Depression Treatment How to Admit Yourself to a Psychiatric Hospital Know When It's Time to Check Yourself In By Nancy Schimelpfening Nancy Schimelpfening Nancy Schimelpfening, MS is the administrator for the non-profit depression support group Depression Sanctuary. Nancy has a lifetime of experience with depression, experiencing firsthand how devastating this illness can be. Learn about our editorial process Updated on November 08, 2023 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Steven Gans, MD Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Verywell / Laura Porter Table of Contents View All Table of Contents When You Should Go Before You're Admitted When You're Admitted Your Rights as a Patient After You're Discharged Continuing Your Recovery Crisis Plan of Action Trending Videos Close this video player If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. If you're experiencing severe depression symptoms, having thoughts of harming yourself or others, or your current treatment just isn't helping, you may consider checking yourself into a hospital. Although this can be a frightening thought, you may find it less intimidating if you know what to expect from the process. This article discusses how to know when to admit yourself to a psychiatric hospital and what you can expect during your stay. It also covers your rights as a patient and how to manage the transition to outpatient care. When You Should Go to a Hospital How do you know when it is time to admit yourself to a mental health hospital? There are a few important signs that can indicate a need for inpatient treatment. It’s time to seek admission to a psychiatric facility if a person has a sudden change in mental status, like suicidal ideation. — DR. WILLIAM ANIXTER, PSYCHIATRIST AT COOPERRIIS HEALING COMMUNITY. You may choose to be hospitalized if you're having symptoms that are putting you or others at risk, including: Mania Psychosis Suicidal urges "Other acute reasons might be if a person hears voices, especially voices that tell them to commit violence, or they need to detox from drugs or alcohol. The development of psychotic thinking that takes someone away from reality is a good indicator of the need for psychiatric hospitalization," Dr. Anixter explains. Hospitalization can also be helpful if you're finding yourself too ill to eat, bathe, or sleep properly. In addition, your doctor may recommend hospitalization when you're making significant changes in your treatment plan that require close supervision. Hospitalization is appropriate any time you need a safe place to receive intensive treatment until your symptoms stabilize. Before You're Admitted Because you're probably feeling overwhelmed right now, you may want to ask a friend or family member to help you through the process of checking into the hospital and filling out paperwork. If possible, you or they should call ahead of time to learn about the hospital's rules and procedures and ask about what items you should bring with you. Information about visiting hours and telephone access will also be helpful. What Hospital Rules to Expect Even though you may have been hospitalized of your own free will, the hospital will set rules to ensure your safety, including:Initially being in a locked ward that you cannot leave at willLocking away certain items that you could potentially use to harm yourself (for example, belts, razors, and shoelaces)Following a schedule for your meals, treatments, activities, and bedtimeSharing a room with someone else What Treatments Are Offered at a Mental Hospital? When You're Admitted One of the first things that will happen is that a psychiatrist will evaluate you to determine an appropriate treatment plan to meet your specific needs. Once admitted, the goal is to be evaluated, psychically and mentally, to have symptoms sorted out, i.e. is this episode a medical condition or not? The psychiatric evaluation involves taking a history, giving a likely diagnosis, and making decisions regarding treatment. — DR. WILLIAM ANIXTER, PSYCHIATRIST AT COOPERRIIS HEALING COMMUNITY Dr. Anixter also explains that attending to an individual's basic needs, including food, hygiene, and sleep, is essential. During this critical time, the admitted person can get the help they need in a safe and protected environment. Your treatment plan will likely involve working with a variety of mental health professionals, including: Psychiatrist Clinical psychologist Nurses Social workers Activity and rehabilitation therapists You will most likely participate in individual, group, or family therapy during your stay. In addition, you will probably receive one or more psychiatric medicines. If you are being treated for a substance use problem, an addiction professional will supervise the detoxification process. Hospital staff will also take care of getting approval for your stay from your insurance provider. Your insurance company will periodically evaluate your progress during your stay to determine if you need additional time in the hospital. If you are denied coverage for hospitalization by your insurance company, you and your psychiatrist may appeal. Your Rights as a Patient Note that the criteria and rules surrounding voluntary hospitalization (when you check yourself in) differ greatly from involuntary hospitalization (when someone else checks you in). If you sign yourself into a hospital, you also have the right to sign yourself back out. However, the exception to this rule is if the hospital staff believes you are a danger to yourself or others. If you are not a danger to anyone, the hospital must release you within two to seven days of your formal request, depending on the laws in your particular state. If you experience any problems getting the hospital to release you, you should contact your state's protection and advocacy agency. While you are at the hospital, you also have the right to: Be completely informed about all tests and treatments you will be receiving, including the risks and benefitsRefuse any tests or treatments that you feel are unnecessary or unsafeRefuse to participate in experimental treatment or training sessions involving students or observers Except for your insurance company, no one will be told about your hospitalization without your permission. Links & Resources HIPAA Information (Department of Health and Human Services) HIPAA and Mental Health (Department of Health and Human Services) Position Statement on Voluntary and Involuntary Hospitalization of Adults with Mental Illness (American Psychiatric Association) Civil Commitment Laws By State (Treatment Advocacy Center) State Protection & Advocacy Systems (Administration for Community Living) After You're Discharged When you're discharged, knowing how to continue your treatment after you leave the hospital is essential. Be sure to consult with your healthcare providers regarding your discharge plan. "Ideally, the patient has a treatment team before entering the hospital and can