According to a Friday report from TMZ, former star of The O.C. Mischa Barton has been hospitalized for a mental evaluation. Bustle has reached out to her rep for comment, but did not receive a response at time of publication. Before being hospitalized, she was allegedly "exhibiting some bizarre behavior that had friends and neighbors extremely concerned Thursday morning."
According to sources who spoke with TMZ, Barton was reportedly seen hanging over the fence in her backyard located in West Hollywood. The 31-year-old was allegedly "rambling about her mom being a witch, the world shattering ... and Ziggy Stardust." TMZ also reports that Barton also "fell backward off the fence" and was heard saying, "Oh my God, it's over! I feel it, and it's angry!"
TMZ reports sheriff's deputies and firefighters responded to a call for an alleged jumper and/or possible overdose. TMZ says law enforcement sources told the publication that Barton was transported to a hospital voluntarily for mental evaluation.
Sgt. Enrique Mandujan at the West Hollywood Sheriff's Department spoke with USA Today Friday and confirmed police officers did go to Barton's apartment, along with fire and ambulance services. "She was speaking incoherently but agreed to go to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center by ambulance," Mandujan said. He said he did not know whether or not the one-time Dancing With the Stars contestant had been admitted.
In October 2013, Barton opened up to People about a previous "breakdown" she experienced in 2009, where she was taken to a hospital and was placed in the psych ward for four days under California's 5150 hold. "It was a full-on breakdown," she said. "It was terrifying. Straight out of Girl, Interrupted. Story of my life."
Living the famous life she was, Barton said you learn to just live with all of the stress and pressures. "When you’re under a microscope, you learn to switch it off," she said. "I don’t think you realize how hurtful it is until much later." Rather than staying silent about what she endured, Barton chose to speak out about it the 2013 interview and said, "You can only take so much before it affects you, people giving you sideways looks on the street. It gets to the point, 'OK, I’m going to put my foot down and say something.'"
