Shoes can be used for self harm, particularly the laces or any structural metal, such as the shank. So no shoes can be left accessible to someone who may be at risk of harming themselves or others.

Medical facilities have hard floors because they are easier to keep clean/clean up, but hard floors are slippery. This isn’t a big deal for people in shoes, but mental health patients may not be allowed shoes. Enter the grippy sock; keeps your feet from cold hard floors while also keeping you from being Bambi on ice.

It’s worth noting that hospitals give these socks to ALL inpatients, regardless of allowed access to shoes. This is because if you’re mostly in bed but have to get up to go to the bathroom (or walk to the chair or whatever), you don’t necessarily want to take the time to put on shoes to walk ten feet and back. The floor is still slippery though, so by requiring everyone to have the grippy socks, there’s less chance of people slipping.

Some hospitals give you different colored socks depending on how much of a fall risk you are, so if you’re seen wandering about the floor staff know whether or not you should be doing so alone.