Massachusetts Emergency Rooms See Sharp Increase In Behavioral Health Cases

Behavioral health emergency department (ED) visits in Massachusetts grew 23.7% between 2010 and 2014, despite an overall decline in ED visits during that same time period. Specific regions throughout the state experienced even greater rates of growth between 2010 and 2014, with the New Bedford and Fall River areas experiencing increases of about 50% in behavioral health ED visits. In addition, over 50% of long-stay ED visits (more than eight hours) for pediatric patients were related to a mental health condition. A high share of overall ED visits during this time period were due to an inability schedule . . .