How long do they usually keep you in a psych ward after checking you in?

It varies: If you've been admitted voluntarily, the treatment team, usually led by your psychiatrist, will discuss this with you. The time usually depends on the progress you're making toward your treatment goals. This could be as little as a day or two to a week or longer. It's similar if you've been involuntarily hospitalized, but laws and courts monitor the real need for involuntary hospitalization.

Depends: Usually, when people are admitted to an acute care unit, the stay is anywhere from a few days to several days. However, this depends on the severity of the situation, and in some cases people stay for a few weeks. If the unit is specifically for substance abuse issues, the length of stayis often 2-4 weeks. Long term stays are usually reserved for special circumstances and involuntary commitments.