Hospitalization should be our last resort. Emergency departments are ill-equipped to deal with suicidal patients. Many patients who are hospitalized for psychiatric emergencies are discharged feeling traumatized by their experience. Unfortunately, fears of legal repercussions often dictate emergency room admission for suicidal patients. Hospitals are designed to triage physical emergencies, not so much psychiatric emergencies.
Hospitalization should be our last resort. Emergency departments are ill-equipped to deal with suicidal patients. Many patients who are hospitalized for psychiatric emergencies are discharged feeling traumatized by their experience. Unfortunately, fears of legal repercussions often dictate emergency room admission for suicidal patients. Hospitals are designed to triage physical emergencies, not so much psychiatric emergencies.
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