What Is a Psych Ward?
A psych ward, also called a psychiatric ward or unit, is where you go to get short-term or in-patient treatment for serious mental health issues. You’ll receive around-the-clock care by trained staff – including psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, and social workers – in safe surroundings similar to a hospital.
There are different types of psychiatric care:
Involuntary. If you’re likely to harm yourself or another person, a medical professional may admit you to a psych ward or hospital without your permission.
Voluntary. With this type of care, and depending on the laws of your state, you have the right to check yourself out of the psych ward or hospital.
Outpatient. After talking with you, the doctor may decide you’re well enough to go home and continue care on an outpatient basis. This could be anywhere from an intensive program lasting a few hours a day to routine weekly or monthly visits.
Psych ward vs. mental hospital
You’ll usually find a psychiatric ward inside of a general hospital. A mental or psychiatric hospital is a standalone facility that focuses solely on the care of people with mental health conditions. A mental hospital may also be divided by the groups it serves, such as:
- Kids
- Women
- Men
- People who are LGBTQ+
Reasons People Might Go to a Psych Ward or Psychiatric Hospital
A serious mental health issue that affects your judgment, causes you to harm yourself or others, or requires intense treatment could call for admission to a psychiatric ward. Specific conditions include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Eating disorders
- Self-harm
- Suicidal thoughts
How to Get Psychiatric Care
You can admit yourself to some psychiatric hospitals. But generally, most people start at the emergency room. There, doctors will chat with you, run lab work, and give you a physical. All this information helps guide them on next steps, whether that means checking you into the psychiatric ward or opting for outpatient care.
Your hospital may use the Level of Care Utilization System (LOCUS). It’s a tool that helps health care providers decide on the best care for people with mental health and addiction issues. LOCUS looks at six areas of your life and health to figure out what kind of care you need and how intense it should be, and it tracks your progress over time.
How much does it cost to go to a psych ward or psychiatric hospital?
The cost of admission depends on:
- If you have health insurance
- Whether it’s public or private
- How long you stay and other factors
On average, hospital stays for mental health and substance use disorders cost $1,400 per day. Most stays are around 6 days long and cost an average of $7,100.
Certain conditions mean longer stays, which costs more money to treat. Admissions for eating disorders tend to last the longest around 14 days and cost about $19,400. Schizophrenia is the second costliest condition to treat -- around $8,900 over 11 days.
Public or private health insurance can help lower the cost of psychiatric care by covering treatment, counseling, and prescription medicine. Medicaid tends to offer more complete coverage of mental health services than private insurance. Public health insurance programs like Medicaid cover about 60% of the cost of your hospital stay if you’re under age 65.
How to Prepare for a Psych Ward or Psychiatric Hospital Stay
Once you’re in the emergency room, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to go home before transferring to a psychiatric ward or hospital. So think about bringing some items with you ahead of time while leaving others at home.
What to bring
Call the psychiatric hospital ahead of time to make sure they allow the following:
- Three days’ worth of clothes (avoid drawstrings, belts, shoelaces, and scarves)
- Medication
- Electronics (tablet, computer, and cell phone)
- Personal grooming items (makeup, lotion, shampoo)
- Medical equipment like a CPAP or walker
If you bring items that aren’t allowed, arrange for someone to pick them up, as the hospital may not be able to lock up your items.
Items not allowed in a psych ward or psychiatric hospital
A psychiatric hospital won’t allow any item that you could use to harm yourself or others. These include:
- Razors
- Knives
- Glass bottles
- Metal objects
- Drugs or items to use or hide drugs
- Plastic bags
How to Prepare for a Psych Ward or Psychiatric Hospital Stay
Once you’re in the emergency room, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to go home before transferring to a psychiatric ward or hospital. So think about bringing some items with you ahead of time while leaving others at home.
What to bring
Call the psychiatric hospital ahead of time to make sure they allow the following:
- Three days’ worth of clothes (avoid drawstrings, belts, shoelaces, and scarves)
- Medication
- Electronics (tablet, computer, and cell phone)
- Personal grooming items (makeup, lotion, shampoo)
- Medical equipment like a CPAP or walker
If you bring items that aren’t allowed, arrange for someone to pick them up, as the hospital may not be able to lock up your items.
Items not allowed in a psych ward or psychiatric hospital
A psychiatric hospital won’t allow any item that you could use to harm yourself or others. These include:
- Razors
- Knives
- Glass bottles
- Metal objects
- Drugs or items to use or hide drugs
- Plastic bags
What to Expect During a Psych Ward or Psychiatric Hospital Stay
A typical day in a psychiatric hospital is a lot different from the dramatic portrayals you often see on TV and in the movies. Mental health issues aren’t always visible. And the specific reasons for your stay are private and known only to you and your treatment team.
