How do you know if a person with depression needs hospitalizing?

Severity: If a person is so depressed, he or she becomes suicidal, or so depressed that he or she is not eating or caring for themselves, or so depressed that they become psychotic and lose touch with reality- then inpatient psychiatric hospitilization is indicated.

With suicidal ideas.: If a person is so depressed that they are not able to function in terms of getting out of bed or going to work or school, this can be a sign that their depression is severe. Hospitalization, however is only usually, required if the person is having suicidal ideation or presents as a risk of danger to self or to others.