Hello Nocter: Well... I've been an in-patient on 2 different psych wards. My recollection is that I saw the psychiatrist (not my pdoc... but the one that was on staff at the hospital) every 2 or 3 days... sometimes for longer meetings... sometimes more briefly. On both psych wards there were groups to attend. Most of it was absolutely ridiculous... in my humble opinion!

I'd have to say, personally, my opinion is that being on a psych ward does not contribute to healing. It's simply a place to go (or to be put) if you're not safe on your own. It's basically a warehouse. And, sometimes, that's important. But it's not therapeutic. My personal opinion (again) is that what's important is to have additional services (such as a partial hospital program) lined up for when you get out of the hospital. To the extent that there is healing available, that is where it will happen.