Psychiatric Inpatient Hospital Services

These are services provided in a licensed psychiatric hospital based on the determination of a licensed mental health professional that the person requires intensive 24-hour mental health treatment.

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Individuals are admitted to inpatient services when they have a mental illness, or symptoms of mental illness, that cannot be safely treated at a lower level of care, and, because of the mental illness or symptoms of mental illness, they: 

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• 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 they 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.

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Accessing Inpatient Services

Members of the Sacramento County Mental Health Plan and the uninsured must go to the Sacramento County Mental Health Treatment Center or call the Access Team for assessment.

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• Sacramento County Mental Health Treatment Center

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2150 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-875-1000

Hours: 24 hours per day/ 7 days per week

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• Mental Health Access Team

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Phone: (916) 875-1055

TTY/TDD: (916) 876-8892

Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

After Hours: (888) 881-4881

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Individuals with private insurance should contact the insurance number on the back of their medical card to find out information about their inpatient benefits. This should be done prior to a crisis.

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Regardless of insurance, in an emergency, call 9-1-1 or take the person to a hospital emergency room. 

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

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

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

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Admission

Individuals may be voluntarily or involuntarily to a psychiatric inpatient hospital.

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Voluntary admission

An individual agrees to go into and/or stay in the hospital. They can choose to leave at any time as long as they are not a danger to themselves and can take care of their own basic needs (e.g., food, housing and clothing needs).

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Involuntary admission 

Hospitals may keep an individual for up to 72 hours without their permission. Hospitals can do this when the hospital thinks you are likely to harm yourself or someone else and that you are unable to take care of your own food, housing and clothing needs. The hospital will tell you in writing what they are doing and what your rights are. If doctors think you need to stay for more than 72 hours, you have the right to a lawyer and a hearing before a judge. The hospital will tell you how to ask for this.