Crisis Phone Services

Pediatric mental health crises increasingly strain emergency departments (EDs), underscoring the need for coordinated alternatives to acute care. This review situates pediatric crisis phone services within the broader crisis care continuum and distinguishes between crisis hotlines, crisis triage lines, and phone-based follow-up services. Using Kids’Link of Rhode Island as an illustrative example, this review demonstrates how a statewide, integrated crisis triage model can support families, facilitate timely risk assessment and referral, and reduce unnecessary ED utilization. Findings highlight the importance of coordinated crisis phone services in strengthening the continuity of care and improving pediatric crisis response systems.