College Hospital Costa Mesa - Costa Mesa, California

Shawn T.

Should have believed the other reviews.
Yes they lie right to your face just to get you in the door. Once your inside its whole different story and they can say anything to hold you hostage. Unbelievable what people will do just to fill beds. Take this as a warning and don't trust them . Seek help somewhere else first . This is a last resort and just know they don't have to tell you the truth to get you in. Please . Believe me! and don't find out I'm right later.
Update 1/28/25, as things progressed I was told the doctor didn't want to fill out the early release forms because it was " an inconvenience and took to much time" . So that means the doctor did not follow there Fiduciary duty and do what's right for the patient. They choose themselves, over the best interests of there patient.
I was there at 8pm to pickup my daughter the doctor didn't sign the forms until 9:16pm which means they held my daughter against her will for over an hour.

Ross O.

I was a patient here a couple of times a few years ago and reason why I’m putting a review right now is because I was talking about it with my friend over text messages and I got to tell you guys that this was the best place that I could ever go to whenever I relapsed and messed up and felt guilty and ashamed of myself I mean, where else can you go to start all over again get mentally refreshed get some Vicodin in your system to fall asleep from all the drugs and the alcohol withdrawals Get fed three times a day. Get a motivational meeting to help you do better and not to mess up again and also a lounge room with a refrigerator with nothing but snacks and cups of ice cream I mean come on it doesn’t get better than that my bad yes it does. The nurse is there and staff are beautiful and they’re fun and easy to talk to just make sure you be respectful gentleman.

Peggy R.

This place is unbelievable Liars for one and if anyone remembers the movie THE CURE FOR WELLNESS perfect example.. Giving will be addicts the wrong medicine and continue to do it. The staff everyone has the same look on their face looks like they came out of a house of horrors. Don't eat the food and don't even go here. Two people that I know have had the same experience at 4-year Gap this place needs to be investigated with the medicine that they're distributing it's not 1960 anymore in the opiate addiction is on the rise and they need to get with the times.

A Z. (.

I cannot put into words how grateful I am to every single staff member at CHCM with whom I’ve interacted because they are giving me a new life!!!

The first time I remember feeling suicidal was at nine years old in 1980, and I didn’t know enough to tell my parents about it at any time while I was still a minor because mental health for children wasn’t discussed in schools or in the general public at that time.

Beginning in 1992, when I dropped out of college due to severe depression, I began taking antidepressants, and I’ve tried just about every SSRI and SNRI out there. I’ve also tried a few atypical antipsychotics because several years into this mental health journey, somewhere along the way, I was diagnosed with Bipolar-2 Disorder. I think they call it something different now, but my point is that I don’t suffer from mania—only hypomania at times, thank God!

I’ve never tried MAOIs or another type of psychiatric drug that was previously more common for treating depression or bipolar disorder (I can’t remember its name), nor Lithium.

Of all the drugs I’ve tried from 1992 to 2025, including IV ketamine infusions as well as rTMS, they either did nothing or did so little that they just barely prevented me from killing myself and just barely kept me employed. I would not say they were effective antidepressants for me because I still felt severely depressed, would always keep my blinds closed and sleep as much as possible, only getting up to go to work because I didn’t want to end up homeless.

But my depression has created a huge challenge for me to get to work on time/at all, which really stinks because I’m sure it looks irresponsible to observers.

I think I learned that ECT is still legal via posts on Reddit, of all places! And I’m so grateful!!! Because even though, yes, I am suffering some minor memory issues, I DON’T CARE!!!!! WHY? BECAUSE I’M STARTING TO FEEL THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF THE ECT!!!! IT’S STARTING TO LAST MORE THAN A FEW HOURS!!!

THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT HAS EVER WORKED FOR ME!!!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO DR. SCHWARTZ AND THE ENTIRE TEAM THERE AT CHCM!!! EVERYONE IS SO KIND!!!!

I THANK GOD FOR EACH ONE OF YOU!!! YOU ARE MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE!!!

The only reasons I was still sticking around alive were 3:
1. I’m a chicken and I didn’t want to end up permanently disabling myself.
2. I don’t want to abandon my boyfriend. We’ve been together since 2016, and he’s an amazing and wonderful human being. I don’t understand why he likes me so much 😅 but I love him enough not to leave him alone.
3. I don’t want to break my parents’ hearts, and I’ve heard that losing a child is the worst pain a human can feel.

All the ECT staff take really good care of us patients there, from the receptionist and the lady who processes the copays to the CNA, all the RNs, all the different anesthesiologists, Dr. Schwartz, and the doctor who subbed for him once.

They all treat all of us ECT patients with dignity, for which I’m very grateful! I’m definitely going to draft some type of advanced directive that says if I ever am 5150’d, I want to be sent to CHCM.

Their bathroom fixtures may seem a bit extreme, but we’ve got to take into consideration the reasoning behind them: the hospital is in the business of preserving life, so they need to make it as difficult as possible for patients to get a hold of anything that might be used for self-injury.

My own psychiatrist (not affiliated with CHCM) flat out refused to write me a referral for ECT because “It’s too extreme; we want to try everything else first.” DUDE!!! WHAT ELSE WAS THERE LEFT TO TRY?

If you have had severe depression like I have, a little bit of short term memory loss—to me—is FAR MORE than a fair exchange for what I’ve gained so far!!!

I’ve been receiving ECT treatments three times a week for about one month, and the other day, I *GOT UP BEFORE 3:00 PM, MADE MY BED, OPENED THE BLINDS TO MY APARTMENT DURING THE DAY!!!!!* That is HIGHLY UNUSUAL for me!

Apparently, I’m not a vampire; just severely depressed! WELL THANK YOU CHCM!!🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

Sam B.

3 1/2 stars. I got to a meeting here and the facilities are outdated but fine. They refreshed the carpets which is the reason for the extra 1/2 star. U have to go upstairs to use the restroom. Nothing big unless ur in a hurry or cold 😉 lol. I’ve never had to use the medical facilities but people seem attentive and helpful.

Joseph A.

I have called the beneficiary access hotline and the only place for me to get Psychiatric help would be here at this location.

Joshua said I do not qualify and then when I was upset for him not helping me he said that he didnt say that.

Then Joshua started saying that its just marijuana " just a little bit of THC." that theres no reason to seek psychiatric help for mind altering controlled substances.

David C.

This is a very wonderful hospital however I do believe that they opened my personal property before I was released I noticed that the bag my personal property came from with me was open which was not supposed to be the case

Nicholos N.

My experience at College Hospital of Costa Mesa was great. Attentive staff, friendly
clientele and even the food was pretty good. They helped me through a dark time and I'm grateful to them for their help. They even provided resources to me after I got out. I don't know why they have so many negative reviews but I would recommend them.