Community mental health cuts tied to spike in ER visits

There was an increase in the number and length of mental health evaluations at a California emergency room after a nearby treatment center cut back on services, according to a new study. "Unfortunately, resources to help these vulnerable patients are frequently the target of funding cuts," said lead author Dr. Arica Nesper, who worked on the research while at the University of California, Davis. "We aimed to describe this effect on our emergency department and the care provided to our patients." The researchers decided to conduct the study after noticing more patients were coming into their ER with mental health needs after the adjacent county mental health treatment center downsized, Nesper told Reuters Health by email.