Emergency room doctors and nurses release a policy statement calling for more help for kids suffering mental health crises.

<div class="block">American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Emergency Physicians and the Emergency Nurses Association released a policy statement calling for more help for kids in emergency mental health crises. </div>

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Emergency Room Doctors and Nurses Call for Mental Health Help for Kids

A group of emergency room doctors and er providers are calling on communities to increase children's access to mental health services. In a joint policy statement published today in the American Academy of Pediatrics, the er providers say depression and suicide rates among kids as young as six and adolescents have skyrocketed in recent years. Over half a million Children visit emergency rooms each year to treat mental health emergencies. The joint policy statement recommends an increase in community based teams that can respond to pediatric mental health crises. They also asked for added pediatric mental health support with emergency departments and providing er staff with information specific to at risk groups.