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Recent studies have shown that children and teens currently face a mental health crisis. The pandemic put a halt on so many things. School stopped, and kids found themselves at home watching a global crisis unfold– one unlike any this country had navigated before. Imagine being a child moving along, without a care in the world, and the pandemic hits. At a young age, you realize the uncertainty of things and, for many people, sudden losses. The dramatic shift in daily life, changes to schooling, and watching as social media became a sounding board for fears shifted many kids into a new emotional landscape.
Since then, we have seen a rise in childhood depression, anxiety, and suicide rates. As a result, the emergency rooms (ERs) are flooded with children in crisis, and already long wait lists for mental health care have become even longer. On top of that, there are limited options for low-income communities and those who don’t speak English. How do we move forward and start to tackle this crisis?
The American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Emergency Physicians, and Emergency Nurses Association call for resources and support to face the growing mental health crisis among children and teenagers, leaving ERs packed.
There are reports from around the country of the surge in psychiatry-related ER cases. One doctor in San Diego said that “the number of kids seeking psychiatric emergency care in her ER has grown from approximately 30 a month in recent years to 30 a day.” A study out of UConn showed youth ER visits for suicide-related cases have increased yearly since 2011. While Connecticut is taking steps to avoid crowding the ER by introducing mental health urgent care centers, no locations are in Southwestern Connecticut yet.
Several factors contribute to this overload hospitals are seeing:
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Lack of Mental Health Services: In many regions, there is a shortage of mental health services and resources, which leads individuals to seek help in emergency rooms when they are in crisis because they have nowhere else to turn.
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Stigma: Stigma surrounding mental health issues can deter people from seeking help until their symptoms become severe. When they do seek help, they may end up in the ER because it's seen as a more anonymous option.
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Limited Capacity and Training: ER staff may not always have the specialized training or resources to effectively handle mental health crises, leading to longer wait times and potentially inadequate care.
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Frequent Recurrence: Some individuals with mental health conditions experience recurrent crises, which can result in repeated visits to the ER.
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Comorbidities: Mental health issues often co-occur with physical health problems, complicating the diagnostic process and treatment in emergency settings.
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Shortage of Inpatient Beds: When a patient in crisis requires hospitalization, there may be a shortage of available psychiatric inpatient beds, leading to prolonged ER stays or being discharged without a treatment plan or adequate support, which can become a dangerous situation.
It's important to be prepared. Know how to recognize a mental health crisis and what to do. In Connecticut, if a child is in crisis, Mobile Crisis is an option. Read our blog to learn more.
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