A child and youth emergency mental health consultation is indicated if there is an immediate need for a crisis mental health assessment in hospital due to serious safety concerns that may require inpatient admission. This includes:
- risk of suicide or serious violence
- acute psychosis or mania
- severe depression with safety concerns, severely impaired functioning or risk of imminent physical compromise
- medication concerns or adverse medication reactions requiring emergency assessment
- serious functional compromise not responding to outpatient intervention
Please refer to the emergency department. Consider alerting the child and youth crisis worker at 416-469-6580 ext. 2297.
Please fax any relevant referral information to 416-469-6179.
Consider including the HEADS-ED screening tool.
The emergency consultation will not include a full psychiatric assessment.
Any referrals to the emergency department that do not meet the criteria for an emergency mental health consultation may be referred by the emergency physician to our urgent care worker for alternative options or Help Ahead (previously Mental Health Toronto (MHTO)).
Help Ahead is a single access point for infants, children, youth up to 18 and their families in Toronto to find and get the mental health help they need efficiently and quickly.