I voluntarily committed after a suicide attempt, and they held me for two months once they learned I had a child. When I decided to go in, I called a close friend (who was also a mother) and asked if she would keep and care for him while I got some help. He was perfectly safe, I got updates during my daily phone call with her (they take your cell phone, but allow two 15min calls from the desk a day).

I didn't bring him up at first because I was nervous about how they'd react, and sure enough, they upped my medication dosage and all of my talk sessions became about him, and where he was. I held the line "He's safe with a family member." Until they ran out of steam. Longest two months of my life, I will never go back if I can help it.

The thing is, once you're in, you're powerless.