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A new study led by researchers at McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School, in collaboration with researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and Cambridge Health Alliance, has uncovered concerning disparities in boarding rates of children and adolescents with severe mental health symptoms in emergency departments.

When reviewing more than 4,900 boarding episodes of youth under 17 years old in Massachusetts over an 18-month period, the researchers found there were numerous racial and gender disparities: Black youth were less likely to be admitted to inpatient psychiatric care than White youth. Additionally, transgender and nonbinary youth experienced longer boarding times in the Emergency Department and lower admission rates to inpatient units compared to cisgender females. Nearly half of the boarding episodes did not result in inpatient admission.

A recent study has highlighted significant disparities in the boarding rates of children with severe mental health symptoms. Boarding, in this context, refers to the prolonged stay of children in emergency departments (EDs) while waiting for psychiatric inpatient care. The research found that minority children and those from low socioeconomic backgrounds are disproportionately affected, facing longer ED stays and reduced access to timely mental health services.

The study suggests several factors contributing to these disparities, including systemic biases, limited availability of psychiatric beds, and socioeconomic barriers. These prolonged stays can exacerbate mental health conditions, leading to worse outcomes for affected children. The researchers emphasize the need for policy changes to address these inequities and improve access to mental health care for all children, regardless of their background.

Improving mental health care infrastructure and ensuring equitable access to services are critical steps in addressing these disparities. The study calls for increased funding for mental health resources, targeted interventions to support vulnerable populations, and efforts to reduce systemic biases within healthcare systems.

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