How do people get committed to psych wards or psych hospitals?

See below: The criteria for admission might depend on each particular state of residence, but usually, if a person want to self- or other-harm; inability to function and take care of self d/t mental illness; medication non-compliance leading the severe exacerbation of sx.

Risk of Harm: People are hospitalized involuntarily if they are determined to be at risk for harming themselves or others. Typically, the person is first held for 48 hours for observation. The need for hospitalization is reevaluated by the end of this period.

Danger: As two docs rightly say, when a patient poses an immediate danger to cause grave harm to self or someone else or is completely unable to care for self, and refuses necessary care, a doctor may commit them to a hospital. This is done to keep them safe and as soon as the risk is over, the patient is discharged. Patients don't need to fear they'll be hospitalized unnecessarily.