Patient rights at a psychiatric hospital

If you’re hospitalized at a psychiatric hospital, you have the right to:  

A list of your rights 

You have the right to a written list of all your rights as a patient. You can ask to have someone read and explain your rights to you.

Consideration and respect 

You have the right to be treated with consideration and respect.

The facility should take reasonable steps to protect your belongings and to protect you from assault. 

Contact your lawyer or doctor 

You have the right to communicate freely with your lawyer. Your lawyer should be able to visit you at reasonable times.

You also have the right to communicate freely with your personal doctor or psychologist, unless the court restricts it. Your personal doctor or psychologist should be able to visit you, unless the court restricts it.

Visitors and phone calls 

You have the right to communicate freely with others, unless your treatment plan specifically restricts it for clear treatment reasons.

You generally have the right to: 

• Visitors at reasonable times 
• Phone calls 
• Help making a call if you ask for it 

Letters and mail 

You have the right to get: 

• Mail that’s unopened 
• Materials to write letters 
• Stamps 
• Help writing a letter if you ask for it 

Personal health and safety 

You have the right to:

• Wear your own clothes 
• Have neat, clean and seasonable clothing  
• Keep your hair how you want it 
• Have individual storage space for your private use 
• Use some of your own money for expenses and small purchases 
• Have reading materials

Reasonable privacy 

You have the right to reasonable privacy, such as times and places where you have privacy.

Freedom of religion 

You have the right to religious worship. You can request religious services or books if it’s reasonable for the facility to provide them.

You should not be forced into any religious activities.

Social interaction 

You have the right to social interaction with others, unless your treatment plan specifically restricts it for clear treatment reasons.

Enforcing your rights

You can find these rights in Ohio Revised Code 5122.29. You also have other rights as a patient, like the right to keep your health information private, and general civil rights, like the right to vote or get married. You don’t lose your rights just because you’re hospitalized for mental health treatment. 

If your rights are violated, you should tell someone.  

• First, talk to a staff member. You can ask for the patient rights advocate. Hospitals must have someone who deals with patients’ rights. The person may be called a client rights advocate, patient advocate, client representative or client rights officer.
• Next, follow the grievance procedure. This is the formal process for making a complaint. You have the right to a written copy of the grievance procedure and to have the process explained to you.
• Then, continue up the ladder. If you disagree with the decision about your grievance, contact the local ADAMH board. You can find your local ADAMH board on this page under “Local Government and Community Resources” by entering your county. Ask for the client rights officer. If you still disagree after that, you can contact the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services.

Where to find more help 

Disability Rights Ohio advocates for the rights of people receiving mental health services in Ohio. You can find their information on this page under “Legal Help and Lawyers.”

You also can create a Declaration for Mental Health Treatment to help give you more control over mental health treatment you may need in the future. You can use the Form Assistant on this site to create a Declaration for Mental Health Treatment in Ohio.