If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health, you may be wondering where to go or who to trust for the best care. Should you go to your local hospital or see a primary care provider for next steps?
The short answer: It depends on what you’re experiencing. The good news is that there are many levels of care available to address mental health concerns that aren’t just for immediate services like an emergency room. But the ER can be the right choice depending on the situation.
Understanding your options can help you feel more confident about taking the next step. Here’s what Minnesota families need to know about finding the right care at the right time.
What You’ll Learn
- When is hospitalization necessary for mental health care?
- What warning signs indicate someone needs emergency or inpatient treatment?
- What mental health treatment options are available outside a hospital?
- What’s the difference between inpatient and outpatient mental health care?
Quick Read
Most people can get mental health support without hospitalization through therapy, medication management, or intensive outpatient programs. Inpatient care is intended for acute crises involving immediate safety risks, severe symptoms, or an inability to meet basic needs. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911; for urgent crisis support, call or text 988. PrairieCare also offers multiple levels of care based on each person’s needs.
When to Go to the Hospital for Inpatient Mental Healthcare
Most people don’t need to go to a hospital for mental healthcare. Emergency rooms and inpatient psychiatric units are for crisis-level situations. A mental health crisis means someone’s safety is at risk, or their symptoms are so severe that they can’t function without 24/7 support. Hospitalization provides life-saving short-term stabilization when outpatient treatment alone isn’t enough.
Signs you should go to a mental health hospital or the nearest emergency room include:
- Active suicidal ideation with a plan or recent suicide attempt
- Self-harm escalating to a life-threatening level
- Threats of serious harm to others or violent behavior
- Hearing voices, seeing things that aren’t there, or experiencing strong paranoid beliefs
- Extreme agitation, impulsivity, or mania
- Complete inability to care for oneself
You can check yourself into a mental health hospital, or, if you’re experiencing any life-threatening physical crises, go to the ER. An emergency department can rule out medical causes and then arrange a transfer to a mental health-focused unit or hospital.
If someone is in immediate danger, call 911, or contact 988 to speak with a mental health counselor.
Where Can I Get Mental Health Help Besides a Hospital?
While hospitals are designed to stabilize safety and symptoms, they aren’t meant to be a long-term solution to mental health. You have many options if you’re looking for non-emergency support.
If you or your loved one is able to function day to day but needs things like medication management, coping skills, evidence-based therapies, and other types of comprehensive treatment, options like outpatient therapy or intensive programs are a good starting place.
Treatment options include:
- Outpatient therapy: Weekly or biweekly sessions with licensed therapists, psychologists, or clinical social workers—in person or through telehealth
- Medication management: Psychiatric appointments with doctors or nurse practitioners who work closely with your therapist to address specific needs
- Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP): Partial-day programming, typically meeting several days per week, for clients whose symptoms need more support than a weekly session
- Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP): Full-day therapeutic programming five days a week while you still live at home
- Residential treatment: Long-term treatment in an overnight care setting with a full team of experts that provides 24/7 support
PraireCare has outpatient clinics and intensive programs at multiple Minnesota locations, including the Twin Cities, Rochester, and Mankato. Other support systems include community resources like school counselors, county mental health services, mobile crisis teams, and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988).
Inpatient vs. Outpatient Mental Healthcare
Inpatient mental healthcare means at least one overnight stay in a hospital or psychiatric facility with around-the-clock supervision. Patients receive 24/7 support during inpatient treatment, with immediate access to mental health professionals for urgent needs. The structure and stability of a psychiatric hospital remove daily stressors that might otherwise hinder recovery.
Outpatient mental healthcare means you return home after each visit. It includes weekly therapy, medication check-ins, Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP), and specialty clinic services. This is ongoing, relationship-based care focused on skill-building, processing experiences, and improving quality of life while maintaining school or work.
| Feature | Inpatient Care | Outpatient Care |
| Setting | Hospital or psychiatric facility | Clinic, office, or telehealth |
| Duration | Typically 7–10 days | Weeks to months |
| Supervision | 24/7 monitoring | During scheduled sessions |
| Best for | Acute crisis, stabilization | Ongoing recovery, skill-building |
| Daily life | Paused | Maintained |
Inpatient treatment typically lasts a short time, while outpatient and intensive programs may continue for weeks or months, depending on the diagnosis.
Residential treatment is a middle-level option that serves young people who are not in acute crisis but need the structure and support of a therapeutic, home-like program. They receive daily therapy and academics, and live onsite during their stay.
PrairieCare offers all of these levels of care, allowing clients to move between the different options as needs change.
What Happens During Inpatient Mental Health Treatment?
What happens inside a psychiatric hospital? PrairieCare’s mental health hospitals are designed to provide comfort, community, and safety 24/7. Here’s what to expect.
Assessment
The team works with the patient to conduct a comprehensive assessment. It includes safety monitoring and medication evaluation, a review of medical and mental health history, and conversations with the patient. Because it’s a short-term solution, the team begins discharge planning (including step-down treatment programs) during the assessment phase.
Treatment Plan
A multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, nurses, therapists, social workers, and activity specialists then creates a treatment plan. Treatment plans are individualized based on assessment results and target each patient’s specific clinical and safety goals.
Day in the Life
A typical day at a mental health hospital includes:
- Structured wake-up and bedtime routines
- Group, family, and individual sessions
- Relaxation, gym, and nature time
- Art and recreational therapy
- Psychiatry and medication management
- School time for youth, provided by on-site teachers
- Therapeutic activities and downtime
At PrairieCare, most inpatient stays are short-term and goal focused, usually about a week to 10 days, though length depends on clinically determined needs.
Mental Health Treatment in Minnesota
We know reaching out for help can feel overwhelming and intimidating, but you don’t need to have all the answers before you call. We’re here to listen to your concerns and walk you through recommended next steps, even if those options don’t include our facilities.
Call our team at 952-826-8424 to get started or request a complimentary care questionnaire online using the button below.
FAQs
Do you have to go to a hospital to get mental health treatment?
- No. Most people can receive mental health care without hospitalization through outpatient therapy, medication management, IOP, or PHP. Hospitalization is for crisis situations, serious safety risks, or symptoms that require 24/7 support.
When should someone go to a mental health hospital?
- Hospital-level care is appropriate when someone is experiencing active suicidal thoughts with a plan, escalating self-harm, serious threats toward others, psychosis, extreme agitation or mania, or an inability to meet basic needs such as sleeping, eating, drinking, or maintaining hygiene.
Can you check yourself into a mental health hospital?
- Yes, you or a family member can seek voluntary inpatient mental health treatment. If there is an immediate safety or medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
What’s the difference between inpatient and outpatient mental health care?
- Inpatient care involves staying at a hospital or psychiatric facility with 24/7 support and is designed for acute stabilization. Outpatient care can range from weekly therapy to more intensive programs such as IOP and PHP, but you always return home at night.
What if I need more support than weekly therapy but don’t need a hospital?
- Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) and Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) offer more structured treatment while letting patients live at home. These programs can include therapy, psychiatric care, medication management, and other therapeutic services.
How long do you stay in a mental health hospital?
- Inpatient treatment typically lasts about 7 to 10 days, but the length of stay depends on the patient’s clinical needs, safety, and progress.