DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sasjm.2025.v11i10.004

Pages: 959-963

Introduction: Child and adolescent psychiatric emergencies represent a major public health issue, reflecting both the rising prevalence of mental disorders in youth and the challenges in accessing specialized care. Objectives: The objective of this retrospective observational study is to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients presenting to a child and adolescent psychiatry department, in order to better understand this demand and implement more appropriate measures to address it. Method: This is a retrospective descriptive study of a pediatric population under the age of 18, consulting for the first time between December 10, 2024, and June 10, 2025. Results: Out of the 109 new consultants, with 59.6 % were females and an average age of 12.4 years old. The most frequent motives of consultations being agitation, somatic symptoms, suicide attempts and sexual and physical aggression. Most consultants came in freely for consultation (76%) while the rest were referred by different sources. A referral for hospitalization was made in 11.8% of the cases, suicide attempts, suicidal ideation, agitation, psychotic symptoms, and fire-setting behavior were the most frequent motives leading to an indication for hospitalization.