What if I need to visit the hospital emergency department?
If your child is suicidal or threatening self-harm, you may need to visit the hospital’s emergency department. Knowing what to expect can make this really difficult situation a bit more manageable.
Depending on the hospital you visit, the process could include:
- Being “triaged,” which means the hospital will assess the situation, assign a level of urgency and determine when and by whom they’ll be seen. We recommend downloading our Emergency Personal Information Sheet and filling it out ahead of time so that you can use it to support your experience at the hospital.
- Moving your child or teen to a “safe room” to keep everyone secure and protected from harm. If the police accompanied you and your child or youth to the hospital, they’ll stay with your teen until they’re seen.
- Being seen by a member of the hospital’s mental health team. This person could be a psychiatrist, a psychologist and/or a social worker. They’ll talk with and assess your child or young person, which could take a considerable amount of time since they may need to speak with your child or young person’s current mental health provider, if they have one. They will also likely ask you and other family members to provide background and contextual information.
- Once they’ve assessed your child or young person, the mental health team may decide to either admit your child or teen to hospital or discharge them with advice on next steps. You may want to think through a list of questions so that you understand the path ahead.
See the Mental Health Act for guidance on what forms you may need to complete in this situation.