a bit of information may help -

here in the USA we have two different things -

involuntary in patient

thats when people dont have a choice

voluntary inpatient

thats when people know they may need some help soon or right away. they dont want to wait for the crash and burn, hit rock bottom.

sometimes people know when they are so depressed or having a hard time with their mental illnesses that they know they may need to go into the hospital soon.

there are alot of people who choose to go to their doctors and say - this is happening and I need to go into the hospital. or they go to an ER and ask to speak to the ER on call psychiatrist.

then they talk with the doctor or psychiatrist and then choose to be put in the hospital for 2 or three days sometimes longer depending upon whats going on.

I have chosen to enter the hospital when I was feeling suicidal, self injuring and other issues too.

sometimes my ---- voluntary inpatient status --- lasted just 2 or three days and other times it lasted for 2 weeks.

there are lots of people who know when they may need to go inpatient soon.

they decide that based on how they are feeling.

some people like me feel making the choice to go inpatient myself when Im having suicidal, self-injury or whatever other issues is better than waiting for the crash, burn hit rock bottom.

theres lots of people in this world that pay so close attention to their moods and mental disorders that they just know some day soon they will need to go inpatient. and they choose to take that step before they hit rock bottom or before its too late.

here in the USA people can indeed choose when to enter mental health treatment facilities for treatment.