Clinically reviewed by Chistopher Wall, MD
When you’re in the depths of depression, it can feel like nothing helps and no one sees how much pain you’re in. If your symptoms feel beyond your ability to cope, know that you’re not alone, and support is available.
Depression isn’t always manageable without professional help. If left untreated, symptoms can intensify, making daily life feel heavy and responsibilities impossible to manage. When the situation reaches a crisis point, such as when safety becomes a concern, inpatient treatment can often be the best next step.
At PrairieCare, we provide inpatient treatment in a safe, structured setting for children, adolescents, and young adults. Our team specializes in all levels of depression care, including complex situations involving self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or co-occurring substance use. We also plan a comprehensive discharge plan using our full continuum of care, which supports long-term healing and recovery, known as our Care Pathway.
Below, we’ll help you understand when hospitalization might be the right choice, what to expect, and how to start the admissions process.
What You’ll Learn
- When does depression require hospitalization?
- How does voluntary admission work?
- What does inpatient treatment include?
- How can PrairieCare support people with depression?
Quick Read
When depression becomes overwhelming or unsafe, hospitalization can offer the structure and care needed to begin recovery. PrairieCare provides short-term inpatient treatment for children, adolescents, and young adults, helping stabilize symptoms and create a plan for ongoing healing.
You may need hospitalization if symptoms are persistent or worsening, disrupt daily life, or include thoughts of harming yourself or others. If you feel unsafe, call 911 or 988 right away. For a non-emergency admission, you can call PrairieCare at 952-826-8424 for a screening that may bypass the ER and connect you directly to the right level of care.
Inpatient treatment includes 24/7 support, daily therapy, medication management, coping skill building, and discharge planning. Most patients stay 7–10 days, with the goal of reducing immediate risk and ensuring a smooth transition into ongoing support.
How to Tell When to Choose Hospitalization for Depression
Depression can build slowly, come at specific times, and worsen without the proper support. Despite the potential for increased impairment, it can be hard to tell if it’s getting worse when you’re in the thick of it. Here are some signs that extra support or hospitalization may be needed.
Red flags to watch for:
- Persistent or worsening struggles with sleep, appetite, concentration, relationships, or performance at work/school
- Losing interest and enjoyment in activities that used to bring joy
- Intense anxiety, hopelessness, or mood swings disrupting daily life
- Thoughts or plans of harming yourself or others that may include feeling like you can’t trust yourself to stay safe when alone
- A rapid decline in self-care or inability to meet basic responsibilities
Ask yourself:
- Do I feel hopeless most days?
- Do I feel worthless most days?
- Am I having thoughts of ending my life?
- Do I feel unsafe?
If you answer “yes” to any of these, it’s time to reach out for professional help.
Can You Check Yourself into a Mental Hospital for Depression?
Yes, if you are an adult aged 18 and over you can voluntarily admit yourself for psychiatric care. PrairieCare’s inpatient hospital for patients 35 and younger accepts self-referrals.
If you are an adult or are a family member reaching out on behalf of a child, you can use our immediate admissions process at our hospital. This option helps you or your child bypass the emergency room and leads directly to inpatient treatment, if applicable.
Here’s how it works:
- Call 952-826-8424 at any time.
- We’ll help you decide whether inpatient care is needed after a brief screening.
- We’ll guide you to the right care option, whether it’s our hospital, another facility, or a different level of care.
Our programs are designed to help patients with a variety of disorders, at any stage, and include inpatient hospitalization, residential treatment, Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), and clinic services, including Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for qualifying patients with treatment-resistant depression. We also help you transition smoothly and safely from one level of care to another when needed, and offer continuing support services upon discharge. Our goal is to help your symptoms go away so you can confidently feel like your depression is in remission.
“I Want to Harm Myself”—What Do I Do?
If you’re thinking, “I want to harm myself,” or are feeling unsafe, or know someone who is actively feeling this way, here’s what to do:
- If you or someone else is in immediate physical danger or is already hurt, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
- If you or someone else is experiencing mental health concerns but is not at risk of physical harm, call 988, the US suicide and mental health crisis hotline. It’s free, confidential, and staffed 24/7 by trained counselors who can help.
- PrairieCare’s inpatient hospital is not a substitute for emergency response in cases of life‑threatening conditions. If you aren’t in immediate danger but may need inpatient mental health treatment, call us at 952-826-8424 and our team will help you determine if our hospital is the care option that would work best for your needs. This may allow you to skip the ER and start treatment more quickly.
Once admitted to inpatient care, individuals will receive comprehensive therapeutic services in a safe and healing environment. Services within the hospital include individual, group, and family therapy, medication management, mental health education to build coping skills, occupational/recreational therapy, and access to spiritual care, all tailored to the needs of each individual’s needs.
What Is an Inpatient Hospital? What to Expect
Inpatient hospitalization at PrairieCare provides care for various mental health disorders and co-occurring substance use. That means our team works to stabilize a range of intense symptoms, and then provides a comprehensive discharge plan to ensure ongoing support and sustained recovery. Because we are a short-term hospital, patients typically stay between 7 and 10 days on average, but the length of stay varies depending on the needs of the individual.
During an inpatient hospitalization, patients will:
- Live in a secure, structured setting with 24/7 support from compassionate psychiatrists, nurses, therapists, and support staff.
- Participate in daily therapy opportunities including individual, group, and sometimes family sessions.
- Discuss and develop safety planning, coping skills, and next steps with healthcare providers.
The goal is to reduce immediate risk, set the foundation for recovery, and to create a path so depression symptoms can go into sustained remission after discharge.
Inpatient Treatment for Depression at PrairieCare
Hospitalization for depression may seem intimidating, but it’s a helpful and often essential level of care when an individual is struggling. For all our patients and their families, it’s frequently the right step where the focus is to regain safety and stability. You or your loved one won’t have to do it alone. Our compassionate team of experts will guide every patient each step of the way.
To get started with inpatient hospitalization at PrairieCare, call 952-826-8424 anytime. Our team will discuss with you if our hospital is an appropriate care setting. If not, we’ll recommend a different option for safety and support. Either way, we will guide you on the next step you should take.
If you or your loved one is looking for an outpatient program, use the button below to find the service that best fits your situation.
FAQs
How long does a hospital stay for depression last?
- A typical hospital stay is 7–10 days on average, but it can vary depending on the needs of the individual.
How to get someone admitted for depression?
- Adults and families can call 952‑826‑8424 to access care at PrairieCare’s inpatient hospital for ages 35 or younger (depending on safety and symptoms). If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest ER right away. Alternatively, please use 988 to speak with a trained counselor who can also provide support if you’re not in an immediate safety crisis.
Can I go to the hospital if I’m feeling depressed?
- Yes. You can voluntarily admit yourself by calling us at 952-826-8424 and completing a screening with our team to determine if our hospital is the most appropriate setting for your needs. You should call 911 or have a trusted person drive you to the ER if you are experiencing a mental health emergency.
Can a depressed person go to a psychiatric (mental) hospital?
- Yes, a depressed person can go to a psychiatric (mental) hospital for care and support. PrairieCare accepts voluntary admissions for depression and other mental health conditions, with a screening that will help determine the appropriate level of care and urgency of the situation.
What is considered a mental health emergency?
- A mental health emergency includes immediate risk of harm to self or others, severe symptoms like hallucinations or suicidal impulses, and/or loss of ability to function in daily life.