My stay at Ridgeview was truly transformative, sadly it had nothing to do with the institution. I was lucky to be able to meet some truly special children who were stuck in there with me. Out of the maybe 50 I met throughout my stay, only 2 of the staff had any kind of positive impact. Kendell and the vice president of the entire place. I felt truly alone and couldn't even cry on the phone with my parents without them threatening to cut the call, I wasn't given a sheet or sanitary equipment for the first 2 days. I was an emotional kid going through a truly traumatic experience and if I cried I couldn't even seek the physical support of the friends I made around me. I understand the need for safety regulations but if someone's sobbing thinking their parents gave up on them, and your staff won't comfort them, at least let another kid going through something else do it. It felt inhumane in a way that such an institution never should, feeling even the slightest bits of human kindness brought me to tears. Fuck you Ridgeview, and thank you from the bottom of my heart. read more

They put me out to a shelter that had no place for me. Lost clothes shoes and BP meds.

My child was sent there in cottage A . The staff communicated with me two or three times a day . They allowed my child to call me , when my child asked . The psychiatrist was life changing , and explained that there are different levels of depression . Word of advice -check and make sure you have ALL your child's belongings before you leave - DO not send your child in with any money or anything of value. The $30 we had in an envelope with my child's name on it the pocket of a bag was stolen . I had no issues during my child's stay , and found none of the negative reviews to be true . So moms and dads - if your child ends up her - don't worry they have a team of great and communicative staff . If you call they will answer. read more

During my stay at Ridgeview Institute, I experienced something that completely shattered any trust I had in their system. In the middle of a live group therapy session, our therapist, someone who had been a consistent source of support was abruptly pulled out of the room by Nathan, the Director of Medical Services (Located in the out patient building). Our therapist direct supervisor AUTUMN O'BERRY then came in and told us the group was being split up and casually stated she "didn't know what was going on." That alone was alarming... and a lie. Later, I found out that Nathan had actually fired our therapist during the session. No explanation. No support. No plan. Just sudden chaos in a setting where patients are already emotionally raw and vulnerable. The session was cut short, and we were left confused, unsupported, and emotionally abandoned. This was not just a management decision it was a direct disruption of mental health treatment that caused emotional harm. It showed a complete lack of clinical sensitivity, accountability, or care for the actual patients this facility claims to serve. If you are looking for compassionate, ethical, and stable mental health treatment you will not find it here, especially now that they fired the BEST therapist I have ever had. And if leadership like Nathan is what Ridgeview considers acceptable, then it speaks volumes about their priorities. Not healing. Not patients. Just power, ego, and disorganization. Avoid this place if you truly care about your mental health read more

Disappointing Experience at Ridgeview Institute Our experience at Ridgeview Institute left us feeling deeply let down. A family member was in the middle of a mental health crisis, and following Kaiser Permanente's referral, we arrived at Ridgeview at 7 PM seeking urgent care. From the start, the staff offered little guidance, repeatedly telling us to "just wait" without providing any updates or explanations. We waited for five hours--an excruciating amount of time in such a critical situation--only to realize at midnight that the staff had completely disappeared. The receptionists left without notifying anyone, there was no security after 11 PM, and we were left alone in the waiting area with another patient. Feeling abandoned and out of options, we had no choice but to leave without receiving any care. For a facility that advertises itself as specializing in mental health, this lack of communication, care, and oversight is deeply concerning. Waiting hours without support, only to be left alone, is unacceptable for anyone in crisis. We cannot recommend this facility based on our experience. Ridgeview must reevaluate its operations to ensure no one else faces such neglect in their time of need. read more

I had a loved one whonwas admitted to Ridgeview in Monroe, GA. The staff did.not follow policy or procedures and violat human rights, Federal, State, and Jurisdictional laws and requirements. My father was stripped of his civil and human rights due to the staff stripping him naked and a lack of oversight by the management and the clinical staff. Please note that this will be on the Local and National nightly news. It is important to speak up when there are serious vio to civil and human rights. Please let your staff know being reality television stars is NOT what professionals do. Cobb County adolescents mental health services is on the news locally on Channel 2. As they should be. Your Human Resources staff and direct services staff has hurt families and their children. Shame on you! read more

Horrible experience from beginning to end. My 78yr old mother in law was admitted in a 1013 that was extended to a 1014. Over the course of 10 days, she had 3 trips to the ER due to seizures/falls at Ridgeview. Come to find out they were not administering her daily meds for blood pressure, seizure disorder, COPD, and diabetes. Her 10 days of hell ended on a Thursday and the facility sent me a TEXT stating that after the ER released her that day she was discharged from Ridgeview and could return home. No discharge notes or treatment plan was sent to us. After repeated calls to the facility, they list her purse and wallet, hearing aids and some jewelry. One of the staff members even agreed to at how this facility handled my mother in law was disgraceful and encouraged us to file a complaint with the state, which we will be doing; after we seek legal counsel for medical negligence. If it was possible to issue ZERO STARS I would... read more

