Option two -- unlocked facilities

So, there is apparently an option for voluntary hospitalization, but I have never encountered that, so I will not be speaking on it, but know that it does exist.

An unlocked facility is one that is a step down from a locked facility. I just have experience with mine, but I will explain how it worked.

It was considered a crisis residential, which meant you could stay up to two weeks (sometimes longer with exceptions) and it was similar to the PUFF in that all your needs were met and you had a roommate.

The difference in these two facilities couldn't have been more different, however.

Instead of being staffed by nurses, it was staffed by students. You could leave the building for outings either with staff or with permission. Dinners were homemade. There was mandatory meetings twice a day that ranged from art sessions to discussions of boundaries.

Like before, I had a roommate. Like before they didn't allow us to take our own meds and did "Mouth checks" to make sure we swallowed.

You met with a psychiatrist (nurse practitioner in my case) twice weekly.

There was still no therapy, but you could talk to staff at any time, and they tried to make some of the groups therapeutic.

Overall, it was a nice place with a homey atmosphere and (mostly) caring staff. 

The biggest difference for me though was that the space was not psychically safe. They came and did hourly checks, but the space itself was dangerous. I, again, refuse to mention how as per rule one, but there were plenty of ways for someone to get ideas and to harm themselves. And even though I later found out there were cameras (duh, but I wish someone would have told me) I didn't know at the time and I felt like it would be very easy to carry out a plan.

For that reason, I did not feel as if it were doing the one thing a facility ought to do -- keep me safe.

Now, for many people, this could be a very valid option, but for me, I would not do it again. If I wanted to be hospitalized, no matter how traumatic, I'd take the locked hospital option.

BUT I don't suspect that would be true for most people.

If you are on the edge and you don't want to be put on a 5150, but you consider yourself to be in a psychiatric emergency (the criteria for entering such a place) this may be a great option for you. Talk with your team of people to discuss unlocked options. They are less severe than a 5150 and may really help.

However, in the case of my facility, they made an exception by taking a suicidal patient, because they had assessed me and felt I would be ok. The rules may vary wildly for each place. Check. If you are very suicidal, my first choice is still a locked facility, but that is my two cents. You need to figure out what works best for you.   

~ Emery