Every day, behind the locked doors of an inpatient psychiatric unit, moments of quiet strength unfold. I am a psychiatric nurse practitioner, and I have the honor of walking alongside people during some of the most vulnerable chapters of their lives. While the world may view psychiatric hospitals as distant or intimidating places, I see them as spaces of healing, courage, and transformation.
Mental illness does not discriminate. It touches students, parents, professionals, veterans, teenagers, and grandparents. Some arrive at our unit in the depths of depression, others wrestling with anxiety, trauma, psychosis, or thoughts they’ve been too afraid to say out loud. These are not signs of weakness—they are signs of someone fighting hard, often for far too long, in silence.
The inpatient setting provides a place to pause, stabilize, and begin again. It’s where safety is prioritized, where medication can be carefully adjusted, and where each individual’s story is heard without judgment. My role is to listen first. To assess, yes—but also to truly see the person behind the symptoms. I collaborate with a team of dedicated nurses, therapists, social workers, and support staff, all working toward the same goal: helping our patients regain hope and find a path forward.
We talk a lot about treatment plans—medications, therapy, sleep hygiene, safety planning—but what matters just as much is presence. A calm voice. A warm meal. A hand reaching out to say, “You’re not alone.” Healing doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes, it’s a patient sleeping through the night for the first time in weeks. Sometimes, it’s someone smiling again after days of silence. These small moments are victories.
To anyone struggling right now: please know that help exists, and healing is possible. You are not broken, and you do not have to walk this road alone. Whether through an inpatient stay, outpatient therapy, medication, or community support, there are resources—and people—who care deeply about your well-being.
And to families and loved ones supporting someone in crisis: thank you. Your presence matters more than you may realize. Ask questions. Advocate. But also, give yourself grace. Caregiving is hard, and you deserve support too.
Mental health is just as real as physical health, and seeking help is an act of strength. My patients teach me every day what resilience truly means, and I remain endlessly hopeful because I’ve seen recovery in action.
Let’s keep breaking the stigma—together.
With compassion,
Haja Kargbo, MSN, PMHNP-BC
