Nope! They hold you until they feel its safe to release you.
Not true. If your not on a county hold you can leave on your own accord.
You can come in voluntarily, be brought in by police or ambulance, or be transferred from another hospital or jail. Once brought back to the PES (Psychiatric Emergency Services), you will eventually be seen by your doctor and social worker. If you are on a hospital hold (placed by and possibly extended by a doctor) then you must stay until the hold expires or until the doctor deems you safe and drops it. If you are on an NMI (notice of mental illness hold from the county) then a county investigator will visit during the work week and determine whether a 14-day diversion or court commitment hearing are appropriate, or whether to drop the hold. A doctor can drop a hospital hold but has no authority over an NMI. If you come in voluntarily, then ask to leave, AND your doctor decides you are at imminent risk of killing yourself or hurting someone else, they can put you on a hospital hold to prevent you from leaving.
I went in voluntarily, and DHS waited til I checked in and threatened to take my kids if I leave or sign myself out and they put a 10 day hold on me
If you are Voluntary you can leave anytime
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