A recent report from the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission underscores persistent challenges facing the commonwealth’s hospital emergency departments, including long wait times for mental health care. However, the report also points to progress, as pediatric boarding rates continue to decline.
A state-funded program deserves significant credit for reducing the number of youth waiting hours – or in some cases days – in the emergency department for mental health care services. As lawmakers actively debate this year’s budget, these services must be protected to sustain momentum and ensure access to effective care.
Recent progress comes as lawmakers face difficult budget decisions fueled by inflation, revenue shortfalls and federal uncertainty. These challenges should not distract from allocating funding for programs that yield measurable results. One example is Youth Villages’ collaboration with the Department of Mental Health, which has helped over 950 youth and their families in 21 hospitals across the commonwealth.
Launched as a pilot program in 2021, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the youth mental health crisis, the model connects clinical specialists directly with youth admitted to the emergency department for mental health crises.
Referred by a hospital physician, patients are immediately connected to evidence-based, in-home mental health care services. Offered at no cost to families, this model costs the state approximately $165 per day per youth, compared to pediatric psychiatric boarding, averaging $250 per hour.
The results are compelling. According to the Massachusetts Hospital Association, the number of pediatric patients being boarded in emergency departments has dropped by more than two-thirds since the height of the pandemic. In March 2022, the crisis culminated with pediatric cases representing 247 of 750 boarding patients, or 33%. Today, Massachusetts Hospital Association data reports roughly 12% (31 of the 262) of patients are pediatric.
Furthermore, young people are seeing measurable results. During treatment, over 70% had zero reports of suicidal ideation or attempts, including self-harm or psychiatric hospitalization.
One year after discharge, 95% of young people remained at home instead of being admitted to inpatient services, and 96% reported living at home and attending school.
These statistics are more than just numbers; they are powerful human stories. Consider 17-year-old Lexi, who missed more than three months of school due to hospitalizations for self-harm, suicidal ideation and disordered eating.After working with a specialist on coping skills and safety planning to improve her mental health, Lexi graduated from high school with straight As, attended prom and moved away from home to attend college. Or 12-year-old Jack, who was admitted to the program after his third suicide attempt at school and learned visual communication tools to support emotional regulation.To be sure, this program is not a one-size-fits-all solution for the youth mental health crisis, but it is playing a role in reducing pediatric boarding and connecting youth with the appropriate mental health care support.At a time when consensus and partisan gridlock dominate headlines, residents should take comfort knowing state leaders have established and maintained innovative solutions to support our most vulnerable populations.As budget negotiations continue, we urge lawmakers to protect funding for key programs that are making a difference and have the potential to reach more people. Our health care system and young people are counting on it. This collaboration between Youth Villages and the Department of Mental Health is not only a success for the Massachusetts health care community but can also serve as a national model to mitigate the emergency department boarding crisis in other states.
Matthew Stone is executive director of Youth Villages New England.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Opinion/Guest column: Protecting mental health care for youth a must