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Psychiatric
Hospitals Psychiatric hospitals can be independent, freestanding institutions or specialized mental health units within broader hospitals or clinics. They can offer residential, overnight stays and/or intensive “day treatment” programs. Units or programs in psychiatric hospitals can include patients with different problems participating together in classes, groups, and activities, or they can include patients with similar mental health issues. The primary purposes for psychiatric hospitals today are (1) providing safety and stabilization, (2) assessing the situation and providing recommendations for outpatient or intensive day treatment, and (3) evaluating the need for initiating or changing medication. Hospitals are available to respond 24 hours a day year round. While hospitalization today typically lasts only a few days and aims at evaluation and stabilization, some specialized units or programs provide group and individual treatment (therapeutic and psychoeducational) for defined problems, such as eating disorders, alcoholism, recovery from sexual abuse, and so on. It is important to inquire about the credentials of the staff of such programs, to learn about their treatment philosophies and program phases and activities, and to request information about goals and predicted outcomes. Ask what types of people have benefited most from the program, what kind of people are not recommended for participation, and how improvement is measured. Ask what kind of Follow-up services are available after program completion. Visiting programs and units and interviewing staff are highly recommended. Research Psychiatric
Center Two
Rivers Psychiatric Hospital Contact us or for more information at info@psychresources.com. |