Alison Lee1, Jana Davidson2, Tyler Black3, Grace G Kim4, Quynh Doan5. 1. Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 2. Department of Psychiatry., BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 3. Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 4. Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 5. Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Abstract
Background: Mental health issues are increasingly prevalent across Canada, reflected in rising presentations to emergency departments. To effectively address the needs of children and youth seeking mental health-related care in the emergency department and to judiciously use scarce mental health-related resources, we need to better identify the specific areas of psychosocial needs and accessibility of associated services. Objective: To describe the types and severity of paediatric mental health-related presentations evaluated at a quaternary paediatric emergency department, and to explore the accessibility of community mental health-related resources. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of children and youth presenting to a quaternary paediatric emergency department who were assessed using HEARTSMAP, a validated mental health assessment and management tool. We reported the proportion who sought care for a psychiatric, social, or youth health-related mental health complaint. We contacted community mental health-related resources for their estimated wait times to determine accessibility. Results: Of 1,530 paediatric emergency presentations, 98.8% of patients had psychiatric issues (40.1% were severe), 78.0% of patients had social issues (17.1% were severe), and 71.5% had youth health issues (18.1% were severe). We contacted 123 community mental health-related resources. Community youth health and social services were somewhat accessible, with 50.0% and 38.7%, respectively, able to intake youth within a week of referral. Community psychiatric programs were least accessible, with 59.3% having wait times greater than 1 month. Conclusions: Many psychiatric concerns presenting in paediatric emergency departments have complex psychosocial challenges requiring non-psychiatric support. A need exists for improved accessibility to community psychiatric programs.
Background: Mental health issues are increasingly prevalent across Canada, reflected in rising presentations to emergency departments. To effectively address the needs of children and youth seeking mental health-related care in the emergency department and to judiciously use scarce mental health-related resources, we need to better identify the specific areas of psychosocial needs and accessibility of associated services. Objective: To describe the types and severity of paediatric mental health-related presentations evaluated at a quaternary paediatric emergency department, and to explore the accessibility of community mental health-related resources. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of children and youth presenting to a quaternary paediatric emergency department who were assessed using HEARTSMAP, a validated mental health assessment and management tool. We reported the proportion who sought care for a psychiatric, social, or youth health-related mental health complaint. We contacted community mental health-related resources for their estimated wait times to determine accessibility. Results: Of 1,530 paediatric emergency presentations, 98.8% of patients had psychiatric issues (40.1% were severe), 78.0% of patients had social issues (17.1% were severe), and 71.5% had youth health issues (18.1% were severe). We contacted 123 community mental health-related resources. Community youth health and social services were somewhat accessible, with 50.0% and 38.7%, respectively, able to intake youth within a week of referral. Community psychiatric programs were least accessible, with 59.3% having wait times greater than 1 month. Conclusions: Many psychiatric concerns presenting in paediatric emergency departments have complex psychosocial challenges requiring non-psychiatric support. A need exists for improved accessibility to community psychiatric programs.
Authors: David C Sheridan; David M Spiro; Rongwei Fu; Kyle P Johnson; John S Sheridan; Alyssa A Oue; Wensi Wang; Rachel Van Nes; Matthew L Hansen Journal: Pediatr Emerg Care Date: 2015-08 Impact factor: 1.454
Authors: Sarah D Case; Brady G Case; Mark Olfson; James G Linakis; Eugene M Laska Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2011-10-02 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: Amanda S Newton; Samina Ali; David W Johnson; Christina Haines; Rhonda J Rosychuk; Rachel A Keaschuk; Philip Jacobs; Terry P Klassen Journal: CJEM Date: 2009-09 Impact factor: 2.410