What happens if you admit suicidal thoughts

In mental health treatment, there are different levels of care , meaning how much supervision and treatment you need. Each time I have been to the ER for suicidal thoughts, the evaluator decided inpatient was needed for me. Following this decision, they talked to my parents and I about the different hospitals in the area but explained that they might not all have beds. I was in the ER for several hours while they found a bed, I get blood taken, and they ran some tests.

My inpatient program was not at the hospital the ER was in, it was in a freestanding behavioral health hospital, so I was transferred by ambulance. Though one time they did let my parents take me since we had been waiting for over 6 hours and would have to wait longer for the ambulance. You lose a lot of freedoms in inpatient treatment.

In my experience, they took away anything that I could possibly hurt myself or others with- shoelaces, strings in clothes, belts- anything sharp and anything long. But, I had to understand that it is for my safety.

During my time inpatient, I received therapy, psychiatry, checks every 15 minutes or so, safety planning, recreational therapy, skills building, discharge planning, and expressive therapy. Inpatient hospitalizations are not meant to make you better, they are meant to get you stable and get you out so that you can get the true treatment you need.

I have been in this type of treatment several times after going to the ER and being evaluated. Let family or friends know what's going on for you.

They may be able to offer support and help keep you safe. There's no right or wrong way to talk about suicidal feelings — starting the conversation is what's important. See more tips from Rethink. If you're worried about someone, try to get them to talk to you.

Ask open-ended questions like: "How do you feel about? Do not worry about having the answers. List of Partners vendors. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at for support and assistance from a trained counselor.

If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. If you're experiencing severe depression symptoms , having thoughts of harming yourself or others, or your current treatment just isn't helping, you may consider checking yourself into a hospital. Although this can be a frightening thought, you may find it less intimidating if you know what to expect from the process. You may choose to be hospitalized if you're having symptoms that are putting you or others at risks, including:.

Hospitalization can also be helpful if you're finding yourself too ill to eat, bathe, or sleep properly. In addition, your doctor may recommend hospitalization when you're making major changes in your treatment plan that require close supervision. Hospitalization is appropriate any time you need a safe place in which to receive intensive treatment until your symptoms stabilize. Because you're probably feeling overwhelmed right now, you may want to ask a friend or family member to help you through the process of checking into the hospital and filling out paperwork.

If possible, you or they should call ahead of time to find out about the hospital's rules and procedures and ask about what items you should bring with you.

Information about visiting hours and telephone access will also be helpful. Even though you may have been hospitalized of your own free will, the hospital will set rules to ensure your safety, including:. One of the first things that will happen is that you will be evaluated by a psychiatrist in order to determine an appropriate treatment plan to meet your specific needs. Your treatment plan will probably involve work with a variety of mental health professionals, including:. You will most likely participate in individual therapy , group therapy , or family therapy during your stay.

In addition, you will probably receive one or more psychiatric medicines. Hospital staff will also take care of getting approval for your stay from your insurance provider. Your insurance company will periodically evaluate your progress during your stay to determine if you need additional time in the hospital. In the event that you are denied coverage for hospitalization by your insurance company, you and your psychiatrist may appeal.

Note that the criteria and rules surrounding voluntary hospitalization when you check yourself in differ greatly from involuntary hospitalization when someone else checks you in.

In the case that you sign yourself into a hospital, you also have the right to sign yourself back out. The exception to this rule, however, is if the hospital staff believes you are a danger to yourself or others. If you are not a danger to anyone, the hospital must release you within two to seven days of your formal request, depending on the laws in your particular state.

If you experience any problems with getting the hospital to release you, you should contact your state's protection and advocacy agency. While you are at the hospital, you also have the right to:. With the exception of your insurance company, no one will be told about your hospitalization without your permission.

After you are discharged from the hospital, your doctor may recommend a day-treatment program. This type of program will provide you with many of the benefits that you received during your hospitalization, such as psychotherapy and other services, but you may return home at night and on the weekends.

More commonly, a therapist will help their client create a safety plan for how to deal with suicidal thoughts based on how severe they are when they come up, and how to address the factors that led to suicidal thoughts in the first place.

Sharing this information with friends, family, or a partner can also help you feel supported during particularly tough times, though it might not be helpful for everyone. So be as clear as you can about your experience. Talking about mental health with loved ones can be difficult and is best approached with as much love and understanding as possible.

Talking about suicidal thoughts takes incredible courage, and sharing this with a therapist can mark an important step toward feeling better.