When teen mental health issues reach a crisis point, a trip to the ER is often the quickest way for a family to find care. New research from the CDC shows that teens are more likely than any other age group to go to an ER for help with symptoms related to depression or traumatic stress.
This trend reflects growing concerns about children’s mental health and the serious impact of untreated mental illness. When adolescents manifest severe symptoms with little warning, parents are often left with just one option: a teen mental health emergency room visit at their local hospital.
Families facing a mental health crisis in their child often feel overwhelmed and uncertain about what to do next. In this article, we’ll share practical tips on navigating a child’s mental health emergency and how to support them throughout recovery.
What You’ll Learn
- What can parents do to help teen children during a mental health crisis?
- What happens at an emergency room visit for a mental health crisis?
- How can you support your teen during an ER visit?
- What does continuing care look like after the emergency room visit?
Quick Read
The number of mental health treatment providers is declining, while adolescent trauma, depression, and anxiety are on the rise. This has led to a significant increase in emergency room visits for mental health issues among teens. Parents often feel overwhelmed during these crises, but recognizing signs like self-harm or severe mood changes is crucial. Seeking immediate help can provide the necessary support for their child’s safety and well-being.
When visiting the ER, parents should be prepared to share detailed information about their teen’s symptoms and ask important questions about follow-up care. After the visit, families may face options like outpatient treatment or inpatient care. Ongoing support and communication are vital for recovery, and parents should view the ER visit as a necessary step in their child’s healing journey. Newport Academy offers resources to help families navigate the mental healthcare system and find the right care for their teens.
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Questions?
We know that reaching out can be difficult.
Our compassionate team of experts is here to help.
Call us at 877-929-5105
or complete the form below.
When Your Teen Experiences a Mental Health Crisis
When families face mental health challenges with their teens, these moments can feel overwhelming and require immediate, compassionate response. A mental health challenge may develop gradually or emerge suddenly. But recognizing the signs—such as thoughts of self-harm, harmful behaviors, or actions that put your teen or others in immediate danger—is essential for ensuring safety and emotional well-being.
During these difficult times, families can find strength by staying as calm as possible while seeking evidence-based professional support right away. Emergency care often provides the most appropriate path forward when your teen’s mental health requires urgent attention, offering access to specialized care and a safe, supportive environment.
Remember that taking swift, caring action during these challenging moments can make a profound difference in protecting your teen’s health and creating a foundation for healing and recovery.
The Most Common Reasons for Teen Mental Health ER Visits
According to recent data from the CDC, teens ages 12–17 were almost twice as likely to visit an ER for symptoms related to trauma and stressor-related disorders. They were also more likely than any other age group to make an ER visit for depression.
Interestingly, rates for teen ER visits for anxiety were lower than might be expected, given the high rates of teen anxiety. Adults of any age were more likely to visit the ER for anxiety than adolescents, according to the data.
This may reflect the connection between suicide risk and teen mental health ER visits. Teen suicidal behavior related to depression or trauma is often the motivating event for an ER visit.
When to Go to the Hospital for Mental Health Issues
“Should I go to the ER for depression or anxiety?” That’s a question parents often ask themselves when their teen’s mental health issues reach a breaking point. And they should trust their gut instincts, says Kristin Wilson, MA, LPC, CCTP-II, Chief Growth & Experience Officer. “Ultimately, parents know their kids best and can recognize when something isn’t right,” she says.
If you’re noticing any of these red flags, get help for your teen right away:
- Sleeping excessively or not being able to sleep at all
- Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or speaking coherently
- Auditory or visual hallucinations, including ringing sounds or seeing lights
- Non-responsiveness
- Delusions, including feeling indestructible or superhuman
- Psychosis—detachment from reality
- Self-harm, expressing suicidal thoughts, suicidal thinking, or a suicide attempt.
Suicide risk should always be taken seriously and assessed by professionals. Physical symptoms, such as stomach aches or headaches, can also be signs of mental health issues in children. Substance use is another important risk factor for mental health crises in teens and should be closely monitored.
If you are uncertain whether an emergency exists, call 988 for guidance from the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Emergency care should be sought for imminent threats of harm to self or others, severe self-harm, or psychosis.
Evaluation and Triage
When you and your child arrive at the emergency room, your family will be guided through a thoughtful evaluation process designed with your child’s safety and well-being at the center.
They’ll conduct a comprehensive assessment to understand both your child’s physical health and mental health challenges, carefully looking for any immediate concerns while also identifying any underlying medical factors that might be contributing to this difficult time. The team will also conduct a thorough evaluation of your child’s emotional well-being, taking time to understand their unique symptoms, behaviors, and individual circumstances to create the most effective, tailored treatment plan.
Depending on what your child needs most in this moment, the emergency room staff may recommend specialized mental health treatment or other evidence-based interventions that prioritize your child’s safety while setting the foundation for healing and long-term recovery.
What to Ask at the ER and What to Say to Your Teen
Going to the ER for mental health emergencies can be confusing, scary, and disorienting. It can also be easy to forget what you’ve been told during the crisis. Parents should write down the name of the medical professional who examines their child, and take notes on what has been said. During the visit, a psychiatric professional will interview the child and parents to evaluate safety. Hospital staff may also remove items that could be used for self-harm as part of the safety screening.
It is important to provide detailed and honest information about your child’s situation—including symptoms, history, and behaviors—to help hospital staff accurately assess and diagnose your child’s condition.
Here are some questions to ask during a mental health emergency room visit:
- Can the hospital make a follow-up appointment for my child with a mental health provider?
