Children in a mental health crisis can spend days languishing in the ER
Summary
A study revealed that many children experiencing mental health crises end up staying for days in emergency rooms because they can't get hospital beds immediately. About one in ten Medicaid-covered child mental health visits result in prolonged ER stays, sometimes even lasting more than three days. This issue is due to a lack of available psychiatric beds and resources for children across many states.Key Facts
- The study analyzed over 250,000 ER visits by children on Medicaid.
- One in ten mental health emergency visits results in children staying in ERs for days.
- The common reasons for these extended stays are depression and suicidal thoughts or attempts.
- Some states, like North Carolina, Florida, and Maine, have higher rates of these prolonged stays.
- The lack of psychiatric beds is a significant issue, with some states having very few available.
- Both Medicaid and privately insured children face these problems.
- There's a nationwide shortage of mental health services for children.
- Many ERs do not have child or adolescent psychiatrists available.
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