When a person has a physical ailment, such as chest pains, he may go to a medical hospital. When a person has a psychological ailment, such as hallucinations, he may go to a mental health hospital. A mental health hospital is one type of facility where psychiatric help may be sought. When compared with other treatment facilities, mental health hospitals are unique because they usually offer inpatient services.
There is a wide range of mental health disorders, ranging from depression to schizophrenia. Curing or managing mental health disorders generally requires the expertise of professionals such as psychiatrists and psychologists. Although, in some instances, these individuals may work from a private practice, they are commonly part of the staff at a mental health hospital.
The staff at such a facility generally includes nurses, therapists, and perhaps even medical doctors. Every mental health hospital is not the same. As is the case with a medical hospital, there may be conditions a particular mental health hospital is not equipped to handle. The extent of treatment that is available may vary. For example, some facilities may offer long-term care while others may limit their services to short-term treatment.
Usually, a mental health hospital offers some degree of inpatient services. This means the patients can be checked in and reside in the facility during all or part of their treatment. This does not mean, however, that only such patients will be treated. Generally, a hospital with inpatient services also provides outpatient services. This not only includes one-on-one sessions between clients and psychiatric staff. Many hospitals also offer group therapy sessions and substance abuse counseling.
The circumstances under which a person receives treatment from a mental health hospital can greatly vary. In most cases, if a person believes she needs help, she can voluntarily check herself in. Depending upon the laws in the jurisdiction where the mental health hospital is, it may be possible for one person to check in another person against her will. When this is the case, it is common for laws to limit the amount of time that the involuntary patient can be held without her displaying cause.
Some people find themselves in mental health hospitals due to court orders. This generally happens when a person commits a crime believed to be prompted by a psychiatric problem instead of malice. These people may be ordered to stay in the facility for a certain period or until they have recovered.