Saud Anwar

Sen. Anwar Leads Senate’s Final Passage of Bill Better Providing Oversight, Information Regarding Children’s Mental Health Services In Hospital Emergency Rooms

Today, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor), Senate Chair of the Children’s Committee, led the Senate’s final passage of legislation putting information standards in place for children’s mental health services in hospital emergency rooms. The legislation will put additional steps in place to better educate on mental health evaluation and treatment resources available to children. Sen. Anwar also co-sponsored the bill.

“In a time when children’s mental health services are unfortunately needed in increasing numbers, a document like this is vital to provide access to resources to families struggling,” said Sen. Anwar. “Publicly available information about mental health services will guide families closer to resources some undoubtedly need. I’m encouraged we were able to provide this support statewide.”

House Bill 6510, “An Act Requiring The Provision Of Information Concerning Children’s Mental Health Services In Hospital Emergency Rooms,” requires the Department of Children and Families to develop documents for mental health regions describing behavioral and mental health evaluation and treatment resources available to children. They will do so consulting the Behavioral Health Partnership Oversight Council, the Departments of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Public Health, and the Department of Children and Families’ Youth Suicide Advisory Board.

The Behavioral Health Partnership Oversight Council must distribute documents electronically to each licensed hospital with emergency departments and to local and regional boards of education, as well as make them available online. The documents must be updated annually and hospital emergency departments, beginning in 2022, will need to provide copies to parents and guardians of children upon the child’s discharge from the emergency department.

Documents must contain information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and a list of evaluation and treatment providers, including physical locations, types of services offered and contact information.