transition back to that team. Patients don’t always have treatment teams before hospitalization, so they will get a referral for a provider after discharge," Anixter explains. Follow-up Care Is Essential Transitioning back to a treatment team and sticking to follow-up appointments is important to help minimize the risk of relapse. Anixter notes that most medications take two to three weeks to begin working, while most hospital admissions last less than a week. Because of this, it is essential to schedule and attend follow-up appointments after you are discharged. Psych Ward: What Happens If You Are Admitted? If you feel comfortable and need the help, enlist the help of friends, family, or trusted loved ones to help you follow through with your plan. Their assistance can involve everything from taking you to appointments to providing a listening ear. You can also point them to tips on how to help someone with depression. Suicide risk can be particularly prominent for those who are discharged from a psychiatric hospital. A 2016 study in JAMA Psychiatry found that short-term suicide risk after being discharged by psychiatric hospital was highest for people with mental disorders characterized by prominent depressive features. According to the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the transition from inpatient to outpatient is critical for reducing suicide risk, and there are many steps your providers can take. Generally, it's important to have inpatient and outpatient providers work together and enlist the support of friends and family. Results from a 2021 Danish study suggest that a follow-up home visit after discharge could be vital in identifying and supporting people who may be at increased risk of suicide after hospitalization. Get Help Now We've tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you. Continuing Your Recovery Treatment for depression doesn't end with hospitalization. Steps that you can take to ensure your continued recovery include: Keeping all your doctor appointments Taking your medications as prescribed Finding a support group Taking care of yourself by eating well, exercising, and getting plenty of sleep Learning techniques to reduce stress Being gentle with yourself and realizing that you, like everyone else, are a work-in-progress Not having the structure and routine that the hospital provides can be nerve-racking. Establishing a regular routine, such as going to bed, waking up, and exercising at certain times, could be beneficial. Find Out If Online Therapy Is Right for You Crisis Plan of Action Because depression tends to be a chronic illness, it's wise to have a plan and compile necessary information in one place should you ever need to be hospitalized again. This information should include the following: Your doctor's name and contact informationContact information for trusted friends, family, or support group membersInformation about other health issues you might haveA list of all medications that you take (and cannot take)A list of any allergiesYour insurance informationThe name of the hospital where you prefer to receive treatment You may also have an advance directive and medical power of attorney prepared for you if you wish to give a trusted person the authority to act on your behalf in making medical decisions. This step will ensure that your will is carried out should you become too ill to make your own decisions. What Are Your Rights When You're Depressed? Summary Checking yourself into the hospital for depression can be difficult, but it is important to recognize when admission may be helpful or necessary. Common reasons to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital include experiencing psychosis, mania, substance misuse, or suicidal thoughts/behaviors. There are resources that can help you along the way, and there are effective treatments for depression. Following admission, your treatment team will evaluate your symptoms, rule out medical causes, and work to stabilize your condition. They will also develop a treatment plan that can address your symptoms, which may include psychotherapy and medications. Once discharged, it is important to work with a follow-up team and stick to your medication and treatment plan. When you need them, be sure to enlist the help of friends and family. 14 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Lucca JM, Vamsi A, Kurian SJ, Ebi S. A prospective observational study on psychotropic drug use in non psychiatric wards. Indian J Psychiatry. 2019;61(5):503-507. doi:10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_28_18 Strand M, Von Hausswolff-Juhlin Y. Patient-controlled hospital admission in psychiatry: A systematic review. Nord J Psychiatry. 2015;69(8):574-86. doi:10.3109/08039488.2015.1025835 Garakani A, Shalenberg E, Burstin SC, Weintraub Brendel R, Appel JM. Voluntary psychiatric hospitalization and patient-driven requests for discharge: A statutory review and analysis of implications for the capacity to consent to voluntary hospitalization. Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2014;22(4):241-9. doi:10.1097/HRP.0000000000000044 American Psychological Association. Protecting your privacy: Understanding confidentiality. MedlinePlus. Leaving the hospital - your discharge plan. Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. Helping someone living with depression or bipolar. Mental Health America. For family and friends. Olfson M, Wall M, Wang S, et al. Short-term suicide risk after psychiatric hospital discharge. JAMA Psychiatry. 2016;73(11):1119. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.2035 National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. Best Practices in Care Transitions for Individuals with Suicide Risk: Inpatient to Outpatient Care. Madsen T, Egilsdottir E, Damgaard C, Erlangsen A, Nordentoft M. Assessment of suicide risks during the first week immediately after discharge from psychiatric inpatient facility. Front Psychiatry. 2021;0. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.643303 Dixon LB, Holoshitz Y, Nossel I. Treatment engagement of individuals experiencing mental illness: Review and update. World Psychiatry. 2016;15(1):13-20. doi:10.1002/wps.20306 Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. Wellness after hospitalization. Zelle H, Kemp K, Bonnie RJ. Advance directives in mental health care: evidence, challenges and promise. World Psychiatry. 2015;14(3):278-280. doi:10.1002/wps.20268 National Institute of Mental Health. Depression. Additional Reading Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). Understanding Hospitalization for Mental Health. By Nancy Schimelpfening Nancy Schimelpfening, MS is the administrator for the non-profit depression support group Depression Sanctuary. Nancy has a lifetime of experience with depression, experiencing firsthand how devastating this illness can be. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? 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