Child & Youth Emergency Mental Health Care: A National Problem

July 2007 The researchers reviewed previously published studies to write an overview of the current state of emergency department care provided to children and youth with mental health or substance use disorders. The researchers then developed a list of recommendations to improve care and outcomes for these patients. Children and youth with mental health or substance use disorders who visit an emergency department to receive crisis care encounter long wait times, inadequately trained staff, and inconsistent use of established standards of care. Average wait times were about five hours, and children with mental health problems waited longer to be helped . . .