1 in 8 ER Visits Are Related to Mental Disorders and/or Substance Abuse

Out of 95 million emergency room visits made to U.S. hospitals during the year 2007, nearly 12 million were related to either a mental disorder, substance abuse or both, according to the latest News and Numbers released by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.  This figure amounts to 1 in 8 of all visits made by adults that year.

Of the 12 million visits, two-thirds were related to mental disorders, one quarter were related to substances abuse and the remaining visits involved both issues.

Other statistics supplied by News and Numbers about the 12 millions visits included:

• Depression and other mood disorder accounted for 43% of the visits, anxiety disorders accounted for 26% of visits and alcohol-related disorders accounted for 23% of visits.
• Mental health and/or substance abuse-related visits were more likely to result in the patient being admitted to the hospital than other types of visits.
• Medicare was billed for 30% of visits, Medicaid was billed for  20% of visits, private insurance was billed for 26% of visits and 21% were uninsured.

The AHRQ New and Numbers report was based upon data found in Mental Health and Substance Abuse-Related Emergency Department Visits Among Adults, 2007.