I've been hospitalized quite a few times. The advantages:

1. You don't have to think about anything/ make decisions, etc. It is done for you which is a huge relief when you are so depressed that you can't function.
2. Medication adjustments can be made MUCH faster in a hospital setting than outpatient.
3. You get to meet some very interesting and inspiring people (and realize that people with mental illness are simply people).

I've been very fortunate. The hospital I use has very little turnover in its employees. That speaks a lot about how dedicated they are to their job and how satisfied they are with the way things are done there.

Don't expect one-on-one therapy if your hospital is a crisis stabilization unit. A stay in a crisis stabilization unit is on average 5 days long. I've stayed as few as 3 days and as long as 3 weeks. Any longer than that and you require more residential care.

You will have groups to go to dealing with coping skills, etc.

Every hospital program is a little different from the next. Some are really good; some are pretty awful.