Management of the Suicidal Pediatric Patient: An Emergency Medicine Problem

Suicide in children and adolescents is a serious cause of concern for emergency department physicians. Suicide remains a leading cause of death and potential years lost in children and adolescents. Children who are acutely suicidal often present to the emergency department for medical and psychiatric care and evaluation. This article will discuss the epidemiology of suicide in children and provide the emergency physician a framework from which to evaluate and manage children who are acutely suicidal.