Can patients in psychiatric hospitals use cell phones and check email?
Access to phones and the Internet may not be available in psychiatric hospitals. The basic philosophy is that the person is there for treatment, and other activities should not interfere with this work. On the other hand, therapists also recognize that preserving contact with the outside world is important for a person’s mental health, particularly for a student. Each inpatient unit has its own policies about the use of phones and the Internet, and some can make special arrangements for access in certain cases. However, most places are not set up with resources such as WiFi or other types of high-speed Internet access.
