Clinically reviewed by Justin Graham, MD.
A mental health emergency can come on suddenly or build over time. Acute symptoms can feel disorienting for the person experiencing the crisis and deeply worrisome for loved ones. During a mental health emergency, you may feel as if there’s nowhere to turn. If you’re in this scary situation, knowing when and where to get help is paramount in staying safe and receiving appropriate care.
At PrairieCare, our inpatient hospital provides short-term, 24/7/365 mental healthcare for children, teens, and young adults under 35. Whether you’re going through a mental health emergency yourself or supporting someone who is, our team is here to help you feel safe, understood, and cared for.
If you’re wondering, “Should I go to the hospital?,” here are some signs that you or someone you love might need inpatient care.
9 Signs You Need to Go to a Hospital for Inpatient Mental Healthcare
1. You’re Having Suicidal Thoughts
Suicide rates across Minnesota and the United States have increased steadily since 2011. These numbers are particularly high among teens, people of color, and LGBTQ+ people. Suicidal thoughts are never something you should try to face alone. If you’re experiencing feelings of hopelessness, a desire to disappear, or thoughts of ending your life–especially if you’ve made a plan or feel at risk of acting on it–immediate help is available.
Inpatient care provides a safe and supportive environment where you can begin to stabilize, surrounded by people who understand what you’re going through and are trained to help. If you’re in immediate danger or are severely injured, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, call 911 and/or go to your nearest emergency room.
2. You Feel Trapped in Severe Depression
Depression can look different for everyone. It may manifest as profound sadness, emotional numbness, or a loss of interest in things you once loved. It might feel like you’re moving through molasses, struggling to get out of bed, or unable to keep up with daily tasks like eating or showering.
When depression reaches the point where it’s interfering with your ability to function day to day, or you feel like it will never get better, seeking mental health help is vital. Inpatient care provides you with the time and space to rest, reset, and receive support from professionals committed to helping you heal.
3. You’re Experiencing a Manic Episode
If you’re going through a period where you feel unusually energized, it might seem exciting at first. Your thoughts may be racing. You might need little or no sleep. You may find yourself acting in impulsive or uncharacteristic ways, such as spending large amounts of money, taking risky actions, or feeling unusually irritable or overly confident.
These experiences may be signs of mania or hypomania, symptoms often associated with bipolar disorder. While mania can feel exhilarating at the start, it can quickly lead to exhaustion, confusion, strained relationships, and unsafe situations.
Inpatient care can help you stabilize these symptoms in a safe and supportive environment. With proper treatment, you can regain a sense of control and clarity, and better understand what your brain and body need to stay balanced.
4. You Feel Overwhelmed by Agitation or Anger
Sometimes mental health challenges show up as anger, restlessness, or irritability that feels impossible to control. You may feel like you’re constantly on edge or ready to explode. You might notice yourself becoming aggressive with others or harming yourself emotionally or physically.
These experiences can be signs of an anxiety disorder or a personality disorder. In children, they can be symptoms of a disruptive disorder. When these feelings become overwhelming or unmanageable, you deserve care and support.
Inpatient treatment can offer the calm, structured environment you need to decompress and begin learning new ways to express and process your emotions safely. Plus, our comprehensive discharge plans give you the next steps in care that allow for continued healing.
5. Your Mood Swings Are Intense or Unpredictable
Everyone goes through emotional ups and downs. However, if you’re experiencing sudden, intense mood swings that leave you or others feeling scared, overwhelmed, or unable to cope, it may be time to seek more structured support.
These emotional highs and lows can take a toll on your relationships, as well as your school or work, and your overall well-being. If your moods leave you feeling like you’re stuck on a never-ending rollercoaster ride, inpatient care can help you stabilize and work toward more consistent emotional regulation.
6. You’re Engaging in Self-Harm
Self-harm behaviors, like cutting, burning, or hitting oneself, typically stem from emotional pain that feels too big to hold inside. People who hurt themselves to cope aren’t broken or attention-seeking; they’re often experiencing PTSD or another mental health disorder and need care.
Inpatient care offers a safe environment where you can begin to process your experiences with compassionate professionals. You’ll learn healthy, affirming coping tools and be supported every step of the way.
7. You’re Having Thoughts of Hurting Someone Else
If you’re having thoughts of harming someone, especially if these thoughts are persistent or feel like they’re gaining power over your actions, it’s essential to seek help immediately.
These intrusive thoughts may feel frightening or shameful, but they are often a sign of mental health challenges that are too big for you to manage on your own. Inpatient care provides an open, secure space to unpack these thoughts, get the help you need, and protect both yourself and others.
8. You’re Experiencing Paranoia, Hallucinations, or Psychosis
If you’re seeing, hearing, or sensing things others aren’t, or if you feel deeply suspicious, paranoid, or disconnected from reality, these experiences can be incredibly disorienting and scary. You might feel confused or unsure of what is real. You might also feel isolated or ashamed.
Inpatient care can provide a calm, nonjudgmental place to ground yourself, receive a proper evaluation, and begin treatment for symptoms of psychosis or other conditions like psychotic disorders, severe anxiety, trauma, or mood disorders.
9. You’re Unable to Take Care of Yourself
Mental health conditions can make even basic tasks—like eating, showering, sleeping, or going to school or work—feel impossible. You may feel stuck, numb, or as though you’re barely existing.
If it’s hard to get through the day, and you feel like you’re no longer doing the tasks you need day-to-day, it’s a clear sign that you need extra support.
