Seasonal Trends in Emergency Department Visits for Mental and Behavioral Health Conditions Among Children and Adolescents Aged 5–17 Years — United States, January 2018–June 2023 2018-2023

CDC examined emergency department (ED) visit data from the National Syndromic Surveillance Program for 25 distinct conditions during January 2018–June 2023 among U.S. children and adolescents aged 5–17 years, stratified by age group.

Each year, during 2018–2023, among persons aged 10–14 and 15–17 years, the number and proportion of weekly ED visits for eight conditions increased in the fall school semester and remained elevated throughout the spring semester; ED visits were up to twice as high during school semesters compared with the summer period. Among children aged 5–9 years, the number and proportion of visits increased for five mental and behavioral health conditions

Radhakrishnan L, Carey K, Pell D, et al. Seasonal Trends in Emergency Department Visits for Mental and Behavioral Health Conditions Among Children and Adolescents Aged 5–17 Years — United States, January 2018–June 2023. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72:1032–1040. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7238a3