Get to know the treatment team to include the Attending and treating Physician (may or may not be the same person). If possible, ask for a meeting with the Social worker and or Doctor. If a date for a team meeting (a meeting in which all of the professionals involved in the care of your loved meet to discuss his or her case) has been set, try to attend. Your input is valuable and can help ensure that the treatment team is focusing on the right goals (your loved one may not be able to articulate their needs clearly).

Ask questions about the diagnosis, about the medications, inquire about the discharge plan and if you have concerns, share those concerns with the team. For example, you may feel that your loved one should be in the hospital for longer than two days. If that is the case be prepared to share with the team why you feel that way and let them know what you have been observing. But please understand that the goal of an inpatient hospital stay is to stabilize not to warehouse. Today many inpatient hospitals do not have enough beds to keep people long term, and many of the newer psychotropic medications work faster so people can stabilize and can go home quicker. However, you live with your family member, and you know the challenges that you and your loved one will have to face once he or she is discharged. So share those challenges with the team and ask for help developing a realistic plan that takes into account those challenges.

For example, if you know that there are limited mental health supports in your area and that the earliest your loved one can get a mental health appointment in the community is three weeks from the discharge date advocate with the inpatient doctor for enough medications to cover the time. Upon discharge, ensure that you or your loved has a follow-up appointment with a psychiatrist or mental health clinic in your area.

It will be vital for you to follow up and to continue the work you have done while in the hospital.

Regular appointments with a mental health professional, medications, family, friends and faith can all be important components in your recovery plan. Unfortunately, some people after their discharge do not follow up with their community mental health team. Because they feel good after being discharged from the hospital, they don’t feel the need to keep seeing anyone, so they don’t. Unfortunately, symptoms may return. But don’t let that be you. Get Help and stay in treatment.