Why
would a Student Need to Go to the Hospital?
There
are several reasons why a Pitzer College student
may need to consider psychiatric hospitalization, including such concerns as:
- Feeling suicidal, hopeless or worthless and/or worried that you may hurt yourself or someone else
- Feeling so stressed or out of control that you cannot care for yourself
- Having unusual experiences, such as hallucinations
- Feeling too overwhelmed to function
- Experiencing confusion or disorientation
The
hospitalization process is done collaboratively between student and mental
health clinician (MCAPS or off campus provider). Hospitalization provides an
opportunity to begin stabilizing a crisis situation. The hospital provides a
safe, supportive environment where you can begin to understand what led to the
need for hospitalization and to make a wellness plan for your outpatient care which may include ongoing mental health support.
When
you arrive at the hospital, you may experience the following:
- Check-in at the front desk
- Filling out initial paperwork
- Meeting with an intake worker to discuss past and current mental health symptoms, family history, substance use, trauma, medical history and other pertinent information
- Varying wait times depending on time of day, number of patients in waiting room, etc.
How Long Will I be in the Hospital?
After you meet with the intake worker, they will make
one of three recommendations:
- There is no danger to self, others or the community and there is not an immediate need for you to be in the hospital*
- Recommendation for a voluntarily stay at the hospital for a short amount of time.
- Involuntary hospitalization or an involuntary 72 hour hold may be recommended in situations when the intake worker believes that you may be at high risk of harming yourself or someone else, or if you appear unable to care for yourself.
*If not hospitalized, case manager or RD on-call can assist with getting transportation back to campus (Uber, Lyft, Taxi, Campus Safety). Upon return, student will meet with MCAPS counselor for an evaluation and support plan during regular business hours.
What
Is a Typical Day Like at the Hospital?
A
typical day at a hospital varies depending on reasons you were hospitalized and
unit you were assigned to. You may experience the following:
- Attending therapy support groups
- Meeting with a psychiatrist
- Meeting with a social worker
- Medication management
- Meals including: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Free time to rest, watch television, and read
- Visiting Hours
- Contraband Restrictions
What
Happens After A hospitalization?
- When you are ready for discharge hospital case managers will contact Pitzer’s Assistant Dean of Students & Case Manager will begin the re-entry process and help coordinate transportation back to campus through a variety of ways:Taxi, Uber, or a designated support system (i.e. parents, roommate or friend) or Campus Safety.
- Meet with a clinician at Monsour Counseling Services for a post-hospitalization visit. This meeting is designed to help you identify what led to the hospitalization, and to discuss a treatment plan. Typically this meeting is done same day as the hospital discharge.
- Meet with Assistant Dean of Students & Case Manager to create a Student Success and Wellness Plan (SSWP) and set up regular meetings.
Your
Rights
The California Department of Healthcare Services offers a detailed explanation of your rights if you are in a psychiatric hospital. You may obtain a copy of this document in PDF format.
Helpful Phone Numbers
- Assistant Dean of Student & Case Manager: 909-607-2429
- Assistant Vice President/Dean of Students: 909-621-8241
- Associate Dean of Students & Director of Academic Support Services: 909-607-3553
- Campus Safety: 909-607-8000
- Monsour Counseling & Psychological Services: 909-621-8202
- Pitzer College Office of Student Affairs: 909-621-8241
- Aurora Charter Oak Hospital:626-966-1632
- Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center:909-865-9500
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI Pomona Valley): 909-399-0305
