In which situation would inpatient care typically be immediately warranted?

Inpatient care is typically immediately warranted in situations where the risk of suicide is high due to severe attempts or actions taken by the patient. When a patient has made a severe and violent suicide attempt, it indicates an acute risk that necessitates close monitoring and immediate intervention that cannot be provided in an outpatient setting. This kind of situation suggests that the patient may have significant underlying mental health issues that require stabilization and intensive treatment, which inpatient facilities are equipped to offer.

Patients that exhibit mild depression usually do not require intensive treatment and can often be managed with outpatient therapy and support. Suicidal ideation with low lethality may be concerning, but typically it does not reach the threshold for immediate inpatient care without other contributing factors or acute risks. Lastly, a patient who has just completed a therapy session may be in a stable condition, thus not requiring the level of care provided in an inpatient setting. Therefore, the most critical scenario is where the patient has engaged in severe self-harm or attempted suicide, marking a definitive need for hospital admission for safety and comprehensive care.