Children's suicide-related emergency visits spiked by 74% in the US between 2016–2022
Emergency visits by children with suicide-related crises increased by 74% between 2016 and 2022, according to a new study by scientists at Northwestern University and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.
A recent study published in Annals of Emergency Medicine reveals a significant surge in emergency department visits related to suicide and self-harm among U.S. children aged 5-17. From 2016 to 2022, the number of these visits increased by 74%, while overall mental health ED visits among children rose by 24%. The study, led by Northwestern University and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago researchers, analyzed data from over five million emergency visits and found that about half of suicide-related visits and half of all children's mental health visits occurred in hospitals with lower pediatric volumes (under 10,000 annually).
The researchers emphasize that many emergency departments are ill-prepared to handle children with acute mental health needs, as they often lack the necessary tools, resources, and trained personnel. Dr. Audrey Brewer, corresponding author and assistant professor of advanced pediatrics and primary care at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, stresses the urgent need to equip every emergency department, not just large pediatric centers, with evidence-based mental health care capabilities.
This includes additional training for staff, access to pediatric mental health professionals via telehealth, and universal suicide screening for children, regardless of their primary reason for seeking care.
Dr. Jennifer Hoffmann, senior author and assistant professor of pediatric emergency medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, highlights the issue of prolonged waits in emergency departments for children needing transfer to specialized pediatric mental health care facilities. These delays can exacerbate the burden on children and their families.
The study's authors recommend the use of toolkits, such as the New England Regional Behavioral Health Toolkit and the National Pediatric Readiness Project, to improve care for children with mental and behavioral health conditions in emergency settings. They also call for the development and testing of culturally responsive, evidence-based interventions tailored to children of color to reduce disparities in mental health outcomes.
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