Why Are ER Wait Times Getting Longer for Kids in Mental Health Crisis?
Posted on Apr 06 2021
HealthDay
U.S. children commonly wait hours in the emergency room for help with a mental health crisis — a problem that has worsened over time, a new study finds. Experts said the situation likely reflects a longstanding and worsening problem: The U.S. has far too few mental health providers for children. "The demand is crushing the supply," said Dr. Ken Duckworth, CMO of NAMI. Duckworth called the findings important, and said they substantiate the "crisis" the nation faces in its mental health workforce. But the central issue, Duckworth said, is that the professional workforce must be expanded. That includes not only child psychiatrists whose education and training take 12 years, he noted, but also nurse practitioners, social workers and other providers trained in mental health care.