Inpatient Mental Health

Inpatient Psychiatric Care

Mercy behavioral health offers inpatient psychiatric care for patients who need the structure and support of residential treatment. Patients with co-occurring medical and/or mental health problems often require this level of care. We’re committed to helping behavioral health patients in our communities get the care they need to be able to live their lives to the fullest. 

When should I go to a hospital for psychiatric care?

Making the choice to get psychiatric care isn’t easy, but professional help should be sought if you’re experiencing any of these severe symptoms:

• Disconnected from reality – having hallucinations or delusions
• Life at risk – suicidal or homicidal thoughts or actions
• Too ill to care for self - not bathing, eating or sleeping properly

It’s possible to be voluntarily or involuntarily hospitalized for a mental disorder. Patients may be involuntarily hospitalized if they are unable to care for themselves or may hurt themselves or others. While this is often a very confusing and frightening experience for the patient and their loved ones, Mercy’s behavioral health care team offers hope and healing.

Inpatient Behavioral Health Programs

We believe patients should be treated in the least restrictive setting that’s likely to be safe and effective. Inpatient care teams often include primary care providers, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, substance use counselors, psychiatric or behavioral health nurse practitioners, nurses, aides in addition to others.

This “full team” approach is designed to treat the whole person including mental health, physical health and substance use conditions. Our inpatient mental health care services for adults include diagnosis, medication management as well as aftercare planning.

Behavioral Diagnostic Assessment & Evaluation

Mercy offers 24/7 support for mental health crises through our emergency departments. Licensed behavioral health experts perform all necessary mental health assessments in order to provide an accurate diagnosis and determine the best treatment plan for recovery.

In areas such as rural communities where access to behavioral health care is limited, Mercy uses virtual technology to perform emergency assessments, consultations and remote monitoring. 

Medication Stabilization & Management

Psychiatric treatment in a hospital normally focuses on:

• Medical stabilization – medication may be used in the short-term to address acute behavioral symptoms and psychiatrists make adjustments based on individual patient response to medication as part of an ongoing process
• Close monitoring – specially trained nurses and psychiatric technicians work around the clock with hospitalized patients to help monitor safety, lead group therapies and administer medications
• Treatment for other medical problems – chronic medical conditions like diabetes, COPD, and heart disease are also treated
• Caring or body and soul – patients are cared for both nutritionally and spiritually to improve the body’s ability to recover

Medication side effects can happen. Your care team will work with you to develop a medication management plan.

Aftercare Planning

Returning to regular life after discharge from inpatient mental health treatment can be challenging. To help you adjust successfully, we provide detailed aftercare support plans which include:

Inpatient Behavioral Program for Children & Teens

A diagnosis of a mental health condition in your child can be particularly stressful. At Mercy Kids, our pediatric behavioral health specialists offer exceptional medical knowledge and clinical skills for children in a caring, compassionate environment. 

Inpatient pediatric psychiatric treatment may be voluntary if the parent or guardian agrees. Our care team will work with you and your child to identify, evaluate and treat their mental health diagnosis.

A key part of your child’s treatment is stabilization after crisis and reintegrating your child back into the family. Your child’s care team, working cooperatively with our network of community organizations, will help find you supportive care and ongoing treatment following discharge.