Photo credit: www.sciencedaily.com
A recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics highlights that the number of pediatric inpatient psychiatric beds in the United States remained stagnant from 2017 to 2020, despite a notable rise in emergency room visits related to mental health issues among children. The research underscores significant disparities in bed availability across different geographic regions, with some areas like Alaska having no available beds, while states like Arkansas have as many as 75 beds per 100,000 youth. The overwhelming majority of these psychiatric beds are concentrated in urban areas, which raises significant concerns for the accessibility of care for young people residing in rural regions.
Senior author Dr. Jennifer Hoffmann, an emergency medicine physician at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and an Assistant Professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, addressed the urgent need for increased access to psychiatric inpatient care. “The current capacity is inadequate to meet the escalating demand, which often leaves youth waiting extended periods in emergency departments or on general medical units until a psychiatric bed is available,” she noted. Dr. Hoffmann also emphasized the necessity of equitable distribution of these resources, particularly in underserved rural areas where the lack of psychiatric beds places a significant emotional and financial strain on families. “Every child deserves access to psychiatric care,” she asserted.
Personal stories, such as that of Mark S. Johnson from Juneau, Alaska, illustrate the severe consequences of this shortage. He recounted the distress his family experienced when his 14-year-old stepson required inpatient mental health treatment but had no options available locally. “Our local hospital kept him under observation while we sought psychiatric placement for him in Washington, which is over 900 miles away,” Johnson explained. The situation not only caused emotional turmoil but also financial strain due to the costs associated with traveling to visit.
To combat the shortage of psychiatric beds for youth, Dr. Hoffmann suggested proactive measures such as enhancing early detection of mental health issues and implementing preventive strategies. She advocates for integrating mental health care within primary care settings and school health centers. Additionally, she highlighted the importance of supporting resources like the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which provides vital assistance during mental health emergencies through telephone and text communications.
Dr. Hoffmann further proposed innovative solutions for better access to youth mental health services, including the deployment of mobile mental health units and the expansion of telehealth services, especially for families in rural communities.
Co-author Dr. Kenneth Michelson, MD, MPH, from Lurie Children’s, contributed to the study alongside Dr. Hoffmann. Research initiatives at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago are housed within the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, which is dedicated to advancing child health and transforming pediatric medicine. Lurie Children’s remains a nonprofit organization focused on making exceptional care available to all children, earning recognition as one of the nation’s leading children’s hospitals according to U.S. News & World Report. The hospital also serves as a primary training site for pediatric residents from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, with a strong emphasis on research in pediatric emergency medicine through the Grainger Research Program.
Source
www.sciencedaily.com