Packing for a Psych Hospital

Are you or a family member planning on visiting a psychiatric hospital or rehab facility in the near future? If so, here’s a few helpful tips on what to pack so that you have everything you need on your first day!

In all my years working at psychiatric hospitals, I’ve seen plenty of patients walk through our doors with next to nothing. A decent amount of these patients either had no idea that they would be brought to a psychiatric hospital or simply did not know what would be useful to pack.

If you know the name of the mental health facility that you (or your family member) are going to be admitted to, the company’s website may have a page that lists specific items and guidelines that are acceptable at their facility. If you do not know the name of the facility that you will be accepted into, that’s okay too! The facility that you will be accepted into will depend on which locations have rooms available for new patients and luckily, there are universally accepted items that almost every facility will allow through their doors.

Instead of thinking of the experience as a trip to a mental health facility, I have heard that patients find it easier to think of the experience as packing for a week-long vacation. This ideology can help keep the anxiety of going to a new place from overwhelming you while you are packing.

When it comes to packing, I highly suggest focusing on your basic necessities first: clothing and toiletries. When it comes to clothing, it is important to pack: 1-2 sweatshirts or jackets, 3-4 shirts, 2-3 pairs of pants, 5-7 pairs of underwear, 2-4 pairs of socks, 1-2 sets of pjs, 2-4 bras (if you are female), and a comfy pair of shoes / sneakers.

Many facilities will reject clothing that is too tight, shows too much skin, or has inappropriate phrases or pictures on them. When packing additional layers, the facility may request that the string inside be removed before you are able to wear it inside their facility. Other facilities may not allow zippers due to the metal pieces on them, so I’d suggest bringing one sweatshirt and one jacket.

Next up is the toiletries or anything that you may need when inside a bathroom. The most important items include: a tooth brush, toothpaste, face wash, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, contacts (and / or glasses), makeup, and female necessities (including pads / tampons).

A majority of facilities will automatically reject hairspray, perfume, some brands of shampoos, and conditioners due to their alcohol content so please check the ingredient labels before packing any of these items. They will supply you with towels so you will not need to pack that. When it comes to razors and electric shavers, most facilities will reject these items, but if these items are important to you, you can always pack them and see what the staff decides. Sometimes, the staff members will lock up razors and makeup in hygiene closets for the safety of their patients. Some facilities will allow razors to be used, but will require that staff members watch as you shave. (I highly suggest bringing a pair of shorts if this is something you plan on doing!)

From what I’ve seen while working at mental health facilities, most people do not bring much more than what I’ve mentioned above unless they’ve been to a hospital before. Some additional items that will save you from the immense boredom that occurs between sessions include: markers, colored pencils, a coloring book, a journal, a sudoku or puzzle book; 1-2 books for reading, and a deck of cards. Since you will most likely not have access to your cell phone or a computer, these items will come in handy.

Some other important items to bring include: your insurance card; your ID; and a piece of paper with a list of phone numbers of people you may want to contact including friends, family, and medical professionals.

In the event that you're unsure of what to bring with you, you’re always welcome to bring additional items with you. If they do not allow the items that you’ve packed (like your cell phone or its’ charging cord), the facility will simply keep them in a secure location for you to retrieve upon your discharge date.

Happy packing and good luck in your future endeavors!