I admitted myself to Ridgeview five years ago and had a wonderful experience there about three weeks ago. I went to admit myself again, and it was absolutely awful kids walking in the hallways, my intake person was unbelievable. She was rude didn't listen to me, wouldn't let me talk, then just got up left and came back in and said oh the doctor said that you're going to be an outpatient. I was sobbing. I needed so badly to be an inpatient. I asked her if I could speak with the doctor and she just got up and walked out half an hour later I went looking for asked her if she had spoken with the doctor and she just said I told you he said outpatient I don't know what you want so I got up and walked out Absolute chaos I don't know what was going on in there read more

was a patient at Ridgeview 3 years ago, and I couldn't have been more mistreated and neglected. The staff is rude; they lie about discharge dates; they make fun of mental illness; they disrespect kids. There was a girl I witnessed being slammed on the ground by these two big guys just because she asked to be let into her room. I was also shot up with sedatives without my concent and also given help from a male nurse in the shower which is tramatic breaks my heart to see the mistreatment and injustice that happen at this institution. Please never send your kids there. It's a disgusting place that I wish I could give zero stars to. read more

if i could, i'd give 0 stars. This place is horrible! no one should go here. only if you'd like to be more traumatized. this place needs to be shut down. staff is incredibly rude. fights occur everyday. bones from they're food and currents from they're rooms were being used for self harm. read more

The lack of communication was not only frustrating but very scary for a mom whose child was in their care. They claimed they had the wrong number but my child (teen) gave them correct one multiple times and so did I when I called. I called to find out what was going on and was rudely told they couldn't communicate with me without a patient ID number. I had spoken with two individuals before this. Neither of them gave me a patient ID. I wasn't informed of visiting hours until the day of and I live two hours away. They could have started my child on better medication sooner had they actually called me back like they insisted they would. Then the doctor had the audacity to try to schedule my child with him outside of the facility when he barely communicated with me to begin with and didn't listen to me or my child. He just talked over us. Do not choose this facility. There have to be better ones out there. read more

Caring staff, good clean environment. Food only fair. The first activity staff was wonderful. Varied activities, unusual activities. Very good groups. read more

If you can, I would stay away fro this place. the care was not helpful AT ALL. we basically sat in the common area all day barely being watched at all. The first day I got there, I was very unstable. No staff checked in with me. I was literally hurting myself and no one noticed. It's ridiculous. They continued to hold me even when I was stable later in my stay. There was awful communication with my parents about how I was doing and when they would discharge me. When I was finally discharge, they forgot to send the prescription for my new medication and I was without medication for several days because they wouldn't call us back. Stay away from here. read more

Horrible experience. I was admitted due to suicidal ideation and I told staff I needed therapy and counseling. I was told that they "don't do that" and they don't have enough staff to do 1 on 1 therapy with everyone individually. Sitting in front of a tv all day and wringing on a worksheet 3 times a day and discussing what I wrote is not going to fix decades of trauma. I was there for 9 days with no regard to my kids (both under 2), my work like or bills. They were repeatedly telling me I shouldn't worry about that but instead worry about how I put myself there and I should make better decisions (not at all a way to talk to a depressed, anxious person btw) and that I just have to do what is being asked. The food is absolutely disgusting. Nothing is seasoned, the juice taste watered down and we barely had access to sauce and salt/pepper. Regardless of the horrible food choices, if you didn't eat you were given extra days. Regardless of you being sad if you cried, you were given extra days. You were not allowed to have any type of emotional response to anything. If you didn't have emotions, you got extra days lol. This place is a joke. If the medications made you sick, you couldn't sit in the room and be sick in peace. You had to sit in front of the tv still around everyone else while you're sick and irritable. If you were throwing up, you could throw up in your room then had to come back out. Asthma? No one cares. The only time you got to go outside is when there was smoke breaks so you HAD to be around others smoking cigarettes in order to get "fresh" smoke filled air. If you didn't want to do that? No outside time for 9 days. You have no rights. You have no freedom. You are treated like children. If you don't take meds? More days. You have to be their puppet while they max out your insurance and if you don't got insurance, they max out your pockets. They will discuss your stay and medical information to people without your consent regardless of HIPAA laws. Staff will flirt with each other in the presence of patients E1 staff. MALE WORKERS BARLEY ANNOUNCED THEMSELVES COMING ONTO AN ALL WOMANS UNIT REGARDLESS OF PAST TRAUMA. My doctor only saw me once during admission and not one time after the full 9 days. My meds were increased without an explanation why and I just had to be ok with it. THIS PLACE IS A JOKE!!! No help for people dealing with actual trauma. No therapy, no nothing. Just tv, bad food and meds that don't work. I wouldn't take my most suicidal family members to this place. Burn it to the ground along with the cold food we got daily. The food never had any hint of heat. It was always ice cold, dry, weird looking, nasty and unseasoned along with the nasty staff Myah with the too tight ponytail. Staff was always rude and nasty to us and treated us as if we are dogs. They walked into rooms and turned on bright led lights without announcing themselves just to piss us off in the mornings. They need to reevaluate. ASAP. read more

