Abstract
Objectives: Inadequate capacity in Australia’s mental health system means that many people turn to emergency departments (ED) in crisis for care and support, often because it is the only service available. Australian Governments have set a 4-h target for all ED care, but the data shows that people presenting to an ED in a mental health crisis are the group most likely to wait more than 24 h for care. These long waits, seemingly with no end in sight, are harmful for patients and deeply frustrating for clinicians. Conclusions: In response, in 2018, the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) organised the national Mental Health in the Emergency Department Summit. Delegates from across clinical disciplines and user groups were unified in their deep concern at the unacceptable state of mental health support available to people seeking help through EDs. The Summit identified four priorities for urgent action and urged government to take immediate steps to improve this situation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Australasian Psychiatry |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2019 |
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Mental health patients in emergency departments are suffering : the national failure and shame of the current system. A report on the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine’s Mental Health in the Emergency Department Summit. / Judkins, Simon; Fatovich, Daniel; Ballenden, Nicola; Maher, Helena.
In: Australasian Psychiatry, 01.01.2019.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Mental health patients in emergency departments are suffering
T2 - the national failure and shame of the current system. A report on the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine’s Mental Health in the Emergency Department Summit
AU - Judkins, Simon
AU - Fatovich, Daniel
AU - Ballenden, Nicola
AU - Maher, Helena
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - Objectives: Inadequate capacity in Australia’s mental health system means that many people turn to emergency departments (ED) in crisis for care and support, often because it is the only service available. Australian Governments have set a 4-h target for all ED care, but the data shows that people presenting to an ED in a mental health crisis are the group most likely to wait more than 24 h for care. These long waits, seemingly with no end in sight, are harmful for patients and deeply frustrating for clinicians. Conclusions: In response, in 2018, the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) organised the national Mental Health in the Emergency Department Summit. Delegates from across clinical disciplines and user groups were unified in their deep concern at the unacceptable state of mental health support available to people seeking help through EDs. The Summit identified four priorities for urgent action and urged government to take immediate steps to improve this situation.
AB - Objectives: Inadequate capacity in Australia’s mental health system means that many people turn to emergency departments (ED) in crisis for care and support, often because it is the only service available. Australian Governments have set a 4-h target for all ED care, but the data shows that people presenting to an ED in a mental health crisis are the group most likely to wait more than 24 h for care. These long waits, seemingly with no end in sight, are harmful for patients and deeply frustrating for clinicians. Conclusions: In response, in 2018, the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) organised the national Mental Health in the Emergency Department Summit. Delegates from across clinical disciplines and user groups were unified in their deep concern at the unacceptable state of mental health support available to people seeking help through EDs. The Summit identified four priorities for urgent action and urged government to take immediate steps to improve this situation.
KW - access block
KW - emergency department
KW - mental health
KW - overcrowding
KW - time based target
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85067888815&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1039856219852282
DO - 10.1177/1039856219852282
M3 - Article
JO - Australasian Psychiatry: bulletin of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
JF - Australasian Psychiatry: bulletin of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
SN - 1039-8562
ER -