When you get there
The admission process is the first step in your stay at a psych ward or hospital. You’ll need to fill out and sign several forms, including:
- Treatment consent
- HIPAA privacy policy
- Patient bill of rights
- List of people who are allowed to know about your admission
- List of people whose phone calls you’re willing to accept
A staff member will search your belongings for items that could cause harm. The safety search may also include a body search, which staff will carry out privately. You’ll also be interviewed by clinical staff, who’ll ask about your:
- Reasons for admission
- Health history
- Current medications
- Alcohol or substance use
You’ll have access to laundry facilities and private showers. There might also be outdoor spaces, such as a garden or courtyard. They’ll be open to you and others who are staying, but still secure. Some hospitals lock their doors, so you’ll need permission to leave.
Medication and meetings
A nurse usually gives you medication in a specific area or privately rather than keeping it with you.
Expect daily meetings with your treatment team to talk about your progress and make any necessary changes. Attending these meetings is important because they’re crucial in making treatment decisions.
During group therapy you’ll learn practical skills like setting boundaries, but you probably won’t talk about personal problems.
Free time
In your downtime, you’ll:
- Join structured activities like art or recreational therapy
- Read or watch TV
- Play board games or put together puzzles
You’ll have your meals alone, and hospitals allow for special diets like vegan or vegetarian.
For safety reasons, the hospital will probably limit visitors and decide when they can see you. Visits will likely be supervised.
Staff checks
Regular staff checks are part of the routine to make sure everyone stays safe. Physically isolating and restraining people is rare. It’s typically used only as a last resort when someone poses an urgent threat to themselves or others.
Psych ward socks
These are socks that the hospital or psych ward provides. They’re nonslip to help you avoid falls.
Leaving a Psych Ward or Psychiatric Hospital
Once your immediate mental health crisis is under control, your treatment team will start planning for you to leave the hospital. Treatment may continue in a residential facility, outpatient program, or during regular counseling.
How long do people usually spend in a psych ward?
Decades ago, many people would stay for weeks, but today, the average length of stay is shorter. Numbers from 2018 show the average stay for an adult in a psych ward is around 5 to 7 days.
When can I leave?
You and your treatment team will work together to decide the best time for you to leave the psychiatric hospital. You’ll meet with them every day to talk about your goals and what you need to accomplish before being discharged. The doctor, nurse, or physician assistant leading your treatment will write a discharge order, and other staff members will sign off.
Takeaways
Treatment in a psychiatric ward has several pros and cons. On the plus side, you get access to different therapies and medications, with trained staff available for support. The structured environment offers a break from stress, helping you feel more stable. And being around others with similar issues can make you feel less alone and more hopeful as you see them improve. The hospital is also designed to keep you safe, with 24-hour monitoring and support from staff when you need it.
But there are downsides, too. You may feel bored or forced into activities you dislike. You won’t have all your personal items. Visits from family and friends are limited, which can be tough if your support network is far away. The strict environment may limit some of your favorite activities, like listening to music or exercising. Some safety measures, like restraints or witnessing distressing events, can trigger anxiety. And depending on your condition, you won’t be able to leave whenever you get ready.
Psych Ward FAQs
What's the difference between a psych ward and asylum?
An asylum is another word for a psych ward or psychiatric hospital. It was the name of these types of facilities in the early days of psychiatric hospitals.
What does it mean when someone goes to a mental hospital?
It means you have a serious mental health issue that needs intensive treatment or is causing you to harm yourself or other people.
What happens when you go to the hospital for a mental breakdown?
You’ll have individual and group counseling and could receive medication. There will also be free time for structured and personal activities.
What qualifies as a mental breakdown?
A mental or nervous breakdown isn't an official medical term. Still, people often use it to describe someone struggling to handle extreme stress or mental health issues like depression or anxiety.
Should I visit my friend in the psych ward?
Psychiatric hospitals allow visits at certain times, and it’s a way to support your friend. But it’s important to first ask if they want visitors.
What should I say to a friend in a psych ward?
When visiting a friend in a psych ward, be supportive and empathetic without pitying them. Pity can worsen feelings of negativity, so focus on showing empathy and sympathy. Treat your friend as you usually would, understanding their condition isn't contagious and they’re still the same person you care about. Offer practical help, like bringing their favorite snack or running an errand. Validate their feelings by recognizing their struggles without dismissing them. Stay in touch, ask how they're doing, and offer support as you would with any other illness.
How do they treat you in a psych ward?
Treatment involves a combination of group and individual therapy and medication in some cases.
What does 5150 mean?
In California, Section 5150 of the Welfare and Institutions Code allows for the 72-hour involuntary detention of an adult having a mental health crisis. This can happen if a doctor says you’re a danger to yourself and others or are gravely disabled and unable to care for your basic needs. Other states may call it something else, such as the Baker Act in Florida and 1013 in Georgia.
What types of patients are in a psychiatric hospital?
Psychiatric hospitals admit a wide range of people, from children to adults, and those with various mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, eating disorders, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts.
What to do if someone refuses to go to the hospital?
It's best to encourage your loved one to go to the hospital on their own. Care without their permission can make the process harder and might negatively affect their recovery.
If at first they refuse, keep trying, listening, and reassuring them. Let your loved one know you'll support them through the process. If things get worse and they still refuse, remember that involuntary treatment is an option if they’re a danger to themselves or others or are seriously disabled.
