Emergency Department psychiatric treatment is a vital way, if not the only way for many, to receive the right care in time. Waiting in ED takes a long wait, often whole overnight for some. Patients in crisis described it as dreadful and not by choice. With a long waiting list, ambulatory psychiatric care is not accessible.
Improving ambulatory care alone will not catch up with the need when we systemically churn out mentally injured. Psychiatrically unsafe environments exist in every industry. Traumatized victims, families, especially children can take many years of treatment to heal.
Health care professionals have led campaigns to quit smoking and against unhealthy lifestyles for physical health; it’s time to campaign for mental (brain) health.