Citation

Szlyk HS, Berk M, Peralta AO, Miranda R. J. Adolesc. Health 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.05.046

PMID

32536511

Abstract

The last decade saw an increase in national attention to suicide as the second leading cause of death among adolescents [1] and for increased youth suicide prevention efforts. Adolescents at highest risk are typically referred to emergency departments for assessment and immediate safety management, and those who cannot be maintained safely at home are often hospitalized on inpatient psychiatric units until risk decreases. At the outpatient level, mental health interventions include individual and group psychotherapy, family and collateral sessions, and medi- cation management. However, the implementation of social distancing for minimizing the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has limited the availability of traditional "in-person" interventions to treat adolescents at risk for suicide. How do we best address the mental health needs of suicidal adolescents during the largest public health crisis of our lifetimes? This question presents an unprecedented challenge for mental health providers, researchers, and families.

The COVID-19 outbreak has hit the U.S. health care system at its weakest pointsdhealth care access, affordability, and sufficient workforce and supplies. To maintain the availability of vital re- sources for youth suicide prevention, mental health providers have rapidly transitioned to offer outpatient services online via "tele-health"dthe virtual delivery, coordination, and evaluation of health care [2]dwhile facing a surge in demand of care and a decreasing number of available professionals and acute services. Although telehealth is a newer modality of service delivery for mental health, technology has been used to enhance the access, delivery, and quality of mental health care for decades. Telephone- based crisis lines, for instance, have played a prominent role...

Language: en