Preparing for Back-to-School Mental and Behavioral Health Needs

With the return to school, Seattle Children’s Emergency Department typically sees a significant increase in children and teens seeking care for a mental and behavioral health crisis. Resources are available to help intervene earlier, before a crisis develops, and to help families navigate a crisis safely.

• For patients ages 4 through 17 with urgent mental and behavioral health concerns not needing the care of an emergency department, Washington families can visit Psychiatric Urgent Care to make an in-person or virtual (video) appointment. See guidance on when to go to an emergency department and when to go to Psychiatric Urgent Care.
• Patients in crisis, including those at imminent risk of harm to self or others, should seek immediate care at an emergency department.
  • For their and their child’s safety, encourage families to go to their nearest appropriate emergency department. Youth in crisis shouldn’t travel farther than they need to.
  • Before sending a patient to Seattle Children’s ED, contact Mission Control with as much advance notice as possible at 206-987-8899. This helps the team plan for the patient’s arrival.
• Help set realistic expectations about an ED visit and/or inpatient admission:
  • An ED visit for mental or behavioral health typically involves an evaluation to determine if the child needs an inpatient psychiatric admission or is appropriate to discharge home.
  • Children who need inpatient psychiatric admission will be referred to appropriate inpatient units in Washington for care.
  • An inpatient psychiatric admission is typically 5 to 10 days and focused on acute crisis stabilization. It is not a long-term placement.
• Continue to identify and manage lower-acuity needs in outpatient settings when appropriate.
  • The Seattle Children’s Healthcare Professionals site includes Resources for Community Providers.
  • The Washington Mental Health Referral Service for Children and Teens connects families with mental health providers who accept new patients, work with the family’s insurance and fit the child’s treatment needs.
    (Spanish, Russian, Somali, Vietnamese) (PDF)
  • The First Approach Skills Training (FAST) site includes handouts, workbooks and other resources providers can download and share with families for free, including a self-paced, on-demand class for parents and caregivers of children ages 5 to 12 with disruptive behaviors.
  • Seattle Children’s Mental Health Resource Hub provides resources for families and caregivers to reference for their child’s mental and behavioral health and wellness.
• The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7 access to trained crisis responders who can be contacted by the youth or caregiver directly. They will help to assess the crisis and discuss next steps, potentially connecting families to crisis services available in their county. Calls to 988 are answered by Washington call centers. County Crisis Lines are also available and can connect youth to mobile crisis units to assist with safety planning, lethal means counseling and connection to ongoing care.