Pediatric emergency departments nationwide have seen a significant increase in children presenting with
behavioral health concerns. Screening for suicide risk has emerged as a vital tool in identifying youth at-risk of suicide and connecting them with appropriate support. Connecticut Children’s screened more than 17,000 children from 2019-2020, demonstrating that universal screening is feasible in a busy pediatric emergency
department. Based on our experience up to a quarter of all children screen positive, including children who come to the emergency department with a medical concern and no stated behavioral health concern. We recommend that universal suicide risk screening be implemented in all emergency departments and considered for implementation in select other clinical encounters, such as well-child visits.