A person on a 5150 can be held in the hospital involuntarily for up to 72 hours. This does not mean that they will necessarily be held the entire 72 hours; it means that psychiatric hospitals have the legal right to do so if determined to be necessary.

72-Hour “5150” Holds The hospital does not need to hold you for the full 72 hours. WIC § 5152. The hospital should release you sooner if they believe that you no longer require evaluation or treatment.

Section 5150(i) of the Welfare and Institutions Code requires that each person admitted to a facility designated by the county for evaluation and treatment be given specific information orally and in writing, and in a language or modality accessible to the person and a record of the advisement be kept in the person's ...

For example, a person whom repeatedly eating garbage because he/she feels the food in his/her house has been poisoned is Gravely Disabled despite the presence of food. A 5150 is then appropriate because, as a result of a mental disorder, this person is unable to utilize normal edible products that he/she possesses.

In California, a person can be placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold, or 5150, if, due to a mental illness, they are determined to pose a danger to themselves (DTS) or others (DTO), or if they are “gravely disabled” (GD), meaning they cannot provide for their own food, clothing, or shelter.

5150 or 72 hour hold This 72 hour period is sometimes referred to as an “observation period”. During this 72 hour period, the treatment team assesses whether the patient meets criteria for involuntary hospitalization. The law mandates that all patients must be treated in the least restrictive setting possible.

Who Pays for a 5150 Hold in California? The individual placed on the 5150 hold is generally responsible for paying for their own treatment. However, the cost may be covered by the county or state if the individual cannot pay or if they are covered by a health insurance plan that includes mental health benefits.