A full time urgent consult clinic was opened for adolescents presenting with risk to self or others. To date these adolescents have presented to ERs, held in the ER or admitted to the ward added to waitlists. This study is a part of a 1 year outcome study to examine whether urgent assessment and brief crisis intervention reduce ER visits, admissions and reduce the waiting lists.

1. a) examine 3 month outcome after urgent clinic assessment

2. b) examine variables that may affect outcome

3. c) examine effect of urgent consult assessment and intervention on ER visits, admission, repeat presentation and waitlist for other child and adolescent psychiatric outpatient clinics.

Adolescents 12 -17 years of age seen in the UCC will be given information sheet and consent form to participate. Data will be gathered on demographic variables and a number of other pertinent variables including reason for referral, suicidality previous contact with MH services, past psychiatric history, family history of psychiatric disorders, diagnosis and management. The patients will complete a mental health screen, CDI and Connors Questionnaire Parents will complete the CBCL. The data will be checked against ER contact,admissions and wait lists at 3 month post assessment. Data analysis will be conducted using SPSS.

It is expected that there will be a decrease in the number of adolescents presentating to the ERs, a reduction in ER admission to the ward and a decrease in the numbers of patients on the Outpatient wait list.