ABSTRACT
The Emergency Department is used for psychiatric emergencies in childhood as well as for other emergencies. The patient must be assessed adequately, the emergency aspects of the condition managed and appropriate referral made for more long-term care. The psychiatric emergency situation arises when the adults in the family are no longer able to provide the support and control to help the child with his or her emotions. The fact that this has precipitated an Emergency Department attendance denotes the fact that the child and family have accepted that there is a problem for which help is needed.
