A Call to Action to Address Disparities in Pediatric Mental Health Care.

Abstract

In this issue of Pediatrics , McEnany et al1 performed a meta-analysis to better understand pediatric mental health boarding in emergency departments and patient and hospital characteristics that increase the likelihood of boarding. Visits to pediatric emergency departments for mental health–related complaints have steadily increased over the past decade,2,3 resulting in significant delays in care for patients, increased resource use in emergency departments, and significant inpatient costs. McEnany et al1 highlight the need for additional research, particularly on the national level and in rural and general hospital settings, to inform policy decisions to help address this problem. A better understanding of the mental health resources available nationally in both rural and urban centers is essential. This includes patient access to hospital-based psychiatric resources, inpatient … Address correspondence to Nicolaus W. Glomb, MD, MPH, University of California, 550 16th St #5153, Box 0632, San Francisco, CA 94143. E-mail: nicolaus.glomb{at}ucsf.edu