Are Mental Hospitals Safe? What to Know Before Self-Admitting for Inpatient Care

If you’ve never been in a mental hospital before, you might be afraid that it’s the stuff of movies. You may wonder if they’re a safe place to receive mental health treatment. In this blog, we’ll show you how beautiful, accommodating, and welcoming a mental hospital can be and why self-admission can be beneficial.

Are you ready to move past fears to seek help? We welcome you to contact us at Georgetown Behavioral Hospital to learn what a positive experience we provide.

Are Mental Hospitals Safe?

It’s natural to consider your safety when you’re going into an unfamiliar place and situation. What’s more, when you are having mental health issues, you may feel or even be more vulnerable than usual. However, what you may not know is that these are among the reasons a mental hospital does everything possible to protect you and make you comfortable. Below are some of the ways we accomplish that at Georgetown Behavioral Hospital.

Facility

Our beautiful voluntary-admission hospital is located in Georgetown, a somewhat rural area of Ohio. We have 46 beds for inpatient mental health services. The facility is modern, up-to-date, and pleasant. Plus, it is equipped with everything you need to live comfortably while you are here.

Treatments

At GBH, we provide treatments that are among the most well-respected today. We stick to evidence-based treatments, including psychotherapy, medications, and group activities. We offer cognitive screenings and therapies like Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which are both simply talk therapies. In psychotherapy, you learn communication skills, new ways of thinking about your life and problems, and ways to cope with your mental disorder.

In group therapy, you get chances to express your thoughts and feelings and interact with others who may be going through similar mental health problems. Our education groups help you understand your diagnosis better or learn how to manage life with your condition.

You might ask your family to come for family therapy or counseling. When they come to contribute to your treatment, they can aid you in overcoming your mental health issues. It might also be nice to see familiar faces or to resolve issues between you.

Your psychiatrist can prescribe you medications if they would help you. It is always your decision whether to take medications in a voluntary-admission hospital. However, if you do choose to seek medication help, your doctor will discuss options, effects, and side effects with you. What’s more, they’ll listen and respond to your questions and concerns.

From the time you begin treatment with us, we will be helping you prepare for life beyond treatment. That’s why discharge planning is an important part of your care. In this, our goal is to help you have a healthy transition from hospital to home.

Other Patients

Many people going into a mental hospital for the first time are concerned about being in a place where there are other people who may have a more serious mental illness. Some wonder if they are safe from these other patients.

The truth is that, once you meet the other patients, you will likely realize that they are just people, just like you. Some of them may have the same conditions as you do, and you may have other things in common with them. You may even enjoy talking with them during breaks from therapy or at meals. In any case, the other patients are no danger to you.

What Is a Mental Hospital Like?

A voluntary-admission mental hospital can be a pleasant place, especially during your breaks and evenings. While therapy can sometimes be intense, it’s good to have a chance to work out your problems in a safe, supportive environment. Here are some of what you will experience in a voluntary-admission mental facility.

Supportive Staff

Our mental health staff at Georgetown Behavioral Hospital are highly trained, professional, and supportive in everything we do. Our team is made up of psychiatrists, counselors, doctors, psychotherapists, nurses, and other support staff to lend a hand.

Each team member’s ultimate goal is to ensure your safety, improve your mental health condition, and offer emotional support along the way. We always consider your physical, mental, and emotional needs. Whenever we see or speak with you, we treat you with the utmost regard and respect. We are here to lift you up and help you achieve the life you want.

Social Interactions

When you are in a mental hospital, you have opportunities to interact with other patients on a social basis. This typically happens at meals, during breaks, or after the therapy sessions are over for the day. These interactions can be a positive thing. Engaging in social conversations is a part of good mental health. It can also be a fun, warm experience.

Groups and Activities

Along with individual visits with your doctor or psychotherapist, you will likely join in therapy groups and other activities. These groups are generally designed for learning, sharing, and self-expression. Learning with a group can be somewhat intense at times, but you can participate in the way that seems best for you.

Meals and Personal Care

You won’t have to worry about institution-style food in a modern-day mental hospital. You get healthy, tasty meals throughout the day. As for personal care, you will have time and proper facilities to take a shower and do all your grooming each day in privacy.

Self-Admitting for Inpatient Care

At Georgetown Behavioral Hospital, we only accept self-admitted patients. So, we welcome patients who want to solve their mental health problems by coming to our hospital. To admit yourself, you simply contact us or come in to talk to our admissions staff. We describe our services and how they can help you. Then, you decide whether to admit yourself and stay a while to get the treatment that can improve your mental condition and your life.

There are a few rules you and the other patients will have to follow. These rules are for the protection and benefit of all our patients. For example, if you bring valuables, they will need to be locked in our safe, just like in a medical hospital. You may have limited phone times to call your friends, family, and others, and you may not be able to bring your electronic devices. However, the benefits of concentrated treatment and care go far beyond these minor inconveniences.

Benefits of Self-Admission to a Mental Hospital

The most important benefit of voluntary admission to a mental hospital is that you can get a more intensive type of treatment than you can in outpatient settings. So, if you have mental problems, such as suicidal thoughts, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, severe anxiety, hallucinations, or other issues you need extra help for, there is a place you can choose to go for treatment.

Another benefit is the pre-admission assessments, from which you can learn much about your current condition. After the evaluation, the admissions staff explains how inpatient treatment might help you. Then, you decide whether to self-admit to the hospital.

At Georgetown Behavioral Hospital, we have created an atmosphere of kindness and empathetic care for our patients. If you choose to admit with us, we provide expert treatments to help you reach your mental health goals and prepare for life beyond the hospital.

Do you want mental health care at a beautiful, safe mental hospital? We invite you to reach out to us at Georgetown Behavioral Hospital to begin your journey.