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The increase was higher among girls from 11 to 15 years, whose admissions were far duplicated, and in cases of eating disorders, they shot at more than 500%. These rooms, known as General Medical Salas, are designed to handle medical problems that need urgent care but are not specific to mental health. However, they are increasingly used to treat young people with mental health crises, often because they are too bad or insecure to go home.
Dr. Lee Hudson, one of the upper authors, explained the tension that this place is in the system:
“Acute medical rooms are vital to help young people with mental health problems, particularly those with physical health complications, such as severe weight loss due to eating disorders. But the great increase in cases is a real challenge for all involved: patients, their families and staff. “
Researchers are still trying to discover what these increases are promoting, but they suspect that a combination of younger people who experience mental health difficulties and more serious cases that end in hospitals. It is important to note that the trend began long before pandemic, so it is not just a problem related to Covid.
Another concern raised by an independent security agency is that many hospital rooms are not equipped to treat mental health emergencies. Some describe their facilities as “insecure” for patients with high -risk behaviors. Some employees have also reported that they have problems with limited resources, poorly designed spaces and the emotional cost of management of these cases.
Hudson added,
“This is not something that is disappearing. We need better coordination between hospital teams, mental health professionals and community services to ensure that these young patients get the care they need. ”
Future research must deepen why these admissions are happening and how to improve attention for the affected thousands.