Oct 23, 2024
When you think about visiting the ER, you probably think about broken bones, burns, or sicknesses. While the majority of emergency departments are for these physical injuries and illnesses, a decent portion is for mental health-related issues. One study in 2021 put the percentage of mental health-related ER visits at around 7%.
Medical doctors trained to work in the ER don’t always have the experience to work with panic attacks, suicidal ideation, schizophrenia, bipolar, or any other mental health-related issue. As a result, most of the people who visit the ER for mental health reasons end up being sent to the psychiatric ward in a hospital, which quickly becomes overburdened. Psychiatry wards, although a great resource for people in need, are not the only option. For people who don’t need that level of care, it has the potential to cause more harm than good.
In Georgia, a creative solution is being implemented: the EmPATH units in emergency departments. These specialized mental health treatment units take all cases of mental health-related issues and employ mental health specialists who can discern if the patient truly needs a hospital or if their needs can be met acutely.
How Georgia is Responding to the Mental Health Crisis in Emergency Departments
In Georgia, it is estimated that 1 out of every 7 emergency department visits are psychiatric related. Georgia’s EmPATH units in Emergency departments help manage these mental health crises. The EmPATH units are a physical space inside emergency departments with their own dedicated staff that can help assess and treat mental crises in the least restrictive and overwhelming way possible.
This not only helps emergency departments but has a positive impact on inpatient psychiatric wards as well. With EmPATH units activated, the rate of mental health crisis patients referred to an inpatient psych ward was cut in half—from 50% to 27%. This means the inpatient psych wards have less of a burden with in-and-out patients who could have been treated acutely and give better outpatient referrals. This allows them to focus on the inpatient clients that truly need their help, use their funding more efficiently, and not overburden their staff.
Georgia’s EmPATH units help solve an issue that is present across all state emergency departments: sometimes, you don’t need a hospital. It can be incredibly powerful for a medical professional to sit with an emergency department patient, acknowledge their distress, give them active coping mechanisms, and see if they can resolve the issue in a less expensive and invasive way than a hospital. In around half of the cases, they can.
Mental Health Prevention
A vital component of decreasing the number of mental health ER visits is awareness for and prevention of mental illness. If people can become knowledgeable of the risks, signs, and coping mechanisms for different mental illnesses, fewer people will end up in the ER.
Risks of Mental Illness
You might be more prone to mental illness if you have these risk factors:
- Family history of mental illness.
- Childhood or adult trauma.
- History of substance use.
- Previous mental illnesses.
- Chronic stress.
Not everyone with these factors develops mental illness, but they do put you at more of a risk. Keep a look out for signs of mental illness and talk to a mental health professional if you start to notice them in yourself. Early intervention is the best way to effectively treat a mental illness.
Signs of Mental Illness
If you experience these signs of mental illness, talk to a therapist or a medical doctor right away.
- Persistent Sadness or Hopelessness: Feeling down or hopeless for an extended period, affecting your daily life and activities.
- Changes in Sleep Patterns: Trouble sleeping or oversleeping regularly, disrupting your rest and energy levels.
- Loss of Interest: Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed, along with a decline in motivation and engagement.
- Extreme Mood Swings: Experiencing intense mood swings or sudden changes in emotions that feel overwhelming.
- Social Withdrawal: Avoiding social interactions, isolating yourself from friends and family, or feeling disconnected from others.
- Difficulty Concentrating: Struggling to focus, make decisions, or remember things, impacting your daily tasks.
- Changes in Eating Habits: Significant changes in appetite or eating patterns, leading to weight loss or gain.
- Physical Ailments: Unexplained physical symptoms like headaches, stomach aches, or fatigue without a medical cause.
- Thoughts of Self-Harm or Suicide: Having persistent thoughts of self-harm, suicide, or harming others, indicating a need for immediate intervention.
- Substance Abuse: Engaging in excessive alcohol or drug use to cope with emotions or mental health symptoms.
Coping mechanism for mental illness
You’re not alone. Coping with mental illness can be hard, and we recommend you talk to a licensed therapist or psychiatrist (a medical doctor who can prescribe medication for mental health issues). You can also use these coping mechanisms to make dealing with mental illness a little easier:
- Prioritize Self-Care: Take time for yourself each day to rest, relax, and recharge. Engage in activities that bring you joy and fulfillment, whether it's reading a book, going for a walk, or practicing mindfulness.
- Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle: Regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and sufficient sleep play a crucial role in promoting mental well-being. Physical health and mental health are closely intertwined, so prioritize caring for your body.
- Cultivate Supportive Relationships: Surround yourself with positive influences and supportive individuals who lift you up during challenging times. Connection and community are powerful tools in preventing mental health issues.
- Manage Stress Effectively: Learn healthy coping mechanisms to manage stress, such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, or engaging in hobbies you enjoy. Recognize when you need to take a step back and prioritize your mental well-being.
- Seek Professional Help Early: Don't hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional if you're experiencing persistent symptoms of anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues. Early intervention can help prevent conditions from worsening.
- Practice Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques: Incorporate mindfulness practices into your daily routine to increase self-awareness and reduce stress. Techniques such as meditation, yoga, and deep breathing can promote mental well-being.
Some ER visits are unavoidable. If you are in a mental health crisis, going to your local ER is a great way to stay safe and healthy.
Others could be avoidable if the right treatments are in place in daily life. If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health disorder like substance use, depression, suicide, or any major mental illness, encourage them to reach out to a mental health professional.
Most mental health illnesses can be treated through a combination of medication and therapy. While some serious illnesses can still have an impact on a person's life, medication, therapy, a support system, and coping mechanisms can bring stability and peace to their lives.
To find mental health treatment near you, try searching through therapist directories like Psychology Today. Another option is to look through the Georgia therapist directory here at Lifebulb. We accept most major insurances and have little to no wait time.
