Psychiatric Bed Shortages Nationwide

In Colorado, a lack of behavioral health resources are dire as health officials are responding to around four child suicides a week and Children’s Hospital Colorado is sending kids out-of-state for treatment. These kids are being sent to any state that has the capacity to care for them, including South Carolina and Florida. $7 million of funding is needed to open 40 residential treatment and therapeutic foster care programs within the next 3-6 months, officials here report. The shortage of beds is due to the pandemic, lack of funding and the increasing mental health needs from an economic downturn.  Since spring 2020, suicide and wellness check calls are up 40-50% and incidence of severe-depression due to parent divorce is up 3-fold, according to our poll of family attorneys and alcohol treatment centers.  “There is a path forward but it requires a lot of patience, a lot of support from the community, and counseling,” Marla Fields, RN, says. She says she is doing more “all in the family” counseling rather than just 1-on-1 – “it was always important, but I think more effective now more than ever.”