In recent years A&E attendances for suicidal attempts have rocketed. It is now a daily occurrence to meet both children and adults in crisis needing our help. But are we prepared?

Mental illness and suicidal thoughts are common issues for young people. It can be difficult to know if a child is suffering as they often keep it to themselves.

This week we look at decreased conscious levels in children; and how medical staff can maintain performance when they’re not at their physical best.

35-year-old male attending ED admitting to taking an overdose of amitriptyline. Very reluctant to talk, but when he does answer he's very obnoxious and keen to leave.

Poster submission by Felix Hay (tPACP) & Dr Damian Roland for the #EM2C2018 conference

When risk assessing mental health patients, don’t just think ABCDE... think PEPI and SLIPA!

HEEADSSS is a time-tested strategy for obtaining a Psychosocial Review of Systems (PROS) for adolescent patients with mental health concerns.

An unconscious 18-month-old child is brought to the ED by the babysitter who reveals she left a bottle of methadone in her bag…

80-year-old female. Found unwell by relatives and slightly drowsy. Feeling low since husband died 6 months earlier. Hx of having taken OD.

The story of a girl who left the party at midnight and attends your ED with only one shoe...

A 28-year-old presented having taken an unknown quantity of propranolol overnight. Found in a collapsed state in the assessment area.

You enter the cubicle and the patient is gone... what would you do?

15 y/o found unresponsive by his father. Has been struggling at school. Left a suicide note and was found next to some empty packets of his mother's tablets.