New Study Finds that More than 1 in 10 Pediatric Ambulance Runs are for Mental Health Emergencies

A recent study highlights the severity of the youth mental health crisis in the United States, revealing that over 10% of children taken to the hospital by ambulance in 2019-2020 had behavioral health emergencies, with 85% involving 12-17-year-olds. The study, led by Dr. Jennifer Hoffmann, emphasizes the lack of national guidelines for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in managing pediatric behavioral health emergencies and notes regional variations in sedative medication and restraint use. Only four states have standardized EMS protocols for pediatric cases. The study suggests the need for specific protocols for sedation and management of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, aiming to reduce the use of restrictive interventions while ensuring staff safety through education and adoption of pediatric-specific protocols.