Helping Kids in Crisis: Expert Guidance for Managing Psychiatric Emergencies in Children and Adolescents

As a mental health professional, responding to high-stakes situations in children and adolescents can be a daunting task. The authors of Helping Kids in Crisis provide expert guidance on managing psychiatric emergencies, such as suicidal thoughts, self-harm, and aggressive behavior. This comprehensive guide is designed for ease of use, ensuring that practitioners in hospital or community-based settings can quickly determine threats to safety and initiate interventions to de-escalate behaviors, even with limited resources.

Expert Insights from a Busy Regional Referral Center

The editors and authors have extensive experience at one of the busiest and best regional referral centers for children with psychiatric emergencies. They have translated their expertise into this symptom-based guide, providing non-psychiatric clinicians with the tools they need to care for this challenging population with compassion and effectiveness.

A Symptom-Focused Guide for Swift Action

The book is structured for quick reference, with clear risk and diagnostic assessment tools, decision trees, and easy-to-read tables to use for rapid de-escalation and risk assessment. This symptom-focused approach enables readers to swiftly identify the appropriate chapter and take swift action to intervene effectively.

Navigating Systems-Level Barriers to Care

A dedicated section provides guidance on navigating the educational system, child welfare system, and other systems of care, helping clinicians to identify and overcome barriers to obtain necessary treatment for their patients.

Case Examples and Models of Emergency Psychiatric Care

An abundance of case examples of common emergency symptoms or behaviors provides professionals with critical, concrete tools for diagnostic evaluation, risk assessment, decision making, de-escalation, and safety planning. The book also reviews successful models of emergency psychiatric care from across the country, assisting clinicians and hospital administrators in program design.

A Vital Resource for Front-Line Clinicians

Helping Kids in Crisis is a vital resource for clinicians facing high-risk challenges on the front lines. It equips them with the expertise to intervene effectively, relieve suffering, and keep their young patients safe. With this comprehensive guide, mental health professionals can make a difference in the lives of children and adolescents in crisis.