Psychiatric Hospitalization for Teens

When It's Needed and What to Expect

Adolescent girl talking to a therapist at a mental hospital for teens

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If your child is having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.

A mental hospital for teens provides the highest level of treatment available and is intended for the short-term stabilization of serious mental health issues. An inpatient setting also provides a secure environment with constant clinical supervision to ensure the teen's safety. 

Learn when psychiatric hospitalization may be needed for adolescents and what treatment looks like within these settings. It's also important to know what to expect when the teen is discharged and how you can support their mental health once they return home.

When Is Teen Psychiatric Hospitalization Needed?

While some teenage mental health issues can be treated outpatient, others might need immediate inpatient care. A mental hospital for teens may be needed if:

  • The teen is at risk of harming themselves or others.
  • The teen has thoughts of suicide or is engaging in suicidal behaviors.
  • The teen isn't eating, bathing, or otherwise taking care of themselves.
  • The teen can't sleep, sleeps a lot, or feels tired all the time.
  • The teen is having psychotic episodes.

Similar to how traditional hospitals treat physical health issues, psychiatric hospitals treat mental health issues. Staff are prepared to deal with mood or behavioral changes that come on suddenly. Teen psychiatric hospitals also provide the intense structure and intervention needed to keep adolescents safe.

Teens require different treatment from adults, so it's important for teens to have access to mental health ​staff trained in dealing with younger patients.

What to Expect With Teen Psychiatric Hospitalization

The two most important things to know about psychiatric hospitalization are:

  •  The treatment is fast-paced and intense.
  •  The length of stay will be very short, usually for several days.

Mental hospitals for teens are intended to thoroughly evaluate the crisis, act quickly to stabilize the patient, and develop a plan for continued care. This process begins the moment the teen arrives.

Evaluation and Assessment

A comprehensive evaluation begins at the time the teen is admitted. It is completed by interviewing the teen, family members, and any mental health or school professionals who have worked with the teen and can provide relevant information. 

This assessment considers the teen's history of issues concerning mood or behavior, use of drugs or alcohol, previous treatment, physical illness or symptoms, and family history of mental illness.

Some teens may engage in psychological testing as a part of the evaluation process.

Treatment

Teen psychiatric hospitals use a treatment team approach with an extensive staff of professionally trained personnel. Team members may include psychiatrists or psychologists, substance abuse counselors, therapists, social workers, nurses, activity therapists, teachers, and more.

Professionals from each discipline make recommendations for treatment both in the hospital and after discharge. While in the hospital, teens participate in numerous daily structured activities that may include:

  • Academic programs to help keep up with school
  • Family therapy focused on immediate concerns and next steps
  • Group therapy with other hospitalized teens
  • Individual therapy
  • Multifamily group therapy (many hospitals suggest families continue in these groups as part of aftercare)
  • Occupational, recreational, and art therapies 

Discharge Planning

Once the reasons for the crisis are identified and a teen is considered stable by the treating psychiatrist and hospital staff, a case manager will work on the discharge plan. Discharge planning refers to specific plans made for the aftercare or follow-up treatment the teen will participate in upon leaving the psychiatric hospital.

Follow-up programs will be recommended based on how well the teen responds to treatment in the hospital.

Some teens may require residential treatment after discharge, while others may benefit from day treatment. If medication and efforts at stabilization create significant changes, a lower level of care such as an alternative school or intensive outpatient therapy may be appropriate.  

A case manager works with parents on setting up aftercare services. Referrals to a therapist, psychiatrist, or other service provider will be made. Usually, a case manager will set up follow-up appointments to ensure that the teen remains healthy once they're discharged home.

Returning Home

Sometimes, parents feel like the teen is being rushed out of the hospital. They fear the teen hasn't recovered enough or they worry that safety issues aren't completely resolved.

Unfortunately, short stays are the reality of psychiatric hospitals. They are expensive to operate and are intended to assess the teen, stabilize the crisis, and provide expertise in helping transition the teen into a less intensive mental health treatment program.

That's why it's important to make sure you have a clear understanding of your teen's discharge instructions. Following up with the suggested ongoing service providers can help keep your teen mentally healthy both short- and long-term.

2 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. University of Utah Huntsman Mental Health Institute. When to seek inpatient mental health treatment at a hospital.

  2. Pérez-García M, Sempere-Pérez J, Rodado-Martínez JV, Pina López D, Llor-Esteban B, Jiménez-Barbero JA. Effectiveness of multifamily therapy for adolescent disruptive behavior in a public institution: A randomized clinical trial. Child Youth Serv Rev. 2020;117:105289. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105289

By Amy Morin, LCSW
Amy Morin, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk,  "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time.