Voluntary commitment

Voluntary commitment is the act or practice of a person going into a mental hospital, psychiatric ward, or the like voluntarily, and without the process of involuntary commitment. Unlike in involuntary commitment the person is free to leave the hospital against medical advice, though a period of notice, or the requirement that the leaving take place during daylight hours, is sometimes required.

In some jurisdictions a distinction is drawn between "formal" and "informal" voluntary commitment, and this may have an effect on how much notice the individual must give before leaving the hospital. This period may be used for the hospital to use involuntary commitment procedures against the patient.