Cameron Keating

INTRODUCTION Suicide remains a leading cause of death among Americans, with nearly 50,000 lives lost to suicide annually.1 Having access to mental health care is thought to reduce risk of death by suicide.2-6 However, there is a longstanding shortage of mental health care providers throughout the United States.7, 8 In part due to limited community mental health resources, general emergency departments (EDs) often serve as a source of emergency mental health care.