There are two types of hospitals -- ones where you can leave any time you well please, and ones where you very much can't. This about the ones where you can't leave.
I think anyone who's ever felt horribly depressed and knew it has had the terrible fear that they're going to be locked up, and their life will be forever ruined.
I want to look at the hospital process and tell you my experience about it. It may differ depending on where you live and what insurance you have.
The first thing I know is that I was afraid to be hospitalized and didn't always tell the full truth because I was so scared of this. As a result, I didn't get the treatment I needed as soon as I needed. Always tell the truth. Your life is the most important thing. Don't gamble with your life.
Second, not everyone you tell that you are suicidal has the power to lock you up, nor do they want to. Hospitalization is absolutely a last resort. Even my psychiatrist who WORKS IN A MENTAL HOSPITAL admits that it is traumatic and will only use it as a last resort. But she will use it.
Your risk of being hospitalized is highest in the ER, or in a county building. Most therapists do not have that power, nor is that your go to.
You are likely to be hospitalized if
YOU HAVE NO SUPPORT SYSTEM
YOU ARE ACTIVELY SUICIDAL
YOU HAVE A PLAN
YOU HAVE A WAY TO CARRY OUT THE PLAN
You probably SHOULD be hospitalized if you are several of the above.
You should know however, they can't just be hospitalized like THAT. You have to be assessed.
The thing that they will put you on if they assess you to be a danger to yourself is a 5150. It is a three day hold by which they will assess you within the context of the ER and/or a mental hospital. They do not make this decision lightly.
After this three day hold, they will decide if you need to be continued to put on a hold. If they renew the hold, which will last for 14 days at maximum, this is called a 5250 and you will continue to be assessed. If after this you are still not judged to be stable, you will be put on a final 14 day hold, a 5260.
You cannot legally be held longer than that.
The team will reassess you daily. If they feel you are stable, they will release you. There is a team of people making this decision, and they do not make it lightly.
After a three day hold, if they decide to put you on a 5250, they will hold a trial where you will work with a patient's right advocate, the hospital, and a judge to make sure that you are not being held without good cause. The patient's rights activist is on your side. They are there to represent your expressed wishes. The hospital is there to defend their decision. The judge is there . . . well, you can guess it.
They have your files and everything can and will be used against you. I was judged for being unkept -- because I didn't brush my hair. Luckily on that day, I had chosen to take extra care with my appearance, so the judge looked at me and brushed it off.
I won't lie and say the experience can't be scary, difficult, and even traumatic. It can be. But there's also something to be said for it. It will keep you alive. And that's a pretty good reason to be hospitalized.
But keep your eyes and ears open. Every facility is different.
You will not have access to your phone, your wallet, or anything valuable. They will lock them up and give them back to you at the end of your stay. They will allow you to use their phone, however.
There are LEGAL rights that you have as a patient. I will make another post on that soon. These rights are yours and cannot be taken away without reasonable cause.
You should be hospitalized if: YOU CANNOT KEEP YOURSELF SAFE.
When I was admitted, I was having suicidal thoughts 24/7 and they were a 10/10. Mental hospitals (or psychiatric hospitals, or PHF (Puff) unit) are physically safe places, where your primary responsibility is to get through the day. The nurses are there to help you. It's a good place to get on the right meds, to meet with a psychiatrist daily, and have all your needs met.
Sometimes you'll get more out of it -- there are programs, but how good or helpful depends on the people and what you need. Where I went, there was no therapy.
Things to consider:
Pros:
You'll be physically safe
You'll be constantly monitored
Your meds will be adjusted
You can be as unstable as you want and people will understand.
You will have all your physical needs met
You will have food prepared for you.
You will be alive
It will give you time and space to process safely
Cons:
The people around you are as crazy as you are
The people who work there vary widely
You may not always feel emotionally safe
You may be bored
You will probably have a roommate
You will be constantly watched
You will lose your freedom
You will only be allowed limited visitors.
I might write more on this, but for now, that is all I have.
~ Emery
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