
I've been in mental health treatment 4 times, my longest stay being almost 4 months. These are the things that actually helped me survive, and get out, and stay out, in a better place than ever before. Whether you’re preparing for your own inpatient stay or looking to support someone else through it, this list includes (affordable) items that truly helped me during my time in treatment. I also tried to keep everything affordable, because treatment is already expensive. Everything here is practical, allowed at most facilities, and hand-picked based on experience, not theory. I’ve also included links to facility-approved guidelines so you can double-check before packing, but always check with your own facility as well.