The number of children and teens who go to the emergency department in psychiatric crisis has been rising for years, but this spring, it reached unprecedented levels at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. This story examined the stories behind the rising numbers: why so many children were ending up in the emergency department, what the increased demand meant for the hospital, how changes in the mental health system have led to more children with acute needs that aren’t being met by community providers, and what it’s meant for families. (Please see the URL for interactive graphics and photo captions.)
