Where is Mental Health Hospital?
Where you go for mental health treatment can make a huge difference to your recovery. Hospitals provide safe and secure environments where you can get medical and psychiatric care and help with getting medications right.
Depending on your situation, you may be admitted into a hospital or a psychiatric ward for short or long stays. Both offer therapeutic groups, individual counseling and psychiatric medical care.
Psychiatric wards
Mental health hospitals are specialized institutions that provide around-the-clock observation and care for severely mentally ill patients. They may also offer outpatient treatment programs.
Psychiatric wards at a mental health hospital are smaller than those at general hospitals and are typically designed with a lower risk of self-harm or elopement. These environments are often locked, so people involuntarily committed under the Mental Health Act won’t be able to escape without permission.
Psychiatric wards at mental health hospitals can be staffed with psychiatrists, licensed therapists and other trained professionals. These facilities are primarily geared toward treating serious mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. They offer a variety of medications and therapies to treat mental illness, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and supportive psychotherapy. They also help patients plan for the next step in their treatment, such as transitioning to an outpatient program or residential facility. This can allow a person to get treatment and feel safe at the same time.
Inpatient hospitals
When mental illnesses flare up, you may need to go to a hospital for specialized inpatient treatment. In these hospitals, you’ll get a lot of help from psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, social workers and other health professionals who will keep track of your care and help you stabilize your symptoms.
While a hospital stay is usually short, you’ll still need to continue with treatment outside of the facility. This may include seeing your therapist, attending support group meetings and doing other activities.
Inpatient psychiatric hospitals are staffed by psychiatrists, other doctors and nurses who are specially trained to treat patients with mental illness. They also offer specialized units for geriatric concerns, eating disorders, child and adolescent services, substance abuse and forensic services.
During your time in a hospital, you’ll have frequent contact with your psychiatrist, who will lead your care and review how things are going. This will be a big help when you’re ready to return home.
Residential treatment facilities
Residential treatment facilities at a mental health hospital are a long-term option for psychiatric and substance abuse treatment. They provide round-the-clock care and specialized therapy of various kinds. They are an alternative for those who haven’t found success with outpatient services or have a severe psychiatric disorder.
The level of care is determined at the start by a treatment team that includes psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, expressive therapists, counselors and a host of other professionals. Each client is given an individualized treatment plan that’s designed to help them overcome their illness, process trauma and work toward a life of recovery.
Residential treatment facilities typically offer an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), or an Outpatient program that includes evening hours after school or work, depending on the level of care a patient requires. These options range from one to three afternoons of treatment each week, and the length of stay can be as short as 30 days or as long as three months.
Open psychiatric units
A mental health hospital is a place where people with serious or severe mental illness can stay overnight or for a longer period. The facility can be public (government-operated) or private.
While it can be scary to be in a psychiatric hospital, it is important to remember that the facilities are designed for patients who are having serious emotional and behavioral problems. These include things like psychosis, bipolar mania, and severe depression.
Many people who are suffering from a mental illness end up in psychiatric hospitals because they cannot handle their symptoms at home. They may need medication to help them feel better, or they may be prescribed group therapy sessions to help them deal with their symptoms.
In New York City, there are only 2,840 beds for psychiatric patients. This means that many of the mentally ill end up cycling between emergency rooms, homeless shelters and incarceration.
