
During inpatient mental health treatment, you get intensive support and a high level of supervision. During a mental health crisis, you might be in a short-term emergency inpatient stay, such as a psychiatric hospitalization. Inpatient treatment is among the highest levels of care for mental health and substance abuse treatment services.
Full Answer
What happens in an inpatient mental health program?
Inpatient mental health programs differ in treatment services and exact methodology, but some things tend to be similar from one program to another, both voluntary and involuntary. In general, this is what happens in a mental hospital.
What are my options for inpatient mental health care?
A variety of options exist for inpatient care, including hospital settings, psychiatric hospitals and regional medical centers. Residential mental health environments typically provide a comfortable, modern setting with the very best level of supportive services. Every location is a bit different.
What happens in a mental hospital?
In general, this is what happens in a mental hospital. Structure is very important in treatment programs of all kinds and tends to be featured heavily in inpatient mental health care. To facilitate results, residents are held to a strict schedule during the day in a mental hospital.
What are the benefits of inpatient mental rehab?
You may worry about your job. However, inpatient mental rehab provides an opportunity to give you fast, effective treatment customized to your needs. There are other benefits of this care. As an inpatient, you can step away from your day-to-day responsibilities to focus on your mental health.

What can I expect from a mental hospital?
Other things to expect during your stay: You'll attend group and one-on-one care sessions each day. In between treatment and other activities, you must keep your own space tidy. You'll have down time — games, puzzles, and supervised outdoor space are all part of your care.
How long do they usually keep you in a mental hospital?
The average length of stay in a psychiatric hospital now, is about two to three weeks. Many people worry about - what's it going to be like with the other people in hospital. For many people, having a mental health problem can be quite isolating.
Can you use your phone in a mental hospital?
On voluntary psychiatric units, patients can occasionally retain access to electronic devices such as smartphones or computers and, if unit policies restrict Internet access, these patients may ask to leave the hospital.
What is the goal of inpatient psychiatric treatment?
The goal of the inpatient stay is to stabilize the individual who is experiencing an acute psychiatric condition with a relatively sudden onset, severe course, or a marked decompensation due to a more chronic condition.
Is a 72 hour hold the same as being committed?
First, anyone who is placed on a 72-hour hold has a right to request a hearing in front of a judge. The common misunderstanding, however, is that this hearing will occur within 72 hours. The 72 hours actual applies to the time frame the provider has to file the petition for involuntary commitment after taking the hold.
What is a mental breakdown?
Instead, a mental health crisis or a breakdown of your mental health is a situation that happens when you have intense physical and emotional stress, have difficulty coping and aren't able to function effectively. It's the feeling of being physically, mentally and emotionally overwhelmed by the stress of life.
Why do mental hospitals draw blood?
Diving right in, possible reasons a psychiatrist may order a blood test include: To determine if treatments will be safe and screening for certain conditions that may necessitate prescribing certain medications over others (e.g., blood, heart, thyroid, and kidney conditions).
Why don t psych wards allow phones?
There are multiple reasons for this, ranging from privacy issues (patients might Instagram other patients), clinical issues (patients might isolate themselves and not go to groups), safety issues (they might break and use the screen glass for self harm), and liability issues (patients might sue the hospital if they ...
What is a 5150 hold?
5150 is the number of the section of the Welfare and Institutions Code, which allows an adult who is experiencing a mental health crisis to be involuntarily detained for a 72- hour psychiatric hospitalization when evaluated to be a danger to others, or to himself or herself, or gravely disabled.
What goes into a treatment plan?
A treatment plan will include the patient or client's personal information, the diagnosis (or diagnoses, as is often the case with mental illness), a general outline of the treatment prescribed, and space to measure outcomes as the client progresses through treatment.
What are some common behavioral health issues that require treatment?
Some common ones include:Anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias.Depression, bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders.Eating disorders.Personality disorders.Post-traumatic stress disorder.Psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia.
What does acute mean in mental health?
Acute Mental Illness means a mental illness which is not of life−long duration, which is severe in degree and causes a sub- stantially diminished level of functioning in the activities of daily living and an inability to cope with the ordinary demands of life, and which may lead to an inability to maintain stable ...
What Is Inpatient Mental Rehab?
Inpatient mental rehab is not what the movies portray it to be. It’s an uplifting, positive experience for most people.
What is the purpose of inpatient mental health?
This includes personal relationships. By focusing on self-care, you can gain ground in improving your health so that you can then provide for the needs of others properly.
What are the different types of mental health care?
The Types of Mental Inpatient Care. It is important to note that inpatient care comes in two distinctly different forms: voluntary and involuntary.
What is voluntary care?
Unlike involuntary care, voluntary care is entered into willingly. When an individual determines that their mental health is interfering with work, school or relationships in an unsustainable way, entering into a program may be the best option. These treatment centers help patients address mental health concerns without the stressors of daily life in a safe, secure and supportive environment.
What is the importance of structure in mental health?
Structure is very important in treatment programs of all kinds and tends to be featured heavily in inpatient mental health care. To facilitate results, residents are held to a strict schedule during the day in a mental hospital. The day usually starts with time to shower, get dressed and get ready for breakfast.
What is residential mental health?
In reality, residential mental health treatment is nothing like an old-school sanitarium; instead, it provides effective, customized opportunities for wellness. In modern facilities, there is no flickering lighting, angry nurses, padded rooms, or twisted treatments. Patients can experience compassionate care designed to make a difference.
Why is immediate help important?
If you, or a loved one, is experiencing these risk factors, immediate help is available to you. It can be an essential way to stabilize mental health so that more effective treatment is possible.
What is the goal of an inpatient treatment program?
The goal of the inpatient program is to decrease the intensity of depression, reduce the risk for suicide, improve coping skills, adjust medication, or incorporate other treatments.
What is an inpatient psychiatric unit?
Inpatient psychiatric services are often a designated wing within a hospital. The inpatient unit looks more like a college dorm than a hospital floor. The unit generally has single or double rooms for patients and group/individual therapy rooms, as well as common areas for eating and relaxing—and offices for staff and clinicians. It is a secured environment, arranged to keep patients safe and manage the floor with continuity.
What kind of therapists work on inpatient floors?
Your therapist will tell you that a team of professionals on the inpatient floor will likely include psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, nutritionists, recreational therapists, music and art therapists —and if you're a child or teenager, school teachers and pediatricians too. It's helpful to know that adult inpatient floors work only with adult individuals. And pediatric inpatient floors work only with children and adolescents.
How long does it take to recover from a traumatic brain injury?
The average hospital stay for an adult is about 10 days—though your symptoms and recovery time may result in less or more time. For children and teenagers, stays are typically about eight days, but that, too, can be shorter or longer. Treatment will be unique to your needs, so don't use your time spent inpatient as a measurement of success or failure. Medication titration, symptom reduction, confidence, and mastery of learned skills are not the same for everyone.
What to pack for an inpatient stay?
If your inpatient stay is planned, you can pack a bag of comfortable clothing ahead of time, but avoid belts, strings, shoelaces, and other potentially self-harming accessories. Another good thing is to make a list of all the medications you take, as well as all the professionals who work with you.
Is psychiatric hospitalization meaningful?
But if you do, inpatient psychiatric hospitalization can be a meaningful treatment. Yes, you read that correctly. Meaningful. Inpatient hospitalization for psychiatric illness has come a long way from straight-jackets, rubber rooms, and metal beds. A long way from wicked nurses or frightening procedures.
How often can you visit a unit?
Another thing to know is that visiting hours occur every day in most units—sometimes twice a day.
