How Long Mental Health Hospitalizations Last

If your mental health condition has become serious or unmanageable, your hospital stays may tend to last a little longer. One study found that the average stay for patients with severe mental illness lasts around 10 days, especially at hospitals that treat higher volumes of severe cases. But this could vary considerably depending on the diagnosis and other factors, like how you respond to treatment and whether a safe discharge plan is feasible. 

If you or someone you love is considering inpatient mental health treatment in Wisconsin, you might be feeling overwhelmed or scared, especially if the hospitalization timeline feels unclear. This guide can help you understand the timelines you can expect based on your or your loved one’s medical history and situation.

Average Inpatient Hospitalization Timeframes

Researchers have gathered the averages for hospital stays based on diagnosis below from previous decades. Please note that the averages below include a range of differing lengths of stay and are rounded up to the nearest whole number. Overall, some people could be ready to leave in a day or two, but generally, most mental health hospitalizations last up to or less than a week. 

The Difference Between Voluntary Vs. Involuntary Stays

Many patients choose Miramont Behavioral Health Hospital voluntarily when they realize they need a safe, supportive space to recover from a mental health episode on their own timeline. However, whether you’re admitted voluntarily or involuntarily could affect your discharge date. 

Voluntary hospitalization at our center allows you to be an active participant in your care, making discharge planning more collaborative and supportive. 

Some stays, though, can be involuntary. This usually happens when someone poses a significant risk to themselves or others and can’t make safe decisions due to their mental state. But in Wisconsin, involuntary hospitalization can still legally happen—but typically only if you show signs of: 

• Recent suicidal actions or threats
• Dangerous behavior toward others
• Severe neglect of basic needs or impaired judgment that puts your life at risk. If the risk is high and no reasonable support system is available in the community, a court may approve a temporary hospitalization.

Signs That an Inpatient Stay Might Be Right For You

These signs can point toward a need for voluntary hospitalization:

• You’re thinking about ending your life. If you’re having suicidal thoughts—especially if you have a plan or feel like you might act on them—inpatient care may give you the safety and supervision you need to survive a crisis.
• Depression has completely overwhelmed you. If the sadness is unshakable, your joy is gone, and your energy or appetite seems to have permanently crashed for weeks on end, hospitalization may help stabilize you before symptoms get worse.
• You’re stuck in a manic or dangerous mood swing. Mania may make you feel invincible, create shocking impulsivity, or highly uncharacteristic irritability. If you struggle to sleep, slow your thoughts, or make sound decisions, you may need support in a secure setting. Mood swings that shift quickly or severely—especially when linked to bipolar disorder or deep depression—can feel impossible to manage alone. A hospital stay may offer the structure and relief you need.
• You have a strong urge to hurt yourself. If you or your teenager has resorted to cutting, burning, or otherwise harming the body to cope with pain, a mental health hospitalization could keep everyone safe while teaching you healthier ways to manage intense emotions.
• You have thoughts of harming someone else. Sometimes, intense emotions or paranoia linked to schizophrenia may make you think about hurting others. If you’re worried you might put someone else in danger, inpatient care may give you the space, medication, and support to stay in control.
• You’re feeling paranoid or out of touch with reality. If you’re afraid someone is out to get you, or you’re seeing or hearing things others aren’t, these could be signs of a psychotic episode, and a safe environment could help stabilize your symptoms and plug you back into reality.
• You can’t meet your physical needs. When you’re so depressed, anxious, or confused that daily tasks like eating, showering, or getting dressed feel impossible, you might benefit from inpatient care to get back to a place of stability and self-care.

Hospitalization in Wisconsin Can Help

If you’re in Wisconsin and wondering whether inpatient care is the next right step, Miramont Behavioral Health is here to help, with locations in Middleton and Waukesha. Contact us today to talk with someone about what your treatment might look like, how long your stay may last, and how we can make it as worthwhile as possible.