<unk> s or PICUs are specialist twenty-four hour inpatient wards that provide<unk>  assessment and comprehensive treatment to individuals during the most acute phase of a serious mental illness. Most individuals only stay on PICU wards for a very short time and are moved as soon as the crisis is over or the risky behaviours are under control. Commonly, patients are discharged to acute wards, but some patients go straight home—never requiring further input from mental health services. PICUs are usually locked and more secure wards, and have a low patient capacity—when compared to open<unk>  wards. They have higher levels of staffing and are usually single-sex. PICUs have a diverse range of staff, including: mental health nurses,<unk> ts, psychologists, pharmacists, occupational therapists, social workers, activities co-ordinators, health care support workers, and ward managers. Patients will often have acute depression, a personality disorder, or schizophrenia. Some individuals present with suicidal thoughts or self-harm, some may be unpredictable in their behaviour, and some may be outwardly aggressive to others, to property, or to themselves.
Psychiatric intensive-care unit
High-dependency unit
Hospital bed
Geriatric intensive-care unit
Pediatric intensive care unit
Inpatient care
Intensive care unit
Acute medical unit