Continuum of Crisis Care

AI Summary

Integrated crisis continuum spans telehealth, mobile response, outpatient stabilisation, emergency psychiatric care and intensive short term treatment for youth mental and behavioural health
Model reduces psychiatric boarding, improves access, and prioritises family engagement while leveraging evidence based practices and continuous quality improvement
Sustained by innovative funding and partnerships, with policy advocacy, workforce expansion and clinical innovation planned to scale nationally

Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2026 Jul;35(3):439-452. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2026.03.003. Epub 2026 May 6.

ABSTRACT

Nationwide Children’s Hospital has built an integrated crisis continuum to meet the urgent mental and behavioral health needs of youth and families. Spanning telehealth, mobile response, outpatient stabilization, emergency psychiatric care, and intensive short-term treatment, this model reduces psychiatric boarding, improves access, and prioritizes family engagement. Supported by innovative funding and partnerships, the continuum leverages evidence-based practices and continuous quality improvement to address the ongoing youth mental health crisis and suicide risk in this population. Future directions include policy advocacy, workforce expansion, and clinical innovation to sustain and scale this approach as a national model for pediatric behavioral health.

PMID:42297546 | DOI:10.1016/j.chc.2026.03.003

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