Inpatient care for depression that has not responded to other treatments
Some evidence – there is enough evidence to indicate that this can be a helpful treatment option.
Children and young people are rarely admitted to inpatient units in the UK. If your professional suggests inpatient care then this will be because they think it’s the best way to help you. This might be because they are concerned that you’re at significant risk of self-harm or need a type of treatment that isn’t available anywhere else.
How long you stay will depend on the support that you need. Your family will be able to visit you and usually, you will continue to do school work and have sessions with a mental health professional.
Although inpatient units can be helpful in keeping you safe and providing intensive treatment, there are also concerns about the negative effects of being separated from family and friends and your normal community. This can make it harder to go back to school, start seeing your friends and family again and get back to your usual routines. There are also sometimes concerns about the impact of being with other young people with similar problems. While inpatient care can be supportive as you might meet people who know how you feel, there can also be downsides such as unhelpful coping strategies like self-harm starting to seem normal.
You can find more information about inpatient care here.
Treatments outlined on these webpages may not be available in every local area. It’s important that you discuss with your GP or mental health professional the treatment options available to you. You can also search for services near you on our Youth Wellbeing Directory and find out more about referral processes here.