1 in 6 children and adolescents in the US will experience a behavioral or mental health disorder. For children in acute mental health crisis, Emergency Departments serve as safe holding spaces while they await inpatient treatment. However these spaces are ill suited for this role. Children are often alone, in a confined space and a chaotic environment, waiting for the help they need. Some will wait days or weeks. We can and should do better.
The mission of Little Ships is to alleviate the hardship and to improve the care of children that are in acute mental health crisis awaiting treatment. Our focus is creating innovative solutions to improve the environment of the emergency department, and to use technology to facilitate earlier mental health treatment and support. With a focus on timely, evidence-based interventions, we can give children a more therapeutic environment and facilitate a faster road to recovery.
