Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

November 13, 2020

Mental Health–Related Emergency Department Visits Among Children Aged <18 Years During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, January 1–October 17, 2020

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  • During the COVID-19 pandemic (mid-March to October) mental health related emergency department (ED) visits among children and adolescents decreased in absolute numbers, but increased as a proportion all pediatric ED visits. The proportion of mental health related ED visits among all pediatric ED visits for children aged 5–11 and 12–17 years increased by 24% and 31%, respectively, compared to the same time period in 2019. During this period, there were initial substantial declines in the overall reported number of children’s mental health-related ED visits, which coincided with measures such as school closures, followed by a return to an absolute level similar to the pre-pandemic period. Even larger decreases in overall pediatric ED visits were observed. The authors suggest that this reflects that children’s mental health concerns were sufficient to drive ED visits at a time when non-emergent visits were discouraged.

Leeb et al. (Nov 13, 2020). Mental Health–Related Emergency Department Visits Among Children Aged <18 Years During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, January 1–October 17, 2020. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6945a3