- Is there a social worker or patient advocate at the hospital who can help me access care for my child?
- What are some of the signs I should watch for that could indicate my teen is planning a suicide attempt?
- Can you recommend community mental health centers or other resources in the area?
Next Steps and Options
A mental health emergency room visit can typically go one of two ways. The family may be told their child is not actively suicidal and can return home. Or the child is admitted to inpatient care because they have made a suicide attempt or are at high risk of doing so.
Whatever happens, parents should make sure to take the time to have a private conversation with their child. The most important message to give them is that you will work through this together. Remind them that you will always be there for them, and you will make sure they get the care they need to start feeling better.
Collaborative Decision-Making
Following your child’s initial evaluation, you’ll collaborate closely with your multidisciplinary team to determine the best path forward. This decision-making process centers on open, honest conversations about your adolescent’s experiences, mental health challenges, and any previous care or support they’ve received.
Your treatment team will help you understand your teen’s individual needs, explore evidence-based treatment options that feel right for your family, and discuss how ongoing support can nurture long-term emotional well-being.
The Parent’s Role
Your support is essential throughout your teen’s mental health journey. Beyond the emergency room, families play a vital role in providing compassionate emotional support, staying alert to warning signs of mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, or thoughts of self-harm, and ensuring your adolescent receives necessary follow-up care.
Stay attuned to shifts in your teen’s mood or behavior, and connect with mental health professionals when you notice signs that warrant attention. Open, caring communication with your child can help them feel safe sharing their feelings and struggles with you.
What Happens After a Mental Health Emergency Room Visit?
Unfortunately, due to the high number of mental health emergency room visits, many teens end up in what’s known as psychiatric boarding. That means waiting for days in the emergency room area for inpatient beds to open. A study of 88 pediatric hospitals around the country found that all but one hospital regularly keeps teens overnight in the ER because there’s nowhere else for them to go.
If hospitalization is needed, your child will be admitted for inpatient treatment in the psychiatric unit, where they will receive intensive treatment and monitoring under the care of a psychiatrist and counselors. Medication may be used as part of the treatment plan to help stabilize your child’s condition, both during hospitalization and as part of ongoing outpatient care.
Once your child’s condition improves, the medical team will likely recommend outpatient treatment options such as counseling, medication management, and skills training. Medication management is an important part of outpatient services, ensuring that medications remain effective and side effects are monitored. Families may be referred to outpatient services for follow-up care within one to three days after an ER visit. The ER team may also provide recommended resources for ongoing support and stabilization.
Follow-up Recommendations and Care
Follow-up discharge plans should document concerns if the doctor disagrees on the safety of returning home, and follow-up care recommendations should include specific red flag symptoms that should trigger a return visit to the ER. After a mental health emergency room visit, families can typically expect one of three next steps: going home with recommendations for follow-up care, inpatient psychiatry transfer, or medical intake if there is a serious medical issue.
Even if a teen does get transferred to inpatient care after the ER visit, it’s typically for just a few days. That’s enough time to stabilize a patient. However, it’s not nearly enough time to uncover and heal the reasons they ended up in the emergency room for a mental health crisis. It’s imperative for families to seek follow-up care after a teen mental health emergency room visit. For teens who were in treatment prior to the ER visit, the crisis may be an indication that they need a higher level of care.
Continued Mental Health Support
Having to take a teen to the ER for a mental health concern is frightening for parents as well as their children. In addition, parents sometimes feel guilty and ashamed that they didn’t realize how much their teen was suffering. However, it’s helpful for families to think of this event not as a failure or an isolated instance, but as a necessary part of the healing journey.
After the teen mental health emergency room visit, the real work of recovery begins. Depending on the teen’s specific needs, current situation, and past history, residential or outpatient treatment may be the best next step. The attending physicians or psychiatrists in the ER may have recommended the right level of care. If not, a local community mental health center or outpatient clinic may be able to offer a full assessment and provide care options.
Newport Academy’s Admissions and Clinical Outreach experts specialize in helping families navigate the often complex mental healthcare system. We are here to support families in getting their teen the compassionate and high-quality care they need and deserve. Contact us today to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
During a mental health ER visit, your teen will undergo an assessment by a mental health professional to evaluate their emotional state and safety. This process may involve interviews, questionnaires, and observation to determine the appropriate level of care and next steps.
Provide emotional support by being present and reassuring your teen that they are safe and that help is available. Encourage them to express their feelings and concerns, and actively listen to what they have to say, as this can help them feel more secure during a stressful time.
Comprehensive programs that offer structured therapy, peer support, family involvement, an accredited academic curriculum, and experiential activities are the best option after an ER visit.
Involve the teen in identifying triggers, coping strategies, supportive contacts, and emergency resources. Ensure the plan is easily accessible and regularly reviewed.
Discharge may occur if the teen is deemed stable, poses no immediate risk, and has a safety plan in place. ERs prioritize acute care and may refer for further outpatient support.
Look for licensed therapists with experience in crisis intervention, check local mental health directories, or ask for referrals from pediatricians or school counselors.
Approach the conversation with empathy and openness. Ask your teen how they felt during the visit and what they think about the care they received, allowing them to share their thoughts without judgment. This can help normalize their experience and encourage them to express their feelings.
Sources:
Health Aff (Millwood). 2025 Jun;44(6):739-744.
J Behav Health Serv Res. 2025 Oct;52(4):703-716
CDC Weekly. 2022 Feb; 71(8): 319–324.
JAMA. 2021; 326(22): 2326–2328.
