The majority of psychiatric patients receive treatment during their hospitalization with oral medication, which is particularly evident in severe psychiatric wards (closed wards). As a result, many relapsing psychiatric patients question their physicians’ recommendations for hospitalization. So what are the facts and what is the superiority of inpatient treatment over outpatient treatment? A survey in the United States once showed that patients with mental illness who received only outpatient treatment for a long period of time and never received inpatient treatment caused approximately 34 times the burden of illness than patients who had received inpatient hospitalization and treatment. How to understand? That is, for the same condition, the financial burden of illness (both the treatment and the financial loss due to the illness) is approximately 34 times higher for those who have never received inpatient treatment than for those who have received at least one formal inpatient treatment for their mental illness. Why is there such a large difference? There is no doubt that inpatient treatment for mental illness is better than outpatient treatment in several ways: during hospitalization, doctors and nurses check in daily to accurately grasp the condition and administer the right medication; whether the medication is effective for the patient can be detected early by the doctor and the treatment plan can be adjusted in time; if adverse drug reactions occur during medication, they can be detected and treated in time; (this is the most critical point but often neglected by family members) Health education for patients by medical and nursing staff is carried out every day and can enable patients to have a fuller understanding of their illness; help patients to restore self-knowledge (the ability to recognize their illness); help patients to build confidence in overcoming their illness; help patients to understand themselves correctly and find their own direction in their future life trajectory; help restore patients’ social functions and maximize avoidance or reduce the disability of mental illness. Another point is that it is not, as most people think, a medication treatment while in the hospital. There are also other therapies including psychotherapy, suggestive therapy, relaxation therapy, sports therapy, recreational therapy, brain function therapy, biofeedback therapy, relaxation therapy and so on; especially psychotherapy. Many patients and their families think that psychotherapy is mysterious, and when psychiatrists explain that psychotherapy is often “talk therapy,” they find it difficult to understand because this “mystery” is broken and people feel lost; the existing health insurance system in our country provides compensation for inpatient psychiatric patients. The existing health insurance system in our country actually compensates inpatients with mental illness very well, and the cost of inpatient treatment is very affordable. For families in special financial need, there are also a variety of subsidies and relief from the civil authorities. Since there are so many benefits to inpatient treatment, do all psychiatric patients have to receive inpatient treatment? Certainly not realistic, not scientific, and not legal. According to our existing laws (refer to the Mental Health Law issued on May 1, 2013), the legal rights and interests of mental patients are not infringed. Then, unless the patient himself is willing, or when the patient appears to harm others or harm himself (or tend to), the public security organs, relevant units and families have the right (and obligation) to send the patient to compulsory treatment. Some people may ask, the patient does not meet the conditions of compulsory treatment, but there can be unwilling to accept inpatient treatment, what to do? Of course, we should fully respect the legitimate rights of the patient, and on this basis, we can turn to the doctor. Clinical experience shows that patients who are reluctant to receive inpatient treatment do so because of inadequate knowledge of their illness, the “stigma” associated with mental illness, and the fact that they have not found a way out of their suffering. By seeking professional guidance from a doctor, the patient will be able to gain a clearer understanding of his or her symptoms and illness, and will be able to understand that the hospital is the place to get rid of his or her pain.