More children going to ER for mental health help, CDC report finds

More kids are becoming patients in emergency rooms, and it’s not just for bumps and bruises.

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There is a rise in mental health visits and certain groups of young people pose a greater risk than others.

A new report from the CDC says more young people are visiting emergency rooms. Many of them are being treated for anxiety, depression, ADHD, and behavioral disorders.

Children between the ages of 12 to 17 are more at risk. The rate of visits is higher for girls, as well as black, non-Hispanic children.

One-quarter of patients who are diagnosed in the ER receive at least one psychiatric medication when they are discharged.

The CDC report says that before the pandemic, one in five children had a mental health disorder.

This data has many questioning if the pandemic and increased screen time are having long-lasting effects on more of America’s youth.

Pediatrician Cori Green specializes in mental health and said that the pandemic interrupted core developmental aspects of children’s lives.

“Being in school, being with others, learning to be independent is our core developmental school for adolescence and that was interrupted for a couple of years,” Green said.

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Green says another factor for increased visits to the emergency room is access to healthcare services.

When you don’t get the care you need in a timely matter, things get worse and you have no option but to go to the ER,” Green said.

A study like this could prioritize mental health care for children in the future, and lead to policy change to handle prevention.

Medical experts say it’s important to check in with you kids and encourage open communication and show them how to handle stress and anxiety with healthy coping skills.

©2023 Cox Media Group