Psychosocial factors associated with mental health presentations of adolescents to the emergency department in Sydney, Australia: A retrospective review.

BACKGROUND

Adolescents with mental health concerns are increasingly presenting to emergency departments (EDs). Understanding psychosocial triggers that contribute to presentation may improve patient management. This study aimed to identify these psychosocial factors using the HEEADSSS assessment framework for adolescents. HEEADSSS is an acronym for the topics it incorporates; Home; Education/Employment; Eating/Exercise (Sleep); Activities/Peer Relationships (Hobbies); Drug use; Sexuality (Sexual orientation/Gender); Suicide (Self-harm/Depression/ Mood); Safety and Spirituality.

METHODS

This was a retrospective chart review of electronic medical records (eMR) of mental health presentations in 10-24-year-olds to three metropolitan EDs during 2021. Trained nurses collected data from the ED clinical notes. De-identified data were categorically indexed to the topics of the HEEADSSS framework and analysed qualitatively to identify psychosocial factors and themes relating to MH presentation.

RESULTS

1748 presentations were analysed. The categories of Home, Mood, Sleep, Suicide and Peer Relationships identified high rates of issues amongst the study population. Common issues included difficult family dynamics (30.0 %), trauma (26.4 %), low mood (30.3 %), poor sleep (30.8 %) as well as themes of loneliness (7.6 %) and feeling socially isolated (18.2 %).

CONCLUSION

Using the HEEADSSS assessment framework allowed capture of unique psychosocial factors that contributed to mental health concerns for adolescents presenting to ED. Further research is needed to determine the importance of each factor as a precipitating reason for ED presentation.