A 5150 psychiatric hold is a term used in California to refer to an involuntary hold or detention of an individual experiencing a mental health crisis. The name "5150 hold" comes from the section number of the Welfare and Institutions Code that allows an adult who is experiencing a mental health crisis to be involuntarily detained for a 72-hour psychiatric hospitalization when evaluated to be a danger to others, or to themselves, or gravely disabled. During this hold, a specialized team evaluates patients for safety and determines whether they meet the criteria for involuntary hospitalization. A person can be held involuntarily in a psychiatric facility only if they meet at least one of the three basic criteria: a danger to others, a danger to self, or gravely disabled. If someone continues to meet the criteria for an involuntary hold, the attending psychiatrist may file a 5250, which is a certification for up to 14 days of intensive treatment.