I commented it a few threads down, but basically it’s because the people who decided if you’re well enough to be discharged or not is called your care team. Your care team consists of your social worker, ward psychologist or psychiatrist, and case manager.

Those people work Monday through Friday. So, if you’re admitted in a Thursday or Friday, and you are placed on a 72 hour hold, you’ll be in longer. And if you lose your temper about it, the RNs working will document it as such, and you will likely be held longer until your care team determines/agrees that you’ve reached, “baseline” again.

So, for someone going though a serious mental break or elevated state, this is good. The extra time can be helpful.

But if you were pissed at your boss and texted your Mom you’re going to kill yourself and she calls the cops and they get permission for a pick-up order… You’re gonna be pretty bored, and likely in the same ward (sometimes with as many as 30 people) who are there because they have real mental health crisis going on. That can include 24/7 screaming, people walking into your room, sharing a room and bathroom with a stranger or several, very uncomfortable beds and, “blue” meals (everything is as suicide-proof as possible so no silverware unless approved).

Oh, and you’ll be rounded on every fifteen minutes. So, I hope you can poop/shower/masterbate whatever you normally do in private, in under fifteen minutes. Even in your sleep, so I hope you’re not a light sleeper.

And fwiw, at my ward we’ve had several criminals where I worked. People who were caught doing something awful and the second they’re arrested they say they’re going to kill themselves. So, now you have criminals on unit, also.

So yea, it’s helpful for those that need it. It’s kinda hell if you’re just looking to skip work.

TL;DR: The staff responsible for your discharge work Monday through Friday. The unit can be rough for someone just looking to play hooky.