Psychiatric Services – Inpatient

The Oaklawn Psychiatric Unit, located at the hospital, is an adult care facility for those experiencing disruptive changes in their thoughts, feelings or behaviors. The unit has a multi-disciplinary team including clinical social workers, activity therapists, psychiatric nurses and technicians, psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners. This team treats a wide variety of mental health issues ranging from mood disorders, personality disorders, and thought disorders.

Group psychotherapy is offered daily, as well as educational groups, activity groups, and medication education groups. Patients will also meet with a psychiatric provider each day to discuss medication effectiveness and make necessary adjustments.

Stats and Facts

1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year
1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year
50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-34

Trying to tell the difference between what expected behaviors are and what might be the signs of a mental illness isn’t always easy. Each illness has its own symptoms, but common signs of mental illness in adults and adolescents can include some of the following:

• Excessive worrying or fear
• Feeling excessively sad or low
• Confused thinking or problems concentrating and learning
• Extreme mood changes, including uncontrollable “highs” or feelings of euphoria
• Prolonged or strong feelings of irritability or anger
• Avoiding friends and social activities
• Difficulties understanding or relating to other people
• Changes in sleeping habits or feeling tired and low energy
• Changes in eating habits such as increased hunger or lack of appetite
• Changes in sex drive
• Difficulty perceiving reality (delusions or hallucinations, in which a person experiences and senses things that don’t exist in objective reality)
• Inability to perceive changes in one’s own feelings, behavior or personality (”lack of insight” or anosognosia)
• Overuse of substances like alcohol or drugs
• Multiple physical ailments without obvious causes (such as headaches, stomach aches, vague and ongoing “aches and pains”)
• Thinking about suicide
• Inability to carry out daily activities or handle daily problems and stress

Admission to the Psychiatric Unit follows medical clearance from any Emergency Department. Patients can be admitted voluntarily or involuntarily, which includes a Petition for Mental Health Treatment and Clinical Certificate. Petitions can be found here. Anyone over the age of 18 can complete a petition.

Anonymous Patient Feedback

“Resolved my shame and pain and helped me to feel safe”

“Compassionate and caring staff paid attention to my needs”

“Effective therapy in a trusting environment”   

“Great place to be for help” 

“The staff really seemed to care… They treated us as people, rather than patients”

“Staff is excellent, and I truly benefitted from their care and support”

“Staff listened and treated me with respect”