Debate: Feeling understood in a fake world – the place of inpatient mental health units in the care of children and adolescents

Inpatient units are a significant element of mental healthcare for children and adolescents with the most severe and challenging clinical presentations. Inpatient input has been associated with substantive and sustained health gains across a range of diagnoses and cannot be fully replaced by intensive community treatment options. The potential benefits and risks associated with an admission should be carefully weighed in all referred individuals and may differ depending on several parameters including the type of unit and aims of admission. Although every effort should be made for admissions to be as efficient and short as possible, access to inpatient care and its extent should continue to be determined by clinical need.