Behavioral health bed shortage in Missouri

Hospitals across Missouri are struggling to keep up with the demand for children’s mental health services.   

KCTV 5 is reporting that St. Louis Children’s Hospital said it has had to move some children to different floors because the behavioral health unit is at capacity.   

The president of St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Trish Lollo, says the hospital is seeing between eight and 15 kids per day for behavioral health issues, including suicide attempts, eating disorders, anxiety, and psychosis.  

Some kids are being forced to wait more than 24 hours in the emergency room for a bed to open in the behavioral health unit actually creating more anxiety.