Children’s Mental Health-Related Emergency Department Visits Increased From April Through October 2020

Between April and October 2020, the share of pediatric mental health-related emergency department visits among all pediatric emergency department visits increased and has remained elevated. For children ages 5 to 11 years, the proportion of mental health-related visits rose by 24%. For children ages 12 to 17 years, the proportion of mental health-related visits rose by 31%.

The number of mental health-related emergency department visits decreased from mid-March 2020 through early April, but then increased steadily through October 2020. During April 2020, the proportion of mental health-related emergency department visits increased by 66% over . . .