From admission to discharge

Before you are discharged, you will attend a discharge appraisal for a conversation about what will happen after your discharge.

If possible, your contact should accompany you to the appraisal, as should your municipal caseworker, if one has been assigned to you.

You are also welcome to invite someone along that you trust, such as a close friend or a family member.

It is a good idea to use your treatment plan as a basis.

• The following may, for example, be discussed:
• Do you know how your treatment will continue once you have been discharged?
• Do you know what medication you have to take?
• Are your finances in order?
• Has your accommodation been sorted out?
• Is there somewhere you can go during the day if you are not at work?
• Have you agreed anything with your friends or family about how they can best support you?
• Do you know who to contact if you start having a relapse?
• If you are returning to work or a place of study, do you know how you can get started again?

Your network is important when you are to get back to your everyday life because it can be difficult to be discharged. The healthcare professionals assisting you, your family and friends are important in terms of making that transition easier.

Together with your contact, perhaps, or someone you trust, try to create an overview of your network: Who can you meet with? Who can you contact if you do not feel well?

It is a good idea to prepare a plan for what to if you have a relapse. You can draw up this plan with your contact or someone from your network.

The plan could include descriptions of your warning signs and what usually helps you alleviate your anxiety and agitation, and what others can do to help you.

It is important to give yourself time and peace after you have been discharged. Try as much as possible to follow a balanced diet, to establish a regular sleeping pattern and to exercise, for example by taking a short walk.

The district psychiatry service or an outpatient clinic will provide you with treatment without the need for admission. Conversations (perhaps in a group) and a course about your illness may also be part of the psychiatric treatment.

If you expect that you may need quick, intensive treatment after the end of your hospitalisation, you should agree this with the department before you are discharged.

If you need help urgently, you can contact the psychiatric hotline:

• Psykiatrisk Rådgivningstelefon: Telephone 78 470 470
  This is Central Denmark Region's psychiatric hotline. It is open to all. You can phone if you yourself are going through an acute psychiatric crisis. Or if someone such as your friend, son, wife or neighbour is. The phone will be answered by a qualified psychiatrist. The hotline is staffed 24 hours a day.
• The emergency service (lægevagten) in Central Denmark Region: Telephone 70 11 31 31
  The emergency service can be contacted between 4 pm and 8 am on weekdays and 24 hours a day on weekends and public holidays. In the daytime, consult your own doctor.
• Livslinjen (in case of suicidal thoughts): Telephone 70 201 201 
  Livslinjen is a lifeline hotline that can be contacted every day of the year between 11 am and 5 am. You can also write to or chat with the lifeline.

Many people continue to receive treatment from their GP. If you are to be treated by a psychiatrist in a private practice, you will need a referral from your GP. Your GP is also the first person to speak to about the possibility of getting help from a psychologist.

Medication is often an important part of psychiatric treatment. It is important for you and your GP to cooperate to ascertain the effect of the medication in your particular case.

Many people are assisted by a social worker from the municipality or the local job centre when they are discharged.

If the thought of day-to-day tasks seems overwhelming, you might be assigned a mentor or support worker. You need to talk to your social worker about the possibility of getting help to organise your everyday routine.

You need to talk to your GP, your employer or your place of study about when you will be ready to return to your work or studies again.

There are various user-relatives associations that offer help, advice, and support.