What to Expect
An inpatient stay on an acute mental health unit is designed to provide intensive, short-term care and support for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. During your stay, you'll receive 24/7 supervision and treatment from a multidisciplinary team, including psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, and recreation therapists. The focus is on stabilization, safety, and symptom management, with individualized care plans tailored to your needs.
Expect a structured environment with regular check-ins, therapeutic activities, and group sessions aimed at helping you understand your mental health, develop coping strategies, and begin the recovery process. You will be encouraged to participate in your treatment and work toward regaining a sense of control over your well-being.
Family involvement, when appropriate, may also play a role in your recovery. The goal of your stay is to stabilize your mental health, address any immediate concerns, and prepare for the next steps in your ongoing care, whether that involves outpatient therapy, community support, or further treatment.
Each patient’s journey is unique. Your treatment team will discuss with you the important aspects of your expected care journey, and expected date of discharge. For patients admitted to the short stay unit (D4-400), we expect your admission to be 3 days or fewer.
Admission
If you are admitted to the hospital, please hand in all medications including: prescription creams, vitamins, herbal medicines and other complimentary medicines.
Bring copies of Power of Attorney, advance directives and any other information relevant to your care.
Important Information to Bring with You
During an initial visit to any of our services or if you are admitted to the hospital, it is important to have your Ontario Health Card and proof of any additional coverage. If you are part of the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), please bring your identification card number.
It is also important to bring your current medications with you.
Arrival and Safety Protocols
Upon arrival, both patients and visitors will undergo a search to ensure the safety of the unit. Our policies, “Searching Patients and/or Their Belongings” and “Safekeeping of Patient Valuables and Personal Property” are followed by staff.
If you are on an involuntary admission, you will likely arrive to the unit in a hospital gown. Once you meet with your Psychiatrist, they will assess whether it is appropriate for you to wear your own clothing.
LHSC discourages you from bringing personal property and valuables that are not required for admission/visit to the hospital to minimize the risk of loss or damage. You are encouraged to send non-essential items home when possible.
For personal property or contraband that cannot be sent home with care partners, your belongings will be stored in our designated Patient Belongings area. Belongings will be labeled and documented in your Electronic Health Record. This includes items such as (e.g., razors, lighters, nail clippers, medications, etc.)
Valuables and/or money are sealed in a Patient Valuables Envelope or Valuables bag and taken to the Business Office by a Security Guard or Orderly.
Business Offices are open Monday to Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Please ask our Front Desk Orderly or Security to support you with collecting your valuables from the Business Office upon discharge.
Safety of our patients, families, staff and volunteers are important to us. A healing environment includes respect, trust and partnership. Violence is not tolerated. Please refer to LHSC’s commitment to patients.
Prohibited Items:
To maintain a safe and secure environment, the following items are not allowed on the unit. You will be notified by staff of any items that may pose a safety risk:
- Alcohol, illicit substances, and drug paraphernalia
- Solvents/toxic substances
- Potential ligatures (e.g., belts, scarves, ponchos, shawls, housecoat ties, hoodies)
- Glass, sharp objects (e.g., picture frames, knives)
- Cologne/perfume
- Reinforced footwear (e.g., steel-toed shoes)
- Pornographic materials
- Hair straighteners, hair dryers
- Firearms and ammunition (real or imitation)
- Plastic bags
- Other items which pose a safety risk on the unit
A comprehensive contraband list is posted at the front desk on B7 and D4.
Unit Guidelines
Mealtimes and Dietary Needs
- Breakfast: 8:00 a.m.
- Lunch: 12:00 p.m.
- Dinner: 5:00 p.m.
- Snack Times: Posted daily
Menus are provided during breakfast, and selections must be submitted by 2:00 p.m. If you have specific dietary needs or restrictions, please inform your nurse.
Laundry Services
Laundry can be done while supervised by a staff member. If you would like to do your laundry, connect with your nurse so this can be arranged.
Use of Electronic Devices
Throughout admission, all personal electronic devices will be stored for all patients to support a therapeutic environment. This includes all cell phones, tablets, smart watches, laptops, and similar communication or entertainment devices. In exceptional cases, access will be supported when clinically authorized for a defined purpose. This policy supports a therapeutic milieu by reducing distractions, protecting privacy and confidentiality, promoting patient safety, encouraging rest and healing, and improving engagement in assessment, treatment, and unit programming.
Patients will have access to hospital phones while admitted. Social workers may support patients with hospital tablets for legal hearings and other urgent reasons.
Smoking and Fragrance-Free Policies
- Smoking: By law, LHSC is a smoke-free facility, including all hospital property
- Fragrance-Free Environment: Please avoid using scented products. Scented products, such as perfumes, lotions or body wash, will not be permitted on the unit.
For more information about these policies, please visit the Visitor Guidelines page.
Off-Unit Pass Privilege
Off-unit passes may support assessment and stabilization for patients requiring acute inpatient mental health care or may be required to address essential needs during admission. Off-unit passes are considered for essential health-related purposes, cultural or religious purposes, or related to discharge planning with a specific treatment goal in place. If you have questions, please discuss with your treatment team.
Personal Belongings
Patients own blankets, pillows and stuffed toys are not permitted during their stay. This is to follow LHSC Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) policies to reduce risk of infection and pests, such as bed bugs. Personal bedding and stuffed toys do not meet hospital sterilization or laundering standards. If you have any questions about this policy, please speak with a member of your treatment team.
For safety reasons, and respect for others, please tidy up after yourself and keep your personal space neat.
Please visit with other patients in the hallway, do not enter other patients’ rooms.
Patient Structured Days
Active participation in your recovery is essential. Group programming is available daily, and participation is expected when patients are able.
Group sessions have many benefits. These include:
- learning helpful skills and knowledge,
- recognizing that others are struggling with similar difficulties,
- receiving support; having opportunities to express yourself, and
- increasing fun and enjoyment.
Patients generally report having a much better experience on B7 if they attend groups regularly.
Sessions include:
- Psychosocial education
- Addiction support
- Coping skills
- Mindfulness
- Recreational activities (outdoor walks, karaoke, art)
- Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy skills
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy skills
- Peer Support operated by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)
- Spiritual Care
- Indigenous Health
Group schedules are posted on the whiteboards located on the units and may vary by unit. Some groups require referrals, so ask your nurse about this process.
Visiting Hours
Visits from family are encouraged to aid in your recovery. Patients may identify up to two individuals to designate as their visitors. Please bring these names forward to your treatment team.
Visiting hours are:
- Weekdays (Monday – Friday): 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Weekends and Holidays: 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Special visiting requests outside of these hours can be discussed with your healthcare team.
Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit Specific Visiting Hours
Maximum two visitors per patient (up to four total at any time, 16 years or older).
Animals are not permitted on the unit. If you are a visitor and have a service animal, please connect with the team prior to coming to the unit as there is a procedure to follow.
Contact Information:
Main Telephone Line: 519-685-8500
Nursing Station Phone Extensions
- B7-100 Extension: 75885
- B7-200/SCU Extension: 75880
- B7-200/SCU Extension: 75880
- B7-PICU Extension: 75020
- D4-400 Extension: 75895
Area Manager Contact:
- B7-100 Extension: 77624
- B7-200, PICU, SCU Extension: 65151
- D4-400 Extension: 75432
