The Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center Georgia

My experience at Sylvia Brafman was life changing. The staff do not treat you only as a patient but as almost family. My time there was nothing short of amazing. All of the staff are trained very well and helped provide me with the tools and coping skills needed to help me. Anytime that I did have an issue at the facility. It was taken care of immediately, diligently and expeditiously and all the while they keep you aware of the steps they’re taking to resolve any issues you may have. You’re treated like a person not like a patient. I would recommend this facility to anyone who has any type of mental health issues. I cannot say enough good things about them. I love them all.

In February, I made the very difficult choice to enter an in-treatment facility for alcohol abuse. Geography, family and therapist input led me to the Sylvia Brafman Center in GA. I knew, immediately, this was not the place for me but endured a three week stent. My review is split because many of the class facilitators were knowledgeable, caring and helpful. Unfortunately, that’s where the positivity ends. The facility itself was filthy. Upon my intake I was asked for a urine sample and to change into a medical gown. The linen bin and trash bin were over flowing to the floor. The floor was scattered with used wipes used for urine samples. This lack of attention to health regulations did not stop there. There is a community dining area where 25 to 30 in-patients were served three meals, seven days a week. Only once, in three weeks, did I see an employee wipe down any table. (Thirty people, three meals a day, seven days a week.) I chose to wipe my personal eating area using paper napkins (not always available. I often had to go to a restroom for towels)and liquid hand soap provided at the hand washing station. There was one point where a broken half cookie remained on the floor, under the table where I ate for more than three days. Moving on to administrative issues. Upon arrival I was given NO orientation. I was shown to my room and my belongings were later brought to me. At 5:00 pm I was told to go to dinner. I had no idea where that was or what I was supposed to do. I was pointed into a direction where other female patients helped me with the initial process. This pattern continued. I had no idea how my first day was to proceed or offered any orientation of the facility so I could know where specific classes were to take place. There was much side meeting with staff members pulling me into offices for paper work and signing of document. There was no identification or responsibilities of any of these staff members to me. Staying within the administrative side, meeting with my personal therapist did not happen until the end of the 5th day. It lasted about 30 minutes and I was asked to sign a form that misdiagnosed me as major depressive disorder. I refused to sign the form. I was later asked to sign a form stating that I had been physically checked upon, by the nurse on duty, every 6 hours. I was NEVER checked by nurse except at am and pm medication during dispense. When I questioned this it was explained that people were visually observing me and then completing the computer data. How can you visibly observe if some who is experiencing light sensitivity, diarrhea, headache, hearing voices or considering self harm or harming others? The electronic records said that it had been done, verbally. It had not. My question, if this record could be falsified, what other records could be falsified? See my concern? The worst was when I requested a meeting w my (assigned) patient case worker, donisha. I finally met with her to discuss options for continued treatment upon my exit. She sold the Florida location of Sylvia Brafman. Passed. she looked for more local services. She offered one in my area. She passed her iPad to me to view and then set her phone on her desk and watched videos. The site was not close me geographically; it was in down town Atlanta. She looked for something else, found another facility, passed the iPad and proceeded to watch videos on her phone. I was CLEAR she would not be a resource for me. Im not sure who Sylvia Brafman would be good for. People seeking knowledge and support in a comfortable environment for addiction can find some pearls within the teaching modules but this is not designed as an addiction center. The true patients that need the bigger, more challenging mental health issues are not serviced there either. They were sitting in the same exact meeting with me; most of the time sleeping or eating and not taking notes or asking any questions. Who benefits from the Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center? The Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center.

I would NEVER recommend this place to someone that is not having it paid for by their insurance. The majority of your investment is to pay for behavior health technicians to put eyes on you every 15min. If your situation does need someone to check on you every 15min then I highly recommend you find a different route. This place is for those who have serious mental health issues that severely impair them in the general public like schizophrenia and bipolar- not less severe issues such as depression, PTSD, anxiety, etc. I was never given the opportunity to give feedback during my botched discharge so here it is. The one on one therapy you get is only 35-40min once a week and it is surface level at best. A broad stroke and most likely a hand out piece of paper that explains how to ‘think before you speak’ Nothing that is curtailed to your personalized mental health journey. Their version of help it seemed was ‘here take this magic pill..or 3..or 5 and it will be good’ The communication within their chain of command is horrendous. I had privileges revoked over a weekend over a miscommunications that they could not figure out within themselves. Before I left, I asked Audrey, the executive director, over 48hrs in advance what I needed to do or complete for a successful discharge since my therapist was off that day. She quickly deferred me to my therapist, Rachel. When I asked Rachel the next day, she quickly deferred me to my case manager, Donesha, and said she would find me that day or the next. Well Donesha never came nor has she called after I left a message at the front desk for her to as I need paperwork to submit to the VA. It’s been several weeks since I left and no one has reached out or answer my emails asking questions. I had to coordinate all of my medicines being discharged with myself with the on duty nurse and it was very unorganized. Donesha does not need to be handling patients or their cases as every interaction i had or witnessed with others was cold and almost condescending and she does not appear to enjoy her line of work. It was blatantly obvious. The BHT supervisor, John, is either a lier or extremely incompetent as he sneered when I asked for his help to see who had urinated on my belongings and claimed the security camera did not show anything. He lacks the ability to contain his personal zest when addressing work related issues. Several other workers treat every patient as if this place is involuntary and a jail. The BHT, Jaime, was the worse in how she would snap and talk down to everyone. She would take her personal frustrations of other employees not ‘upholding’ the rules out on patients. They have bigger issues to address than someone urinating on my belongings it seemed. A lot of people left early including myself during my time there. There was also an incident where a patient’s underwear was stolen by another patient and found in their belongings. That patient who stole someone’s sensitive belongings was not removed from the program and caused stress and awkwardness for everyone who knew about the situation in group discussion. Business must be really down for them as towards the end , they admitted several people who were withdrawing from drugs and would constantly complain and curse at their situation. Another patient would constantly snore and disrupt group without being asked to leave causing issues for others who were trying to learn. My last week there - I was constantly woken up at night or in the morning with people ‘rapping’ in the common areas. A rehab program for drugs would have been more suitable for those people but it seemed Sylvia would take anyone if they were paying or their insurance regardless of their effect on other patients. This picture is the baseboard of my closet that someone urinated on the morning I left after Audrey, the Executive Director, told me they would be deep cleaning my room after the incident and that I would not be able to find out who did that.

It was a wonderful experience and definitely helped me grow as a better person.

Sylvia Brafman and its staff are amazing at what they do. They were patient and thorough with explaining everything as this was a new unexpected experience for my family. They provided a level of care I believe would be hard to beat.

Everyone is really on board about the outside life and rehabilitation. I’m Very satisfied with my stay.

Unfortunately we are profoundly lacking mental health options today when it seems to be such a buzz topic. Having an option for a residential level of care is so important for continuity however it’s often overlooked due to lack of options. No wonder the same team from Sylvia Brafman Florida created and built up this program and just one year. Walking in to see a baby grand piano, courtyards, libraries, and gaming areas takes the sting out of making what can be the hardest decision of your life. (But truly worth it). From intake to discharge, there are truly caring staff who walk alongside you. Staff who make their day all about making yours a little easier. The leadership is creative and attentive. The weekly community meetings aren’t just for show but true changes are made after feedback is given. The chef even comes to the meetings on occasion and is always open to feedback! Groups are engaging and bring up skills I didn’t even know were needed. Rebecca is so smart when it comes to medications. A beautiful building full of beautiful people. I don’t know what else to say except 10/10 stars

Excellent facility and care at the highest levels. Know of a few success stories to come out of there.