Abstract Government Document

Emergency department visits involving mental health conditions, suicide-related behaviors, and drug overdoses among adolescents: United States, January 2019-February 2023

Anderson, K.N., Johns, D., Holland, K.M., Chen, Y., Vivolo-Kantor, A.M., Trinh, E., ... & Jones, C.M.

Year: 2023 Source: MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. (2023). 72, 502–512. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7219a1. SIEC No: 20231431
What is already known about this topic? High baseline rates of poor adolescent mental and behavioral health were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. What is added by this report? By fall 2022, weekly ED visits among adolescents, and females in particular, for mental health conditions overall, suicide-related behaviors, and drug overdoses decreased compared with those during fall 2021; weekly ED visits among males were stable. Although sex differences were observed, as of fall 2022, weekly ED visits among females were at or higher than the prepandemic baseline for mental health conditions overall, suicide-related behaviors, and drug overdoses. What are the implications for public health practice? Early condition identification and trauma-informed interventions, coupled with evidence-based, comprehensive prevention efforts, are needed to support adolescents’ mental and behavioral health.