Inpatient and residential services are available throughout Sacramento County for those who are privately or publicly insured, or for those who do not have insurance. 

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ELIGIBILITY

Inpatient/residential care may be needed for individuals who have a mental illness, or symptoms of mental illness, that cannot be safely treated at a lower level of care (e.g., counseling, support groups, etc.) and they:

• Represent a current danger to themselves or others, or significant property destruction 

• Are prevented from providing for, or using food, clothing or shelter 

• Present a severe risk to their physical health 

• Have a recent, significant deterioration in ability to function, and 

• Need psychiatric evaluation, medication treatment, or other treatment that can only be provided in the hospital. 

 

Individuals may be admitted voluntarily or involuntarily. 

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Voluntary admission

An individual agrees to go into and/or stay in the hospital. 

 

Involuntary admission 

Hospitals may keep an individual for up to 72 hours without their permission if they are likely to harm themselves, or someone else, and they are unable to take care of their own food, housing and clothing needs. The hospital must explain, in writing, what they are doing and what the person’s individual rights are. If doctors determine a person needs to stay longer than 72 hours, the patient has a right to a lawyer and a hearing before a judge.  

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PATIENTS’ RIGHTS & PRIVACY 

Whenever an individual is involuntarily detained in a hospital setting, California law affords specific legal protections and the availability of a knowledgeable advocate to speak on behalf of the detained consumer.  A Consumers Self-Help Patients' Rights advocate will present the expressed interests of the client in Certification Review hearings and various other legal procedures which may occur routinely or which are requested by the client. Whenever a client feels their rights are being infringed upon or even denied, they have the right to request a review of the instance and a thorough investigation will be done. 

 

Patient’s Rights Advocates are available for assistance in completing forms and resolving a Grievance, Appeal, and State Fair Hearing. A Patient’s Rights Advocate can also help with questions about your rights.

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For assistance: 

• Call the Patient’s Right Advocate (916) 333-3800. 

• If that does resolve the issue, contact the State of California’s Ombudsman for help:

Phone

(800) 896-4042 - CA Only

(916) 654-3890 

(800) 896-2512 TTY
 

Email

ombudsman@dmh.ca.gov 

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Handbook of Rights for Individuals in Mental Health Facilities

 

ACCESSING INPATIENT SERVICES

To access inpatient services for a serious mental or emotional problem:

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• Immediate danger* to self or others

  • call 9-1-1 or take the person to a hospital emergency room

• Not in immediate danger to self or others 

  • Contact a local inpatient/residential facility (listed below) for an intake assessment.

  • Many facilities are open 24 hours for intake assessments. 

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*An emergency is a serious mental or emotional problem such as: 

• When a person is a danger to himself, herself, or others because of what seems like a mental illness, or 

• When a person cannot get or use the food, shelter, or clothing they need because of what seems like a mental illness.

 

COST

Patient cost for inpatient/residential care varies between insurances (public and private). Inpatient and residential facilities may also have specific financial support programs for the uninsured/underinsured.