U.S. pediatric inpatient psychiatric bed capacity did not change 2017 – 2020, despite increases in pediatric mental health emergency visits, according to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics. Researchers also found substantial geographic variation in inpatient psychiatric bed capacity per 100,000 children, ranging from zero in Alaska to 75 in Arkansas. Over 90 percent of pediatric inpatient beds are in urban centers, raising concerns for youth living in rural areas.
Mark S. Johnson, a parent from Juneau, Alaska, described the challenges his family faced: “My 14-year-old stepson needed inpatient mental health treatment but there were no options available in Alaska. Our local hospital kept him under observation while we sought psychiatric placement for him in Washington, over 900 miles from our home. It was very stressful and visiting him every two weeks was expensive.”
A recent study highlights a troubling gap in pediatric mental health care in the United States. Despite a significant increase in demand for pediatric mental health services, the availability of inpatient beds has remained largely static over the past decade. The study reveals that the number of mental health beds for children and adolescents has not kept pace with the rising need, creating a bottleneck in care and leading to longer wait times for families seeking urgent mental health support. This shortage is particularly concerning given the increase in mental health challenges among young people, exacerbated by factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, social isolation, and academic pressures. Experts call for urgent policy changes and increased funding to expand pediatric mental health services and infrastructure to ensure that children in need receive timely and appropriate care.
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Pediatric Mental Health Bed Capacity Remains Static Despite Increased Demand https://t.co/a6NL5Nyuja #rehabnearme
— RehabNearMe (@RehabNear_Me) September 2, 2024
