Written by: The Meadows Adolescent Center By Wesley Gallagher If you have a child who is struggling with mental or behavioral health issues, you’ll do anything to get them the help they need. There’s no one more committed than a parent whose child needs help. Increasingly, this has included taking children to the emergency room when they need psychiatric care. Although this practice is becoming more common, ERs are not properly equipped to treat mental health issues, and children often end up languishing in hospitals waiting for the help they need. Why Are Kids Ending Up in the ER? According to a study in JAMA Pediatrics, pediatric mental health emergency room visits have been on the rise for years, increasing almost 45% from 2015 to 2020. This rise coincides with a surge in mental health issues in youth, particularly adolescents and teens. Even before the COVID-19 crisis, rates of pediatric depression and suicide were up, and the pandemic only heightened these problems. In 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Children’s Hospital Association declared a national state of emergency in child and adolescent mental health, citing the increase in ER visits in their report. The medical system has been unable to keep up with this increased demand, leading to a dearth of youth mental health resources and a range of barriers to mental health services for youth. Despite the drastic rise in pediatric mental health disorders, nearly half of all youth do not get the care they need, cites another JAMA Pediatrics study. Parents with children who are manic, out of control, harming themselves, or talking about suicide feel they have nowhere to turn except their local ER, where their child can be subdued and kept safe. Unfortunately, they’re not often helped much beyond that. Typically, they’re either sent home with little to no follow-up, or if deemed at-risk of harming themselves, they are kept at the hospital until a bed opens up in a psychiatric ward, which can take days or even weeks. In the meantime, they are left alone in sparse rooms, monitored around the clock, but receive minimal treatment. Emergency departments simply aren’t equipped to treat mental health in youth, so the best they can do is keep patients safe — which sometimes means sedated — until they can be transferred. Such extended stays often further traumatize children who are already in dire straits. Where Should I Take My Child for Help with Mental Health? So if the emergency room isn’t the place to take your child when they are experiencing a mental or behavioral health crisis, where should you take them? If it is indeed an emergency, the ER may be necessary. Ideally, however, they would be better off if taken to a youth mental health treatment center before they reach the point of needing urgent care. If you wait until the situation is unmanageable to get care, your options will be limited. By getting help early, you give yourself time to find the right program for your child, increasing your chances of a successful treatment. By getting help early, you give yourself time to find the right program for your child, increasing your chances of a successful treatment. If your child’s situation is urgent but they are not at immediate risk of harming themselves or others, residential treatment centers for youth mental health or intensive outpatient programs are fully equipped to handle a wide range of acute mental illnesses, much more so than your local hospital. These facilities are run by trained mental health professionals with years of experience and are designed specifically for young people experiencing mental and behavioral health issues. Your child’s pediatrician can refer you to mental health practitioners, or you can reach out to a treatment center directly. The Meadows Adolescent Center Cares About Your Child Here at The Meadows Adolescent Center, your child’s wellness is our top priority. When your child begins our program, he will be assessed, and a treatment plan will be created for him depending on his specific needs. He will be kept safe while learning coping mechanisms and diving into his illness in a nurturing environment created specifically for youth like him. Like many high-quality youth mental health treatment centers, we also involve the family in the treatment plan, offering you the support you need to walk this road with your child. If your teen is struggling with mental or behavioral health issues or substance misuse, The Meadows Adolescent Center is here to help, no matter where they are on their journey. Our highly trained staff use time-tested practices and a proven treatment approach to provide not just temporary change, but lasting healing. Call us today to find out more about our program and whether we are the right fit for your family.
