Between 2017 and 2020, the number of psychiatric inpatient beds for children in the U.S. remained unchanged, even as visits for pediatric mental health emergencies increased, according to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics. The study revealed that the availability of these beds varies significantly by location, with some areas like Alaska having none, whereas Arkansas offers 75 beds per 100,000 children. Additionally, over 90% of these psychiatric beds are concentrated in urban areas, raising alarm for adolescents living in rural municipalities.
Dr. Jennifer Hoffmann, a senior author and emergency medicine physician at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, stated, “The current access to inpatient psychiatric care for young people is inadequate to satisfy the increasing demand, leading to extended waits for patients in emergency rooms or on medical floors until a psychiatric bed opens up. It is essential to guarantee that access to these services is fair and available across the nation, especially in rural regions where there is a dire need for youth psychiatric beds. Every child should have the opportunity to receive psychiatric care. The absence of available beds in certain areas puts a considerable strain on families, both emotionally and financially.”
Mark S. Johnson, a father from Juneau, Alaska, shared his family’s experience: “My 14-year-old stepson required inpatient mental health care, but we found no available options in Alaska. Our local hospital monitored him while we searched for psychiatric placement in Washington, which is more than 900 miles away from our home. This situation was incredibly stressful, and visiting him every two weeks became costly.”
Dr. Hoffmann pointed out that identifying mental health issues early and preventing crises in young people could help ease the shortage of psychiatric beds. This could be effectively managed through primary care and school health programs. She also highlighted the importance of supporting the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which assists individuals in mental health emergencies through phone and text support.
Dr. Hoffmann added, “Other potential solutions to enhance access to mental health services for youth could include deploying mobile mental health units and utilizing telehealth more frequently in rural areas.”
Kenneth Michelson, MD, MPH, from Lurie Children’s, contributed as a co-author to the research.
Research conducted at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is managed through the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, which aims to enhance child health, innovate pediatric care, and secure brighter futures through ongoing research. As a nonprofit organization, Lurie Children’s is dedicated to delivering outstanding healthcare to every child. It ranks among the top children’s hospitals in the nation as recognized by U.S. News & World Report. Furthermore, Lurie Children’s also serves as the pediatric training site for Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, with studies in emergency medicine conducted through the Grainger Research Program in Pediatric Emergency Medicine.
