AG - Every hospital is different. The one in my area is a state facility, and it's really nice. It's big enough that they are able to have separate units for various levels of illness. So, people who are acting out, are not housed with people who are depressed and vulnerable.

If I were in your shoes, I would call my local NAMI. Tell them you are considering hospitalization, but would like to talk to someone who has been an in-patient at that particular hospital. I'm sure they'd hook you up with a volunteer (Sometimes former patients even volunteer at the state hospitals to help transition new patients). So, you could talk to someone who has been there, and get the real scoop.

Additionally, sometimes medical hospitals will keep psych patients for extended periods to stabilize meds. Find out which hospitals in the area might do this by asking NAMI as well.

Take care. emmy