This place is negligent. They caused patient to have a seizure from neglecting their medical needs. Did not even send patient to hospital until family demanded it. Awful place read more

I went here and i was told i would only be there for 3 days but was there for 6, they put you in an evaluation room which i was in for 8 hours with absolutely nothing to do. the care staff is terrible to the patients and the food was like dog food. the care was horrible and i was sent to my room on multiple occasions for having a cup in the area where you watch tv. the janitor would pick fights with the kids because we had cups in said room. i wasn't able to make phone calls on my own time, just when family would call, and sometimes when people would make a phone call when i was doing something they would never tell me someone called. the care staff was lazy and immature. My roommate had an episode where she hallucinated bugs and screamed but the staff never came. kids would bite others and throw things and nothing happened. there is multiple different types of bugs (cockroaches, spiders, earwigs, silverfish, etc.) it was the worst 6 days of my life, never send your kid there. read more

if you want your child to commit suicide put them in here, come to ridgeview Smyrna when there are unlimited power struggles with unprofessional adults that don't know how to deal with childern, when I went here and Adult man that worked that made sexual comments about me a 16 year old girl I was then ignored by him and the rest of the staff for the rest of the day when I would ask for anything they wouldn't even look at me or respond this includes during meal times and hygiene time and when it's time for meds. half the staff comes in smelling of smoke, they also took away my bra but I was then yelled at multiple times for my "Brest" poking through my scrubs, they also failed to mention that the institution in co-ed, the staff will do anything to bate your child into an argument (staff here told me I was going to end up dead on the street as a prostetiute that would hold no worth to anyone;verbatim)-day shift.) and then if you feel confident enough to report said staff member the whole crew will ignore you and treat you diffrent for your peers it is humiliating. and the way "ms.mickey" brings up self harm to kids is disturbing and disrespectful and is in no way helpful to a child's mental health I want to give a shout out to the night shift staff because they were always so sweet and kind and listened to me when I felt like no one would, the day shift tells you to talk to other nurses about how you feel if a staff member is being inappropriate the other staf members will say that you are lying. day shift is just as misrebel as the kids the only difference is that they can project their misry as power abuse oh and if you happened to read this entire thing my first 48 hours there my nurse put in the wrong numbers for my parents meaning I could contact them for two days and she would yell at me for calling to much and the whole time she messed up the number and refused to tell me it was wrong until my 72 hour of being here I left in worse condition than I came. read more

if you "get in trouble" aka having whatever they deem contraband etc. they will take your vistation away. i once didn't get a phone call because phone calls are only an hour time frame and the other patients took too long. i have been here 6 times from ages 12-17. just know they have a punishment system if you do something that is wrong to them and they will make you sit at a desk all day and not able to interact with your peers or anyone else for 24 hours :) they call it AR and im pretty sure it stands for "all restrictions" read more

I do not recommend Ridgeview institute for any mental health issues at all. I was there a while ago and have been three times continuously, one time they lost my medication and I went without it for three days until I figured out they had lost it, they let another patient get away with putting my slippers in the toilet and my mattress on the bathroom floor and didn't notice until I walked in and said something myself, someone was having a seizure and instead of going to help her they got mad at the girl who took off her sweatshirt and laid it under her head and the when we called the doctor over and explained she was having a seizure he just said "you're fine" and then walked away and we had to stay with her until about twenty minutes later a staff came to check her vitals. I feel as if though most of the staff have an already very negative mood not counting some of them and some have intolerant ways of dealing with situations in the cottages. 1 star. read more

