EXPANDING CARE FOR CHILDREN IN CRISIS
The Crisis Stabilization Unit is a short-term crisis assessment and treatment program that assists patients during a mental health crisis . A child or adolescent who is experiencing acute symptoms of mental illness who requires 24-hour supervised crisis intervention is suitable for the Unit . The team works to stabilize the emotional , mental , and behavioral crisis of children and adolescents who are brought to the Rady Children ’ s Emergency Department seeking treatment . When an immediate determination cannot be made in the Emergency Department , patients are transferred to the CSU where specialists assess patients in a more controlled environment . Specialists determine if the best course of action is to refer to inpatient treatment , to outpatient counseling , or release the patient to their home . The team works closely with children and their families to promote healing while empowering the patient to care for themselves during and after their stay .
The unit is operational 24 hours per day , and is staffed by a registered nurse , licensed psychiatric technician , a licensed social worker , and an on-call psychiatric attending physician . The ultimate goal is to teach coping skills to patients within a short period of time to diminish the symptoms originally contributing to the hospitalization , assist them to effectively tolerate the frustration and stress in their daily lives , and engage family therapy and crisis management to divert or eliminate lengthy future hospital stays . This process is critical to the successful long-term outcomes for patients , some of whom are stabilized within a few days , but still need to learn successful coping mechanisms to avoid regression upon discharge .
Rady Children ’ s was recently granted a one year license to pilot the Crisis Stabilization Unit in response to the growing need for inpatient psychiatric beds in the area . The pilot program exception , however , limits who can be seen in the CSU . Only patients who present to the Rady Children ’ s Emergency Department are eligible – those seen at other area hospitals are not . When the pilot program ends , and the CSU is able to accommodate patients from all area hospitals , it is expected that the CSU ’ s capacity will increase substantially , increasing the demand for services . An expanded CSU will require additional clinical space , patient comfort items , de-escalation tools and additional clinical staff support .
This expansion of services requires a $ 1.5 million investment . Additional funds will be raised to sustain the annual costs of the unit .
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The stigma around mental health means that many children do not get the help that they so badly need . This has to change . We need to help young people and their parents understand that it is not a sign of weakness to ask for help . A child ’ s mental health is just as important as their physical health and deserves
the same quality of support .”
Her Royal Highness , Catherine , Duchess of Cambridge
Support for the 107th Anniversary Charity Ball helps ensure that Rady Children ’ s will provide comprehensive medical , mental and behavioral health services for children and adolescents in San Diego . Because of your generosity , the children of our region will experience the highest caliber care and enjoy healthier futures . On behalf of these children , thank you .