Leaving a psychiatric unit can bring relief and worry at the same time. In hospital, there were people around day and night and a schedule that held each day together. At home, it can suddenly feel very quiet.
The first weeks after a psychiatric hospital stay are a time to steady yourself, not to get everything back to normal at once. This guide covers what to ask before you leave, what to expect at home, how to keep yourself safe, and where to find support in Ontario. It is also for family and friends helping someone come home.
Before you leave: questions to ask your care team
Discharge can move quickly. If you can, ask these questions before the day you leave, and ask for the answers in writing:
- Follow-up: When is my first appointment after I leave, and who is it with?
- Contact: Who do I call if I have questions or start to feel worse?
- Medication: What am I taking, what is each one for, and what side effects should I watch for?
- Prescriptions: Do I have enough to last until my next appointment?
- Warning signs: What signs mean I should get help quickly?
- Referrals: Have I been referred to any community services, and when will they contact me?
Ask for a follow-up appointment soon after you leave. Ontario Health tracks how many people see a doctor within seven days of leaving hospital after a mental health stay, and its quality standard for schizophrenia sets seven days as the target. Early follow-up helps catch problems with medication and keeps you steady while you settle back in.
The first few days at home
Many people feel tired, flat or unsettled when they first get home. Some feel lonely after being surrounded by staff and other patients. Others feel anxious about seeing people or explaining where they have been. All of this is common.
Keep the first days simple:
- Fill any new prescriptions on the way home or the next day.
- Put your follow-up appointment and important phone numbers somewhere you will see them.
- Rest, eat regular meals and keep similar sleep and wake times to those you had in hospital.
- Choose one or two people you trust and let them know you are home.
Take your medication as prescribed. If you notice side effects, or you want to change or stop a medication, talk to your doctor or pharmacist first. Some medications cause problems when they are stopped suddenly.
Make a safety plan
A safety plan is a short, written plan for what you will do if things start to get hard again. Many hospital teams help patients write one before discharge. If you do not have one, you can make your own with a worker, a friend or someone on your care team. A safety plan usually includes:
- your personal warning signs, such as not sleeping, pulling away from people or certain thoughts
- things you can do on your own to cope
- people and places that help take your mind off things
- people you can ask for help, with their phone numbers
- professionals and services you can call, including 9-8-8
- ways to make your surroundings safer
Keep it somewhere easy to find, such as on your phone, and share it with someone you trust.
Keep your follow-up appointments
The first appointment after discharge is one of the most important. It is a chance to check how your medication is working, talk about how you are coping and adjust your plan. If you cannot make it, call to reschedule rather than skipping it.
You may also have been referred to community services, such as case management, an outpatient program or a local Canadian Mental Health Association branch. If you have not heard from them within the time you were told, call and ask. Referrals sometimes get lost, and a quick call can get things moving.
Rebuilding your routine
Routine helps many people feel steadier after a hospital stay. Start small and add more as you feel able:
- Sleep: a regular bedtime and wake time
- Food: meals at roughly the same times each day
- Movement: a short walk or a few minutes outside
- Connection: one message or call to someone each day
- Small tasks: one thing that gives you a sense of getting something done
Some days will be harder than others. A bad day does not mean you are going backwards.
Going back to work or school
Talk with your doctor about when to return and whether a gradual return makes sense, such as shorter days at first. Under the Ontario Human Rights Code, employers and schools have a duty to accommodate disabilities, including mental health disabilities. You do not have to share your diagnosis to ask for accommodation, though you may need a note about what you need.
How peer support can help after discharge
The weeks after leaving hospital are when many people feel most alone. A peer worker has been through the mental health system themselves and can help you through this stretch: talking through how you feel, helping you prepare for appointments, chasing up referrals with you, and keeping you company while the routine comes back.
The Mental Health Commission of Canada's report Making the Case for Peer Support describes research, including a study in Ontario, in which peer support around the time of discharge was linked to shorter hospital stays and fewer readmissions.
Peer support works alongside your care team. It does not replace follow-up with your doctor or psychiatrist.
If you are helping someone come home
When someone you love comes home from hospital, it is natural to want to watch them closely and fix everything. A few things tend to help more:
- Check in regularly and ask what would help, rather than taking over.
- Learn their warning signs and their safety plan, if they are willing to share it.
- Help with practical things, such as getting to appointments or picking up prescriptions.
- Know who to call if you are worried, including 9-8-8.
- Look after yourself too. Family support groups, often run through Canadian Mental Health Association branches and hospitals, can help.
Common questions
What happens after you are discharged from a psychiatric hospital
Most people go home with a discharge plan that includes medication, a follow-up appointment and sometimes referrals to community services. The first weeks are usually about settling back in, keeping appointments and rebuilding a routine. Ask your care team for your plan in writing before you leave.
How long does it take to feel normal after a psychiatric hospital stay
There is no set timeline. Some people feel steadier within a few weeks, and for others it takes longer. Going gently, keeping your follow-up appointments and having people to lean on all help.
What should I do if I feel worse after leaving hospital
Contact the person your care team told you to call, or your family doctor, as soon as you can. If you feel unsafe or have thoughts of suicide, call or text 9-8-8, or call 911 in an emergency.
Can I go back to work after a psychiatric hospital stay
Yes, many people do. Talk with your doctor about timing and whether a gradual return would help. Under the Ontario Human Rights Code, your employer has a duty to accommodate mental health disabilities.
Key takeaways
- Before you leave, get your follow-up appointment, contacts and medication plan in writing.
- Aim to see a doctor within about a week of discharge, and call if no appointment was booked.
- Keep the first days simple, and talk to your doctor or pharmacist before changing any medication.
- Write a safety plan and share it with someone you trust.
- Peer support can help in the weeks after discharge, alongside your care team.
New to peer support? Read our guide to what peer support is.
Looking for someone who has been through it? Browse peer workers who can support you as you settle back in.