There is a shortage in mental healthcare services for children and teens in America. But when children and teens are experiencing a mental health or behavioral crisis, oftentimes they cannot endure the weeks to months long wait time for an appointment with a psychiatrist to receive an evaluation or medication prescription. Psychiatric Urgent Care, also known as Urgent Behavioral Healthcare, is a service that has grown in recent years to provide in-community and virtual (Telepsychiatry) care for individuals with mental health concerns who need immediate, timely care.*
While Psychiatric Urgent Care is usually self-pay and more expensive than a traditional psychiatric appointment, many Urgent Behavioral Healthcare clinics are in-network with certain insurance providers, and verification prior to appointments is encouraged. It may be helpful for guardians to think of Psychiatric Urgent Care as a psychological alternate to a medical urgent care facility. In the same way that some health concerns require immediate attention, Psychiatric urgent care provides crisis response solutions for critical mental health and psychiatric emergencies in an attempt to avoid a trip to the hospital emergency room (ER) or psychiatric hospital.
Psychiatric Urgent Care clinics are a powerful resource for guardians to be aware of, and some clinics offer online, phone scheduling, and even walk-in service for convenience. Additionally, most clinics remain open outside of traditional psychiatrist offices hours such as on weekends and into the evenings which can provide helpful accessibility to professional care at times when it may be needed most.
Psychiatric Urgent Care services offered by a provider may include:
Outpatient psychiatric care (such as initial psychiatric evaluations or treatment plan development, ongoing care such as medication management, and social worker support)
Hospital discharge/transitional care
Telepsychiatry (virtual visits)
Pediatric psychiatry services
Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Psychiatric Assessments
Counseling services
Group therapy
Psychopharmacological Services
General and crisis mental healthcare
Social work services
Psychiatric Urgent Care benefits include:
The primary purpose of Psychiatric Urgent Care is to help prevent psychiatric hospitalization (or re-hospitalization) by attempting to stabilize a psychiatric crisis.
Urgent Behavioral Healthcare can expedite the weeks to months long wait for an appointment with a psychiatrist if urgent care is deemed appropriate.
Urgent Behavior Healthcare can provide quality and specialized interim service until ongoing treatment options can be secured.
Clinics often have a team of in-house specialists such as a social worker who can help as a connection resource to other providers and mental health resources.
You and your child will have quick access to a qualified psychiatrist and/or psychiatric nurse practitioner.
What to know before you go:
It is best to call ahead or refer to a Psychiatric Urgent Care clinic’s website before going because some clinics may limit their services based on patient age and the specific mental health issues they treat. For instance, some clinics may not prescribe controlled substances such as Adderall or Ritalin since those medications typically require ADD/ADHD diagnostic testing in advance.
Find a Psychiatric Urgent Care provider
A psychiatric crisis can be triggered for any number of reasons, and it is helpful for guardians to be aware of crisis services available to them in their area.* Visit www.KidsTherapyFinder.com and search our directory to find a psychiatrist.
*If you or your child is experiencing a mental health emergency, and you’re unsure of where to go, please call 911 or go to your nearest Emergency Room.
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