Emergency Care and Hospitalization
If a person may cause harm to themselves or others, he or she must go to a hospital emergency room immediately. If the person is not willing, do not physically attempt to take him or her yourself. You may call 911 or Crisis Services (716-834-3131). See more on Emergency Services
If a person is in crisis but not a harm to him or herself or others, he or she may not need to go to the emergency room. A person may feel, however, the need for treatment before the next doctor appointment, or may not have a doctor. By going to a walk-in or same-day service provider, you will avoid a potentially long wait in an emergency room.
If you are unsure whether to go the Emergency Room or another medical facility, call your physician or Crisis Services at 716-834-3131.
Psychiatric Emergency Rooms
Please see Being Prepared for what you need to know about going to a psychiatric emergency room.
Erie County Medical Center (ECMC)
Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP)
716-898-3465
462 Grider Street
Buffalo, NY 14215
www.ecmc.edu
Fees: Financial assistance based on ability to pay.
Service Details
A hospital-based emergency psychiatric service open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to treat patients of all ages.
Service Area: WNY
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center
Emergency Department
716-278-4405
621 10th St., Niagara Falls, NY 14302
www.nfmmc.org/programs-services/behavioral-health.php
Fees: Financial assistance based on ability to pay.
Service Details
Offers a dedicated psychiatric emergency department providing comprehensive psychiatric assessments for adults 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Service Area: Niagara County.
Hospitalization
Hospitalization of persons with mental illness can be a very frightening, painful experience for both patients and families if they do not know what to expect. Though it is always difficult, it is best to be prepared. Link to Be Prepared.
When a person is admitted, a hospital stay is usually for just a few days up to 2 weeks. More thorough assessment and diagnosis will be done once the patient is admitted. An individual may leave at any time, unless involuntarily hospitalized (infrequent).
Hospitalization is for stabilization only and not for ongoing treatment. When discharged, the patient is referred to outpatient services. This reality may be very frustrating and concerning to family members for many reasons including the individual’s medication not yet taking effect yet, lack of adherence to treatment plan and lack of adequate housing. Family members or caregivers may advocate against discharge if they believe a person is not well enough.
Under certain circumstances, a person may be involuntarily hospitalized, or brought to a hospital for assessment, when less restrictive treatment is not possible and the person is a harm to themselves or others or is unable to live safely in the community. Very specific laws govern when this action is taken. See “Involuntary Hospitalization” below.
Hospitalization Resources
BryLin Hospital
716-886-8200 or 1-800-727-95461
1263 Delaware Ave
Buffalo, NY 14209
www.brylin.com
Fees: Most insurances and Sliding Scale Available
Service Details
Short-term inpatient psychiatric hospitalization for children, adolescent, and adults. Inpatient and ambulatory electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), Dual Diagnosis (Mentally Illness and Substance Use), Holistic Treatment Options. Voluntary and involuntary admissions. Does not provide psychiatric evaluations.
No Emergency Room.
Service Area: WNY
Bradford Regional Medical Center
(814) 368-4143
116 Interstate Parkway, Bradford, PA 16701
www.brmc.com
Service Details
Provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services to individuals with a wide range of mental health and addictions needs. Dual-diagnosis Program (21-day), partial hospitalization, detox services, intensive outpatient program, MAT.
Buffalo Psychiatric Center (BPC)
Inpatient Admissions
716-816-2172
400 Forest Ave., Buffalo, NY 14213
www.omh.ny.gov/omhweb/facilities/bupc/
Fees: Sliding scale
Service Details
Serves adults 18 years and older with a serious mental illness. Patients must generally be referred to BPC for intermediate care through the Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) or Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center. BPC will directly admit any patients who have been discharged from BPC during the previous 12 months and who are receiving outpatient services or residential services from BPC and who voluntarily request readmission.
No Emergency Room.
Erie County Medical Center (ECMC)
Inpatient Treatment Services (Adult & Adolescent)
(716) 898-3169
462 Grider St., Buffalo, NY 14215
www.ecmc.edu
Fees: Financial assistance based on ability to pay.
Service Details
Inpatient services for adolescents and adults from ages 16 up.
Service Area: WNY
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center (NFMMC)
716-278-4000
621 10th St.
