Almost one in five emergency department presentations are by mental health clients: a secondary data analysis.
N Z Med J
; 137(1595): 13-38, 2024 May 17.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38754111
ABSTRACT
AIM:
Mental health-related emergency department (ED) presentations are steadily increasing, including presentations for both mental health and non-mental health concerns by existing clients of mental health services. The study aim was to examine and compare mental health clients and non-clients' ED presentations, identify data and clinical gaps and make recommendations for improvement.METHOD:
De-identified 2017/2018 ED data were used to describe presentations for current and recent (within last 5 years) clients of specialist public mental health and addiction services, compared to presentations of non-mental health clients.RESULTS:
Of 49,170 presentations, 18% were by clients of mental health services. Compared to other ED presenters, mental health clients were often younger, female and Maori, required more urgent care and waited longer. Mental health-related International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes/referrals were most common for presentations by current mental health clients, whereas pain and trauma were often the reason for prior mental health clients' presentations. Discharge diagnoses rarely included self-harm behaviour, and admissions for these clients were more commonly by ED rather than mental health services.CONCLUSION:
Mental health clients are common in ED. Enhanced mental health data capture and improved systems and processes are needed to ensure that ED staff can better meet their often-complex needs.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Serviço Hospitalar de Emergência
/
Transtornos Mentais
/
Serviços de Saúde Mental
Limite:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
País/Região como assunto:
Oceania
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article