Children's mental health emergencies-part 3: special situations: child maltreatment, violence, and response to disasters.
OBJECTIVE
Children may be exposed to or even be the victims of a violent situation, or a disaster, and the likelihood of a child's exposure to a violent situation or a disaster is increasing.


METHODS
A review of the literature was done to address key mental health issues occurring with child maltreatment, violence in the home, community, in the emergency department, and disasters.


RESULTS
Although pediatric mental health issues regarding violence, disasters, and child maltreatment have often been overlooked or unrecognized, the consequences for the child in such situations can be devastating. However, recognition and appropriate treatment can favorably impact the child's recovery from exposure to such violent events or disasters.


CONCLUSIONS
Recognition and early intervention to address the mental health issues of children in violent situations or disasters can help ameliorate the negative psychological sequelae of such events. The importance of providing mental health and social services to children exposed to disasters was recognized by the Pediatric Institute of Medicine Report.
Baren
Jill M
JM
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, USA.
Mace
Sharon E
SE
Hendry
Phyllis L
PL
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004190:Disasters; D004630:Emergencies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D054527:Mass Casualty Incidents / Q000523:psychology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012574:Schools; D014218:Triage; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*