Study Finds One-Third of Youth with Mental Health Emergencies Spend Over 12 Hours Waiting for Psychiatric Beds

Recent research highlights the ongoing challenges faced by children and adolescents seeking mental health care in emergency departments across the United States. The study, published in the journal JACEP Open, analyzed data from 2018 to 2022, revealing that approximately one in three pediatric mental health emergency visits resulting in admission or transfer extended beyond 12 hours. Alarmingly, over 12 hours of wait time was observed in these cases, with more than one in eight exceeding 24 hours. The majority of these prolonged stays involved youths experiencing suicidal thoughts or attempts (around 70%), and over half were driven by aggressive behaviors.

The study, led by Jennifer Hoffmann, MD, MS, of Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, underscores significant issues with access to mental health services for youth. Dr. Hoffmann emphasized that the limited availability of psychiatric beds contributes to these lengthy stays, often forcing young patients to remain in emergency settings for extended periods. Many require emergency care at adult hospitals due to the scarcity of specialized pediatric mental health resources, which may not be adequately equipped to provide the necessary support.

The research included records of 5.9 million mental health-related visits among children aged 5 to 17 over four years, with around 1.4 million cases leading to admissions or transfers. The findings also highlighted disparities based on insurance type; youths with public insurance were more likely to experience wait times exceeding 12 hours, reflecting inequities in access to mental health care. Lower reimbursement rates for psychiatric services under Medicaid compared to private insurance were identified as potential contributing factors.

To address these pressing issues, experts suggest enhancing funding for programs like the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC), increasing the use of telehealth, implementing school-based mental health services, and integrating mental health care into primary care settings. The emergence of psychiatric urgent care clinics and standalone psychiatric emergency departments could also alleviate the growing demand for youth mental health services.

This study emphasizes the urgent need for systemic improvements to ensure timely and effective mental health care for children and adolescents, especially during this escalating mental health crisis.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-youth-mental-health-crisis-hours.html