This Institute is atrocious. We had my father admitted over a week ago for psychiatric behavior caused by his long-term Alzheimer's disease. Even since before he was admitted, We were disappointed in the entire staff. Communication is absolutely terrible, nobody has returned any of our voicemails And constant emails and phone calls. Just trying to get updates on him as a patient. They even said that we were received daily communication, that was a complete lie. We get transferred to what feels like 100 different people who can't answer any of our questions, we feel helpless and hopeless and have no idea how my dad is doing. This was maybe the worst decision that we could have made. Just so that they are liable- we never heard back from Stacey Hines, the "patient advocate," Victoria, a nurse supervisor, or Somiyah, the program coordinator. It has been 9 days, and practically no updates on him. Save your loved ones- avoid this terrible place. read more

Let me preface by saying they did start me on an antidepressant than helped. However, it was a completely dehumanizing and traumatic experience. When I arrived from the ambulance, I was placed in an office type room for hours and hours before anyone came to speak to me. I just sat there alone and scared for hours. Then I was forced to do a fully naked strip search that including lifting up my breasts and spreading my vagina and butt cheeks. While I was there, I got ZERO one on one therapy. The only therapy available was group therapy, which was run by a woman who clearly had a superiority complex by the way she spoke to us. My newly prescribed antidepressant has caused me some vomiting and I was rudely scolded for "being late" in front of everyone bc I was in the bathroom puking, even though the therapy session hasn't even started yet; I just wasn't sitting in my chair yet. I did meet with my psychiatrist and case worker but no individual therapy was offered to me and I am far more comfortable in a one on one setting. The staff was unkind, except for one sweet person who was only there on the weekends. I spent every single day coloring in coloring books. I was actually kind of relieved when I found out I had to go there (against my will) because I knew I needed help but the entire experience was incredibly disheartening and I left with more trauma and confusion than when I arrived. read more

Me and my daughter love this place. They helped my daughter with a lot of issues such as anger, mentally and rebellion. . She loves her therapist and counselor! When she was discharged, she said she wants to keep the therapist that she had here. They are very helpful to resources and treats you like family. I would refer them. Keep up the great work!!! read more

Yes the 1 and a half stars on this place are correct! DO NOT send your child here if you plan on getting them any help!!! this place is horrible when it comes to bettering ANYONES mental health! No individual therapy, Psychiatrist everyother day, but you'll see the nurse practitioner everyday??? The mental status of everyone is so mixed that kids with anger issues are with the kids with anxiety, depression etc. The only source of therapy is the group therapy which shouldn't even be considered therapy because all they would do is color and not give them what they need because a child with anger issues most likely won't need the type of therapy a child with depression has if that makes any kind of sense. The place is unclean: not allowed to wear shoes on the unit so socks are filthy because they do not mop, they don't clean the bathrooms. The food: go ahead and prepare to gain weight or lose weight, they have no fruit but old and dirty vegetables, not cooked all the way chicken, and cake with lunch AND dinner. The staff specifically the techs are extremely unkind and obviously don't care about your child's well being. They just sit on their phones ALL DAY. Your child's well being is not their PRIORITY! they won't go outside, wont feel any sunlight it's worse than a prison here. so I beg of you DO NOT i repeat DO NOT plan on sending your child here if you want what is best for them even if the primary hospital refers you here DO NOT. This place should honestly be bulldozed because it is a waste of of space and money!!! read more

I legitimately have trauma from going for 'help' at Ridgeview. You get admitted and no one tells you ANYTHING. But staff get extremely annoyed with you for asking too many questions. Everything is an argument with them, even small questions like "Can I get napkins". At best they are contrarian and condescending, at worst they actively antagonize patients until the patients act out and they are wrestled and sedated. The ICU was seriously Stanford Prison Experiment level horrendous. The unit was continuously running out of water for the patients multiple times a day for at least an hour each time. The lead tech, Terrance, just yells at patients there. Just rudely dismisses, yells, and antagonizes. The ICU is for the patients with the biggest mental health issues, yelling should be the least used form of communication. Only a few good staff seem to understand how to treat patients with respect and compassion. But most of the staff clearly don't have any respect for the patients and very openly show it. They will complain and laugh at you with the other staff and you can see it. One staff even made fun of a patient with other patients. And if you get frustrated they will absolutely gaslight you by blaming you for not being patient enough, for not asking the right questions at the right time (even though you don't even know which questions to ask), not being respectful, not knowing what's going on (again, you are literally told nothing about how things work), and not being able to control yourself. It's a bit shocking how many of them see nothing wrong with how we are treated or how things are run. The place is chaos, you really have to fend for yourself there and they literally expect you to be able to figure everything out on your own, despite everything changing all the time with no explanation. I joked with another patient that my favorite repeated lie told to me there was "I'll check on that and get back to you". The only place I really experienced compassion was with the other patients and a few select staff the last day I was there. There is a lot more I could say and examples I could give, but I'll no one has that kind of time. I left more traumatized than when I came in. Horrific. Nothing less than horrific. read more