There's also a big difference between residential hospitals (average stay: 3-8 months) and short-term hospitals.

There was one near me that was like a ****ing resort. It wasn't a hospital building, it was a series of houses. Each house treated a different kind of behavior (e.g. substance abuse/dual diagnosis, emotional problems, acute psychiatric disorders, etc.) You get more privacy, you get an actual, nicer, cleaner bedroom with furniture and a real bed. Of course, everything is suicide- and self-harm-proofed, but still. It's not on full lockdown like short term hospitals.

It was an adolescent hospital, so they gave each patient a weekly allowance. It wasn't much, but it adds up. Then you would go on outings, like to the mall, Six Flags, etc.

If you had a pass, you could go home for the weekend. This was actually considered an important part of therapy, so they encouraged it.

They use what they call "adventure-based counseling".
They also bought everyone their own MP3 players.

They had animal therapy, which included puppies and horses. "Residents have the use of a full indoor gym, an outdoor in-ground pool, a softball field, tennis, basketball and volley ball courts, a game room, chapel, art room, hiking trails and a low ropes adventure treatment site."

Sadly, I never got to go. I've only heard about it from people who were there in the past.