Psychiatric Hospitalization & Resources
Overview
If you or a loved one is considering or has recently been admitted to the hospital, you may have questions about what to expect. This webpage provides information and resources to help you understand and navigate the process of psychiatric hospitalization.
At Caltech Counseling Services, we work closely with students to support safety, stabilization, and engagement with effective treatment. Hospitalization can be an important step in stabilizing a crisis, addressing acute concerns, and supporting a return to academic and campus life.
Students and their supporters are encouraged to ask questions, communicate openly with providers, and participate actively in treatment decisions.
Most of the time, students and their providers agree that inpatient care is necessary for the student's safety and well-being, and the student is admitted voluntarily. In some cases, hospitalization is mandated following a clinical assessment even if a student declines voluntary admission into the hospital.
Inpatient hospitalization may be clinically necessary or helpful when the intensity or severity of a student's mental health concerns significantly impair their ability to stay safe or function. This may include situations such as:
- Feeling suicidal and unable to commit to a safety plan or keep yourself safe
- Having strong urges or thoughts of harming yourself or others
- Using drugs or alcohol at a level that is dangerous or feels out of control
- Experiencing extreme stress, emotional distress, or loss of control to the point where you can't care for your basic needs (e.g., sleeping, eating, hygiene)
- Having severe or distressing unusual experiences, such as hallucinations or delusions
- Feeling so emotionally overwhelmed or mentally unwell that it becomes very difficult to function in daily life or academics
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 plan for your outpatient care.
What to Expect Before and During a Hospital Stay
- Because each student's insurance benefits and situation are different, Caltech cannot provide an estimate of the hospital stay cost. The hospital business office will work with your health insurance provider to determine what they will cover, and what you will be financially responsible for. It is best practice to have a copy of your insurance information and/or card with you.
- If you are enrolled in Caltech's medical plan, you can contact the Caltech Anthem Concierge for help with reviewing and explaining claims & benefits.
- Ruben Rodriguez
Phone: (626) 395-6628
Email: [email protected]
- Ruben Rodriguez
- If you are covered under your parents' health insurance plan, they will likely become aware of your hospital admission. It can be helpful to think ahead and work with your therapist to prepare how you'd like to talk with them about it.
- To ensure privacy, hospitals use access control systems to protect your information. Unless you give explicit permission, hospital staff cannot confirm or deny that you are receiving care there. Some facilities require a PIN code or access code, while others may require a signed consent form to authorize communication.
- This authorization allows others to contact you, visit, and receive updates about your care. Cell phones are typically not allowed in inpatient settings, but most units provide access to a shared telephone for making and receiving calls.
- We encourage you to share your access code with your therapist to facilitate coordination of care.
- If you want hospital staff to share information with Caltech staff or support people in your life, you will need to fill out a release of information form with the hospital.
- Similarly, Caltech's Counseling Services will be unable to relay information to parents, campus partners, and friends without a signed release form.
- Access Caltech's Release Form.
For many Caltech students who enter the hospital, their most important priority is getting back to their academic work. It can be very useful to involve one of the Deans soon after being at the hospital so that they can help navigate your academic responsibilities. The Dean may help:
- Inform your professors or faculty advisor that you will temporarily be absent (they won't tell faculty that you're in the hospital unless you request it)
- Request extensions for work that you may miss while you are in the hospital
What to Expect After a Hospital Stay
Upon your return to campus, you'll meet with a clinician at Counseling Services for a post-hospitalization needs assessment. This meeting provides a chance to reflect on the factors that led to your hospitalization and to develop a clear plan for ongoing care. Together, you'll review your counseling, psychiatric care, and academic needs to ensure you're connected with the appropriate support. This may include adjusting your current therapy – such as meeting more frequently, shifting focus, or exploring more intensive or specialized treatment options. You will also work together to identify other helpful resources on campus. The goal is to identify what changes can help support your long-term stability and health.
After your post-hospitalization meeting with Counseling Services, you'll meet with the Dean or Associate Dean to address your academic concerns. Some students want to return to their work as soon as possible, which may be possible with continued support – such as ongoing counseling and psychiatry, increasing frequency of therapy sessions, or following other hospital recommendations. In other cases, it may be helpful to adjust your courseload to reduce stress and support recovery. The Deans will work with you to explore your options and help identify what changes could best support you moving forward.
If you need more time to focus on your recovery and mental health after hospitalization, a medical leave allows you to temporarily withdraw from Caltech to prioritize your well-being without the pressures of coursework. For more information, please contact the Dean's Office and schedule a medical leave appointment with Student Wellness.
Resources
Las Encinas Hospital
- 2900 E. Del Mar Boulevard Pasadena, CA 91107
- (626) 795-9901
- www.LasEncinasHospital.com
Huntington Hospital
- 100 W. California Boulevard Pasadena, CA 91105
- Emergency Room: (626) 397-5111
- General Line: (626) 397-5000
- www.HuntingtonHealth.org
Alhambra BHC Hospital
- 4619 Rosemead Boulevard Rosemead, CA 91770
- (626) 286-1191
- www.BHCAlhambra.com
Undergraduate Deans Office
- Room 210, Center for Student Services (CSS)
- 414 South Holliston Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91125
- (626) 395-6351
- deans.caltech.edu
Graduate Deans Office
- Room 230, Center for Student Services (CSS)
- 414 South Holliston Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91125
- (626) 395-6346
- gradoffice.caltech.edu
Counseling Services
- Student Wellness Services - South
- 1239 Arden Road, Pasadena, CA 91125
- (626) 395-8331
- Secure message via the SWS Portal.
Center for Student Success
- Room 225, Center for Student Services (CSS)
- 414 South Holliston Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91125
- [email protected]
Caltech Accessibility Services for Students
- Room 248, Center for Student Services (CSS)
- 414 South Holliston Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91125
- [email protected]
- cass.caltech.edu
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 at: https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/Documents/DHCS_Handbook_English.pdf