ALARMING STUDIES SHOW INCREASE IN MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCIES AMONG YOUTH; Hendricks Behavioral Hospital Opens Adolescent Services

The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Children’s Hospital Association — which collectively represent over 77,000 physicians and over 200 children’s hospitals — are sounding the alarm over a “shocking” rise in families seeking urgent mental health help for their children.

The medical associations pointed to research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found between March 2020 and October 2020, the proportion of mental health-related emergency department visits increased 24% for children ages 5 to 11 and 31% for children ages 12 to 17 when compared to 2019. There was also a 50.6% increase in suspected suicide attempt emergency department visits among girls ages 12 to 17 from February 2020 to March 20, 2021, compared to the same period in 2019, another CDC study found.

In the first six months of this year, children’s hospitals nationwide also reported a “shocking” 45% increase in the number of self-injury and suicide cases in 5- to 17-year-olds compared to the same period in 2019, according to Children’s Hospital Association President, Amy Wimpey Knight.

Hendricks Behavioral Hospital in Plainfield, Indiana opened up a 28 bed inpatient crisis stabilization for adolescents called Thrive on December 1, 2021. Statewide there are shortages in the number of inpatient adolescent services which are geared towards adolescents experiencing mental health crisis, which includes self-harming behavior and attempts or thoughts of suicide. Annette Krieder, Director of Clinical Services for Hendricks Behavioral Hospital, states “Post pandemic studies continue to demonstrate the emotional toll this has caused our youth. We are providing services to adolescent females and males ages 13 to 17 in order to be part of the solution.”

Hendricks Behavioral Hospital provides a no cost assessment for families concerned about youth struggling with mental health issues. For information on scheduling an assessment, individuals may call 844-991-9900.

For more information or to schedule in person interviews, please contact:

Hendricks Behavioral Hospital
Jennifer Ramey
317-407-5278
[email protected]