This is very true. I think some people don't realize that most psychiatric hospitals anymore are acute care stabilization units, and instead, expect them to be more than what they are really designed for. The average stay at the hospital where I go is 3-4 days only. Just long enough to evaluate the patient, be sure they will be safe when discharged, set up outpatient contact with a pdoc and therapist, and start meds. The long-term care is expected to happen outpatient. Many of the patients are there are dual-diagnosis patients, meaning they have chemical dependency issues, and have been admitted because they abused alcohol or a med and are being monitored for a quick detox before outpatient treatment. They are usually discharged pretty quickly. The straight psychiatric patients such as myself stay more in the range of 5-7 days.

That said, my hospital stays have always generally been 8-12 days as my own pdoc cares for me, knows quite intimately how I am doing and what I need, and is very cautious with his care for me. That hospital does have a schedule of classes and groups that you can attend: generally psychoeducational-type groups, skills groups -- not actual therapy groups. Some are really good; others not so much. Obviously, not every group will meet every patient's needs, so you learn to pick and choose what applies to you. It can be very boring; I spend a lot of time doing word puzzles or reading, and getting to know other patients who are generally pretty nice individuals. There are always a few patients who are in pretty severe condition; you just learn to stay clear. But most patients are just like me -- people who are struggling with depression or anxiety or bipolar, etc. who live pretty "normal" lives most of the time but are currently in a bad spot.

Don't go into an acute care psychiatric hospital expected much more than that. Actual therapy is unusual; they generally aren't set up for that. They are set up to keep you safe long enough to establish with an outpatient therapist and pdoc; they aren't going to do intensive individual therapy with you inpatient. There are long-term facilities out there, but they are much less common, highly expensive generally, and rarely covered by insurance. My pdoc wanted me to go to one that is a good long-term facility, but financially, there was just no way to manage it as insurance wouldn't have covered it.