The NSW Emergency Psychiatry Network.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Emergency Medicine
• Mental Health Services

Background:

• Emergency Departments (EDs) are experiencing rising patient numbers and extended stays in psychiatric care.
• A lack of robust evidence bases challenges current crisis care models.
• Multiple stakeholders are seeking improvements in mental health crisis management.

Discussion:

• Emergency Psychiatrists must lead in advocating for cultural, research, clinical, training, and funding changes.
• The NSW Emergency Psychiatry Network unites diverse experiences from metropolitan to rural settings.
• Upskilling ED and Mental Health clinicians in crisis care is a recognized necessity.

Key Insights:

• There is a critical need for evidence-based mental health resourcing within EDs.
• Collaboration among stakeholders is essential for driving best-practice change.
• Standardizing crisis care protocols across different healthcare settings is paramount.

Outlook:

• The NSW Emergency Psychiatry Network aims to foster a collaborative approach to enhance mental health crisis care.
• Future efforts will focus on implementing evidence-based practices and improving clinician training.
• Securing dedicated mental health resources in EDs is a key objective for improved patient outcomes.