Children and adolescents presenting to emergency department for mental health problems constitute a small percentage. ‘Emergency’ in this group is different from the conventional medical emergency seen in seriously ill children presenting to emergency department. Parents bring their children as last resort to emergency department for acute behavioral problems. There is need to identify common psychiatric emergencies in these group and institute appropriate interventions before making referral plan. In future, there is likely to be an increase in the burden of morbidity due to neuropsychiatric conditions in children and adolescents as per WHO predictions. Though most common reason for emergency visits is for suicide attempt or violence, there is need to understand the underlying psychiatric disorders. As there are almost no community services for children and adolescents with mental health or substance use problems, and not adequate specialists to deal with these problems, makes them present to the emergency more frequently. Here lies the preparedness of pediatric residents to acquire competency to deal with such emergencies and to develop appropriate consultation-liaison services for children and adolescents with these special needs.

Keywords: adolescents, children, emergency psychiatry