Management of the suicidal child or adolescent in the emergency department.

The pediatrician may be called on either as the primary physician or as a consultant to see a suicidal child or adolescent in the emergency department. Psychiatric consultation may not be available immediately. The pediatrician will then play a pivotal role in the evaluation and disposition of the patient. We discuss the epidemiology, initial approach to evaluation, and a rational plan for deciding when it is safe to discharge the patient from the emergency department.