Hi flawlessimperfectionsmft; I'm from Canada and had to be in-patient for 6 weeks. I received my diagnosis while I was in-patient.

Questions:
1. What is intake like?
I had been found attempting, so I was taken into emergency and was kept in an exam room until I was spoken to by 2 Psychiatrists, 1 nurse, and 1 GP.
A bed wasn't available in the lock down ward, so I was kept in a small room in the ER (I was locked in)

2. What are the rooms like?
In lock down and the open ward I had a room with a bed, closet, bathroom (no shower or bath) I didn't have to share a room with anyone, but some patients did.

3. What are the days like?
When you're on lock down you can either stay in your room, stay in the general area, or in the TV room. You cannot leave the ward, but people can come to visit you.

On the open ward I was able to go outside and walk and I did a lot of that. I went to group therapy for most of the day and at the end of the day we had gym class. At night a friend would take me to the stables

4. What are the nights like?
When I was on the open ward I would go see my horse most nights or just go somewhere. They did organize movie nights, bingo etc. for patients that were there. Saturday and Sundays most people went home for the weekend on 2 day passes if they were well enough.

5. What do they do if you are currently taking medication?
The Psychiatrist decides what you will take for meds and the Psychiatric Nurse provides it

6. What do you bring with you, if anything?
I didn't have anything when I was going in-patient because it wasn't planned. If I knew I had to go in-patient I would take pyjamas, shoes that slip on (no laces allowed on lock down), change of clothes, skin care stuff etc. etc.

7. How do you find in patient psych hospitals in your area?
Mine was very good. The only ward I didn't like was the lock down, but it was necessary for me at that time.

8. What does it have to offer in terms of counseling, meeting with doctors etc.
I was observed by a Psychiatric nurse and/or my Psychiatrist. Therapy was offered in groups.

9. How long are the stays usually? (For someone depressed or manic)
I was committed which in Canada equates to 1 month, but my Pdoc requested I stay 2 more weeks and I agreed. I was admitted with a initial diagnosis of major depression, but went manic the second week I was in-patient.

10. Do most insurances cover it?
I'm from Canada.

My suggestion from my experience is to go when you feel unsafe to yourself and/or to others. I should have went in-patient way before I was found attempting.

I wrote a blog on my Psychiatric Hospital experiences. Here is the link to it: http://blueoctober.psychcentral.net/2010/07/