Niagara Falls, NY 14302
www.nfmmc.org/programs-services
Fees: Financial assistance based on ability to pay.
Inpatient psychiatric services.
Service Area: Niagara County
Veterans Administration Medical Center
3495 Bailey Ave., Buffalo, NY 14215
716-834-9200
www.benefits.va.gov/buffalo/
Fees: Free
For eligible veterans only. Service provided on a priority basis.
No Emergency Room.
Involuntary Hospitalization
Article 9 of NYS Mental Hygiene law sets out seven procedures for involuntary inpatient psychiatric treatment. These procedures are commonly referred to by their section name (e.g., 9.45 or 9.27). The most frequently used sections are outlined below.
Section 9.27: Involuntary admission on medical certification by two physicians (referred to as “2 PC”).
A person may be involuntarily hospitalized if two physicians examine the patient no more than 10 days before the admission and certify that he or she is mentally ill and in need of involuntary care and treatment. The physicians certify that the person has a mental illness for which care and treatment in a hospital is essential to such person’s welfare and whose judgment is so impaired that he or she is unable to understand the need for such care and treatment. In addition to the two physician certifications (known as a “2 PC’), an application for involuntary admission must be completed and signed by any one of 11 categories of people, including immediate family members or nearest kin, roommates, a social services official, a hospital official when the patient has been admitted for medical care, the director of a facility providing substance abuse treatment, the director of the division for youth, or a psychiatrist treating the patient in a mental hygiene facility. Once an application is sent to ECMC along with the 2 PC, the person will be brought to ECMC and evaluated by a staff psychiatrist for possible admission.
Section 9.39: Emergency admissions for immediate care and treatment.
A staff physician of the designated mental hygiene facility (ECMC) may make the determination, confirmed by another staff physician, to retain for up to 15 days, people who are in need of hospitalization and dangerous to themselves or others. Once admitted, the patient may request a hearing, which must be scheduled within 5 days. If the patient after 15 days still needs hospitalization but will not stay voluntarily, procedures for admission upon medical certification can be instituted.
Section 9.41: Emergency admissions for immediate observation, care and treatment; powers of certain peace officers and police officers.
Any state or local police officer or sheriff ’s deputy may take into custody any person who appears to be mentally ill and is conducting himself in a manner likely to result in serious harm to him/herself others. The officer or deputy must personally witness the behavior. The person may be detained temporarily in a “safe and comfortable place” upon notice to the director of community services before being transported to ECMC as provided in Section 9.39.
Section 9.45: Emergency admissions for immediate observation, care and treatment; powers of directors of community services.
The director of community services (in Erie County, the Commissioner of Mental Health) or his/her designee may direct the removal of a person to a mental hygiene facility (ECMC) if the parent, spouse or child of the person, or a licensed physician, health officer, peace officer or police officer reports to him that the person has a history of mental illness for which immediate care in a hospital is appropriate per Section 9.39 above and which is likely to result in serious harm to him/herself or others. The Commissioner’s representatives in such cases are Crisis Services, which may call upon a peace officer or police officer to assist in transporting the person.
Other regulations are summarized below:
Section 9.55: Emergency admissions for immediate observation, care and treatment; powers of qualified psychiatrists.
Section 9.57: Emergency admissions for immediate observation, care and treatment; powers of emergency room physicians.
Section 9.43: Emergency admissions for immediate observation, care and treatment; powers of the courts (a/k/a Mental Health Warrants).
When a judge receives a sworn statement that a person has mental illness and is behaving in a manner that would be considered disorderly conduct in a person not mentally ill, or in a manner dangerous to himself or herself or others, the judge shall issue a warrant directing that the person be brought by the police department to his or her courtroom for a hearing. The judge may then issue an order directing that the person be taken to ECMC for examination and, if necessary, involuntary admission.
A family member should avoid using this regulation for a loved one since it is highly unlikely to provide immediate help and ultimately may only result in a mental health assessment by the hospital, not involuntary hospitalization. Furthermore, this course of action may inadvertently result in a civil action and potentially the criminalization of the person’s actions. Continue to call Crisis Services and/or the police whenever your loved one is in crisis.