Pediatric Hospitalizations for Acute Mental Health Episodes Skyrocket

Mental health-related hospitalizations for children increased by 25.8%, according to a recently published retrospective analysis of pediatric hospital discharges between 2009 and 2019. The study also found that the proportion of hospitalizations due to attempted suicide, suicidal ideation, or self-injury diagnoses increased from 30.7% in 2009 to 64.2% in 2019.

Researchers from Dartmouth Health used data from the Kids’ Inpatient Database to establish the growing proportion of mental health crises affecting children in the United States. Their research found that more than half of all mental health hospitalizations in 2019 had a primary diagnosis of anxiety or depression, representing an increase compared to the prior decade.

Diagnoses for depressive disorders were the most common and grew almost 30% from 2009 to 2019. Meanwhile, hospitalizations for eating/feeding disorders witnessed an even greater proportional increase over the last decade. Anxiety disorders also grew, while bipolar and bipolar-related disorders decreased over time.

According to the researchers, nearly half of the rural counties and a third of all counties don’t have pediatric mental healthcare facilities, contributing to the growing trend of interfacility transfer for young patients facing a crisis.

To handle this growing crisis, some states have instituted a psychiatric referral network that can assist patients in small communities. In New England, John Strauss, MD, founded the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program (McPAP). The program helps pediatric patients meet with mental health experts by expanding the referral network and increasing access to care.

“There are a limited number of child behavioral health providers, particularly psychiatrists, and access to them is tough,” John explained during an interview with PatientEngagementHIT.

The latest CDC estimates suggest that approximately 2.7 million children suffer from depression and 5.8 million have anxiety. In addition, survey data found that 1 in 6 children aged 2 to 8 years has at least one mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder. These numbers are only expected to grow with time.

In California, mental health professionals are working to deal with these problems in schools and the home using telehealth. The LA Care Health Plan introduced its virtual mental healthcare partnership in early February. The partnership focuses on supporting students with access to mental healthcare on a longer time scale. The leaders of the LA County program suggest that telemental health can help students avoid the stigma of seeing a professional, and it can improve access to care. Leaders expect the program will also positively impact student and teacher morale and help boost test scores.