Acute psychiatric care in a hospital setting which includes a multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, mental health professionals, and nurses with the goal of providing patients a protective environment while developing a treatment plan and medication stabilization, if needed. While in an Inpatient Psych Unit, patients are treated by a psychiatrist, psychiatrically trained nurses, and clinicians in both a one-on-one and group setting (Singh & Kaur, 2017).

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If you or a family member need to be admitted to Inpatient Psych, the following are some questions you may want to ask: 

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• Has the person been professionally evaluated? By whom? What are the person’s qualifications/ title? Will this person continue to treat the patient? Will the patient be seen by this professional on a regular basis?

• What was the specific diagnosis given to the patient after their evaluation?

• If the patient has other medical issues, will he/she receive treatment for these problems as well?

• Will a family member be able to discuss treatment with the doctor or therapist? When? How often?

• When can family members visit? For how long?

• Will the patient be allowed to receive phone calls?

• Will the patient have a daily schedule of activities or treatments?

• Is group therapy or individual therapy part of the treatment plan?

• What clothes should the patient bring?

• How long will the patient be at the facility, and who will make this decision?

• Who will make the evaluation for discharging the patient? 

• What can we expect when the patient is discharged? Plan?

• Who will provide follow up medication management?

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Mental health problems may be related to excessive stress due to a particular situation or series of events. As with cancer, diabetes and heart disease, mental illnesses are often physical as well as emotional and psychological. Mental illnesses may be caused by a reaction to environmental stresses, genetic factors, biochemical imbalances, or a combination of these. With proper care and treatment many individuals learn to cope or recover from a mental illness or emotional disorder (Recognizing Warning Signs and How to Cope, n.d.).