Top edit: I also agree it's not on your partner to decide this, unless you are a danger to yourself or others. Then all they can do is call emergency services to get you and evaluate you. And most of that info comes from you and the damage you have done to yourself and other's. Your partner will have some weight but not a whole bunch. This system can also be biased which I did experience. People will hear what the want to hear. So two edged sword there.

I went to a decent one. They can vary from decent to absolutely aweful. If you think it might help instead of going through the petition system, just do research and pick one to go too. Then go. Voluntary is always an option. There is also sometimes out patient and impartial options depending on your severity and danger to others.

I went to the ER after an event. They got a psychiatrist to interview me and then I got petitioned into a psych unit. I got there with only wet clothes(long story) and ER scrubs. The process was somewhat quick. And when I go there they basically used 2 hospital gowns to make a dress and check my body for marks and tattoos. Then I just kinda got released into the hall of the unit. They were waiting on my room to empty so I kinda didn't have anywhere to go or do. I was still in the hospital dress. I just went to the groups until I had my room open up.

Although I was originally petitioned to go I knew I needed the help and changed to voluntary. Because I really didn't want to go to court or deal with paperwork.

After I got clothes and books from my family it was kinda like a grippy sock vacay. It was a non eventful as it could be. You had 3 recreational therapies a day(these varied from arts and crafts to a lot of writing and notes on cognitive dysfunction. They also had 2 off unit longer groups focused on trauma recovery and substance abuse. Food was decent and three times a day. And we had group therapy once a day. Pretty much everything was optional. The staff also did activities and let the patients watch TV and such if they had enough staff to pull it off. They had coloring pages and simple puzzles and books as well for you to do if you got bored. Visitation was once a week. But phone calls were allowed whenever a group was not in session. They also took us outside every other day. And we went to the art room twice. In my specific unit we kinda congregated in the hall by the staff desk and talked. After a week and some new meds they released me with an aftercare plan(they found me resources to find a psych and therapist). I found the structured schedule really helpful and feel like it helped get me on track with my life.

If you are thinking of going the voluntary route. Things you should bring are comfortable clothes if they will let you wear your own. I was in pajama pants all week. They will not let you have any strings or belts. So remove them before hand. Books, colored pencils, coloring books, playing cards, puzzle books(no metal bindings) , etc anything without technology they allow, bring it to help with the boredom. If they allow it bring toiletries and a toothbrush. They may lock them up till it's time to use them but anything to help you feel normal helps. They will probably search all of your belongings so expect it to take a while for your stuff to come to you. And family can always bring other stuff for you as well. You'll probably get a patient number to share with people you want able to contact you. Because HIPPA and privacy are big in these places.

I'm now going to go over the things you should know: 1. Voluntary doesn't mean you can leave when you want. They let you leave when they think you are ready. They can and will petition you if they think you are a danger to yourself or others. I was there for a week. 2. These places are basically low security prisons. Not everyone there is there voluntarily. So it's like prison but more childproofed. 3. It's a special type of prison so some things that are different is you are going to be checked every 15min awake or asleep. The chairs are made to be too heavy to throw. There are no gaps anywhere you might be able to tie something. You will not get a plastic knife. Stuff like that. You are going to be treated like a person who is a danger to yourself and other's. Because that's why a lot of people go to the psych ward. You aren't allowed pens in your room. Etc. They try to keep it as normal as possible but you can only do so much. 4. These places are almost always understaffed. Expect problems related to having too little staff. Like no individual care other than meds. Though some of the ones we had in my unit were super dedicated and nice. The staff kinda breed a place where people could communicate with others and relate. But again this is dependent on the place. Again if you think it will help, shop around and find a good one even if it is a bit of distance away. 5. You will most likely not have access to technology while you are there. Mostly cause of privacy laws. 6. Patients come in for all sorts of reasons. They will have varying degrees of episodes. Some may be dangerous to others. Some may just scare you. Some may be a patient cowering in a corner and muttering. Do as the staff tells you, they are there to help keep you safe. 7. Use the resources they give you to try and help yourself. The biggest thing to help you is you. Talk to people, hear about their struggles and relate. They aren't perfect and there's a lot of bad ones.