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Short Term Involuntary Psychiatric Examination of Children in Florida

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Abstract

This study describes the use of emergency mental health services by children over a 4-year period. Analysis of a statewide database revealed 51,861 or 15% of all involuntary examinations were conducted on children. These youth were on average a little over 14 years of age and law enforcement officials initiated the majority of examinations. The majority of examinations were initiated due to the children demonstrating harmful behaviors to themselves or others. One-fifth of the children (21%) experienced more than one examination over the 4-year period. Areas of future research on this topic are discussed. The implications of the nature of examinations and patterns of repeated examinations are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

Portions of the Baker Act data entry were funded by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH060217) and a contract with the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (#MO308), with the remainder of data entry paid for by the Department of Mental Health Law and Policy at the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mental Health Law and Policy, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida, 13301 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, MHC2335, Tampa, Florida, 33612, USA

    Annette Christy & Paul Stiles

  2. Department of Child and Family Studies, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida, 13301 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, MHC2335, Tampa, Florida, 33612, USA

    Krista Kutash

Authors
  1. Annette Christy
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  2. Krista Kutash
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  3. Paul Stiles
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Correspondence to Annette Christy.

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Christy, A., Kutash, K. & Stiles, P. Short Term Involuntary Psychiatric Examination of Children in Florida. Adm Policy Ment Health 33, 578–584 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-006-0064-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-006-0064-0

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