What Happens When You Go to the Hospital for Depression?

One important sign that you may need hospital care is if you’re a danger to yourself or others. “Thoughts of self-harm or suicide should always be taken seriously, particularly if someone has a plan, intent, or has taken steps to hurt themselves,” says Justin Shuster, MD, MPH, medical director of the general adult inpatient and psychiatric access clinic at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Western Psychiatric Hospital.

If you’ve never been to a hospital for depression, you might be unsure of what to expect. Though the experience may sound scary, a hospital provides a safe environment where you can be monitored, supported, and given appropriate treatment. Understanding the process can make it feel less overwhelming.

What Kind of Hospital Should I Go to for Depression?

“Some freestanding psychiatric hospitals do have urgent/emergency care and could do the admission. However, many don’t. The safest thing is to go to the nearest ER or known behavioral health urgent care center, and they can assess and arrange admission to a psychiatric facility, if required,” says Paul Borghesani, MD, PhD, chief of psychiatry at Harborview Medical Center and an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle.

ERs are equipped to handle mental health emergencies and provide immediate care. “If [patients] present to an emergency room, most hospitals have psychiatric consultants who can do an assessment and gauge the need for inpatient hospitalization,” says Christopher W.T. Miller, MD, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.

Going to the Hospital for Depression: What to Expect

Triage

Evaluation

The medical team will try to figure out how severe your situation is. “Safety is our primary concern when someone comes into the hospital,” says Shuster. “For that reason, the team will ask about symptoms, suicidal thoughts, medications, medical history, substance abuse, recent stressors, and support at home.”

Physical Health Check

Mental Health Assessment

Treatments

Determining Next Steps

What to Bring to the Hospital

• Photo ID
• Insurance card
• List of all the medicines you take and the dosages of each one
• Comfortable clothing and slip-on shoes
• A phone and charger, to stay in touch with family
• A book or tablet

Who to Bring With You to the Hospital

If possible, bring a family member or close friend with you to the hospital. They can provide support during a stressful situation and also offer feedback about your symptoms to the medical team. “That outside perspective can be especially helpful when someone is so depressed that it has become hard to communicate their thoughts and feelings,” says Shuster.

However, Shuster emphasizes that you shouldn’t wait to get help just because you are alone. “If a person does not feel safe where they are, they should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room,” he says.

How Long Will You Stay in the Hospital for Depression?

“Psychiatric hospitalization is generally short-term and focused on immediate safety and stabilization,” says Shuster. “The days of long-term institutionalization are largely gone.”

• The severity of your symptoms
• The type of mental health condition you have, if applicable
• Safety concerns
• How you respond to treatment
• Your insurance coverage
• Whether you were hospitalized voluntarily or involuntarily (involuntarily is typically longer)

What Happens When You’re Discharged From the Hospital?

Being discharged doesn’t indicate that you are cured or no longer need treatment, says Shuster. “It means [the person is] safe enough to continue treatment outside of a secure hospital setting,” he says.

According to Shuster, before leaving the hospital, you should have a plan that includes:

• How to manage your medications
• Post-hospital therapy and follow-up care with a therapist or psychiatrist
• Warning signs to watch for
• What to do if you are in crisis again
• How to make your home environment safer

“There are also more involved alternatives, such as intensive outpatient programs, or partial hospitalizations, which allows patients to live at home yet attend three to six hours of mental health care each day,” says Borghesani.