Rising Crisis: Many Children Face Extended Hospital Stays in Emergency Rooms Due to Mental Health Needs

A recent study highlights a troubling trend in the United States where thousands of children experiencing severe mental health crises, such as depression and suicidal behaviors, are being kept in hospital emergency rooms for several days. This prolonged boarding occurs because there are not enough specialized inpatient beds or appropriate facilities available to accommodate these young patients. The research, conducted by Oregon Health & Science University and published in the journal JAMA Health Forum, analyzed Medicaid claims data from 2022 involving over 255,000 emergency department visits for mental health issues involving children. The findings reveal that more than 10% of these visits resulted in children being 'boarded'—that is, remaining in the emergency department for three to seven days until a suitable form of care can be arranged. Lead researcher Dr. John McConnell expressed concern, emphasizing that in an ideal healthcare system, boarding should not happen at all. However, the reality is that a lack of available inpatient beds and appropriate residential facilities means children often remain in emergency settings. The situation has worsened over recent years, with the number of children requiring psychiatric consultations tripling at some hospitals. For instance, at OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital, psychiatric consultations increased from 150 in 2016 to 453 in the past year. Healthcare workers, including pediatric psychiatrists and emergency physicians, underscore the emotional and logistical toll this crisis takes on staff, families, and the children themselves. Dr. Rebecca Marshall noted that prolonged stays can worsen young patients' conditions and cause significant distress among medical providers. Experts agree that the shortage of proper mental health resources is a nationwide issue, with the capacity for inpatient care not matching the rising demand. Solutions require systemic changes to ensure children in crisis receive prompt and appropriate treatment outside emergency settings. This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for expanded mental health infrastructure and better coordination across healthcare systems to ensure all children receive the mental health support they need.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-thousands-kids-mental-health-crisis.html