[ad_1]
A new study found that the number of children going to emergency for mental health problems had increased significantly from 2012 to 2016. More and more children, especially those belonging to minority groups, were diagnosed with mental health issues. ( Paul Brennan | pixabay )
Public health officials have expressed concern over the growing number of children who go to emergency rooms because of mental health issues.
This weekend, at the 2018 National Conference and Exposition of the American Academy of Pediatrics in Florida, a new study was presented on the mental health issues of children and adolescents. He revealed that between 2012 and 2016, the number of diagnoses related to a mental health crisis had increased significantly, especially among children belonging to a minority.
Mental health crisis in children
The study examined data from the pediatric health information system that collected information from more than 45 children's hospitals across the United States. The researchers found that in 2012, an average of 50.4 emergency room visits per 100,000 children were due to mental health issues. In 2016, it rose to 78.5 visits per 100,000 children.
In the United States, an estimated 1.7 million children with a psychiatric disorder. About 2 to 5% of all child visits to emergency rooms are related to mental health issues. Mental health disorders are among the most common pediatric diseases in the country.
Mental health crisis among minority children
The study also revealed that between 2012 and 2016, 78.4 out of 100 black non-Latino children had been diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Only 51.5 out of 100,000 non-Latino white children have been diagnosed with mental health.
"When stratified by race and ethnicity, visits related to mental health problems in the country's emergency departments increased for non-Latino black children and adolescents almost twice as fast as for non-Latino white children and adolescents, "said Monika K. Goyal, Assistant Division Head and Research Director of the National Children's Health System. "These children are going to emergency departments during a crisis and, across the country, children's hospitals need to expand their mental health resources to better serve these vulnerable patients."
Unfortunately, the study does not indicate the specific reasons for children's visit to emergency services, as researchers can not review individual files.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has also seen an increase in children's mental health problems, particularly major depression. One in five children aged 3 to 17 suffers from mental, emotional or behavioral disorders. However, only 20% are diagnosed.
Ⓒ 2018 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
[ad_2]
Source link
