Metropolitan State Hospital (California)

Metropolitan State Hospital
California Department of Mental Health
Geography
Location	11400 Norwalk Blvd, Norwalk, California, United States
Organization
Type	Specialist
Services
Speciality	Psychiatric
History
Former name(s)	Norwalk State Hospital
Opened	1913
Links
Website	Metropolitan State Hospital
Lists	[[List of hospitals in California |Hospitals in California ]]

Metropolitan State Hospital is an American public hospital specializing in psychiatric care for those with mental health concerns. It is located in Norwalk, California, in Los Angeles County. The hospital, operated by the California Department of State Hospitals, serves as a treatment facility for various categories of patients, including those who are incompetent to stand trial, offenders with mental health disorders, individuals found not guilty by reason of insanity, and those under conservatorship Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act.

The hospital is unique among state facilities in that it admits a large proportion of acutely ill psychiatric patients, resulting in a rapid turnover rate and shorter length of stay. It offers a range of services, including individual and group therapy, occupational and rehabilitation therapies, and the management of social and financial problems to facilitate reintegration into the community. Basic treatment services provided include psychiatry, psychology, social services, rehabilitation therapies, and medical care.

Metropolitan State Hospital was established in 1913, following the appropriation of funds by Governor Hiram Johnson. The decision to locate the hospital in Norwalk was made due to its proximity to the growing population in Southern California. Over the years, the hospital has played a significant role in research and treatment for chronically ill patients with mental disabilities. It has collaborated with the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine to provide intensive treatment and research programs.

Today, Metropolitan State Hospital continues to serve as a vital psychiatric care facility, catering to the needs of individuals with mental health concerns in the region.