For years, mental health care has been built into the fabric of children’s hospitals — not as a separate service line, but as part of caring for all kids, no matter where they interact with the health system.
As the number of children experiencing mental health issues has increased, so has the need for care. Five years ago, the Children’s Hospital Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry declared a national state of emergency in child and adolescent mental health.
Children’s hospitals continue to evolve to meet increased needs and plan ahead by expanding access, strengthening workforce capacity, and creating new programs and designing solutions for children and adolescents.
These strategies often stretch beyond the hospital walls, meeting kids before, during, and after a mental health crisis to ensure they receive essential care at every point in their journey.
View a collection of pediatric hospital strategies below.