Half of pediatric mental health visits hit smaller EDs
Pediatric suicide-related visits showed a similar distribution, while patient and diagnostic characteristics differed across emergency settings.
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By
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Andrea Surnit
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September 14, 2026
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Clinical Scorecard: Half of pediatric mental health visits hit smaller EDs
At a Glance
| Category | Detail |
|---|
| Condition | Pediatric mental health-related and suicide-related emergency department visits |
| Key Mechanisms | Visit characteristics and mental health diagnoses vary by annual pediatric emergency department volume. |
| Target Population | Pediatric patients aged 5 to 17 years |
| Care Setting | Emergency departments across the United States |
Key Highlights
- Approximately 50% of pediatric mental health-related ED visits occurred in low- to medium-volume EDs.
- Patients aged 15 to 17 years accounted for 49% of mental health-related visits.
- Suicide or self-injury was the most frequent diagnosis at 24% of visits.
- Mental health-related ED visits increased by 24% from 2016 to 2022.
- Suicide-related visits increased by 74% during the same period.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
- Utilize International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification codes for mental health diagnoses.
Management
- EDs should provide evidence-based care for pediatric patients with suicide-related concerns.
Monitoring & Follow-up
- Consider the volume of pediatric visits when assessing mental health resources in EDs.
Risks
- Lower-volume EDs may have fewer pediatric-specific mental health resources.
Patient & Prescribing Data
Pediatric patients aged 5 to 17 years presenting to EDs.
Visits involving suicide or self-injury had higher admission rates at high-volume EDs.
Clinical Best Practices
- Implement universal suicide risk screening in EDs.
- Provide brief interventions such as safety planning in EDs.
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