How to Navigate a Mental Health Emergency
If you or someone you love is experiencing any of the above signs, you are not alone. There are people who care and want to help.
Here’s what you can do if you’re in a mental health crisis:
- Call 911 and/or go to your nearest emergency room (ER) if there is an immediate risk of harm or a need for urgent medical care.
- Call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7.
- Call PrairieCare at 952-826-8424 to speak with our compassionate team of experts. We’re here to help you understand the level of care that’s right for you and offer support in real-time.
Can I Check Myself Into a Mental Hospital?
The answer to the question, “Can I check myself into a mental hospital?” is yes. Any adult up to age 35 can check into our mental hospital, and parents of people under 18 can check their children into our hospital.
At PrairieCare, we work directly with young people and their families through our Family First admissions program. This means you can call us directly, schedule an assessment, and get help without needing to visit the ER first, depending on the patient’s immediate needs.
If you’re under 35 or caring for someone who is, and need immediate support, please call 952-826-8424, and our compassionate team of experts will recommend next steps, regardless of your situation.
How to Admit Yourself to a Mental Hospital
Depending on the hospital, admissions procedures may vary. At PrairieCare, we have a streamlined process that allows quick and easy access for patients.
Here’s what you can expect when you use our Family First admissions process:
- Step 1: Call 952-826-8424 for a confidential and judgment-free mental health screening.
- Step 2: Our admissions team will help you decide whether inpatient care is needed. If it’s not the appropriate course of action, we’ll help you figure out the next steps.
- Step 3: Patients receive admission confirmation, more information, and immediate care.
What Happens When You’re Admitted to an Inpatient Mental Hospital?
When you’re admitted to our inpatient mental hospital, you’ll receive immediate support for mental health emergencies, including safety and stabilization, psychiatric and therapeutic care, withdrawal management for secondary substance use concerns, and help with managing acute symptoms.
24/7 Inpatient Mental Health Hospital for Youth and Young Adults
Nearly 64% of Minnesota youth and more than 30% of Minnesota adults report being unable to access mental healthcare. At PrairieCare, we’re dedicated to increasing the number of people who receive high-quality care, when they need it.
Our hospital in Brooklyn Park provides around-the-clock support for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. Through individual, group, and family therapy, we help stabilize symptoms and develop a comprehensive plan for ongoing care. Our experienced team of medical and mental health professionals works with patients up to age 35.
What We Treat at Our Inpatient Mental Hospital
PrairieCare’s inpatient hospital treats the following primary and secondary mental health conditions:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Trauma and PTSD
- Bipolar disorder
- Disruptive behaviors
- Personality disorders
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Co-occurring Substance Use Disorder (SUD)
What to Expect from Inpatient Care at PrairieCare
At PrairieCare, we take a whole-person approach to healing. In our inpatient hospital, care is provided by a multidisciplinary team, including:
- Psychiatrists
- Therapists (individual, group, and family)
- Social Workers
- Nurses
- Psychiatric Technicians
- Art, Music, and Recreational Therapists
- Occupational Therapists
- Advanced Practice Clinicians
- Primary Care Consultants
- Spiritual Care Providers
- Cultural Liaisons
Mental Health Treatment Options
Mental health care isn’t one-size-fits-all. Depending on your needs, different levels of care might be appropriate at different times.
Here’s an overview:
- Emergency Room (ER): For immediate, life-threatening emergencies or medical stabilization, especially for physical needs.
- Inpatient Hospitalization: Our inpatient mental hospital provides 24/7/365 care in a hospital setting for anyone under 35 who’s facing an acute mental health need.
- Residential Treatment: Longer-term residential (live-in) programs offer intensive therapy and support in a structured environment.
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): Our PHP treatment offers full-day therapeutic programming several days per week with the ability to return home at night.
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): IOP offers partial-day therapy and support, allowing you to continue with your daily life.
- Outpatient Therapy: Our traditional weekly or biweekly outpatient sessions offer one-on-one support with a therapist or counselor, available either in-person or via telehealth.
Every person’s journey is different. Our team can help you determine which level of care is right for you at this time and guide you through a smooth transition between them as you recover.
If You Need Mental Health Help, We’re Here for You
If you or your child is experiencing a mental health emergency, you can talk with our experts first to ensure you take the appropriate next steps. And depending on your or your loved ones’ current symptoms, our Family First admissions process offers quick access to psychiatric care at our hospital for youth and young adults 35 and younger.
In addition, PrairieCare offers a full continuum of mental health services at locations throughout Minnesota. So, whether you need continued care after hospitalization, or are seeking an outpatient program as a first-time patient, our team can help you find the right care.
If you’re looking for outpatient therapy options, request a no-cost mental health screening by clicking the button below and filling out the form on the right. Our team will contact you within one business day to begin the process.
FAQs
What are common warning signs of a mental health emergency?
- Signs include suicidal thoughts, severe depression, anxiety, or mood swings, hallucinations, and inability to perform daily activities.
What qualifies as a mental health emergency?
- Situations where there is an immediate risk of harm to oneself or others, or severe impairment in functioning.
Can I voluntarily admit myself to a mental hospital?
- Yes, you can seek voluntary admission by contacting us at 952-826-8424.
How long is an inpatient mental health stay?
- The average length of stay at PrairieCare is 7 to 10 days, depending on individual needs.
What is the difference between residential and inpatient mental health treatment?
- Inpatient treatment is short-term, intensive care in a hospital setting, while residential treatment involves longer-term care in a non-hospital environment.