Sammanfattning
Risk of suicide is one of the most frequent reasons
for psychiatric referrals of patiens between 13–18
years in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Services (CAMHS). The clinical picture is compound
and hetero-geneous because psychiatric symptomes
are less marked than in adults and phenomenons
like insecurity, unstability and impulsivness
are more common. In 2005, Ungdomsseksjonen
for øyeblikkelig hjelp, an acute emergency unit for
adolescents, participated in a multi-centre study
of five acute CAMHS. The study clarified some of
the principles of intervention and the article presents
theese principles illustrated with cases and
with data collected in the multicentre study. The
service is organised in a unit providing both outpatient
(home treatment or consultation with
therapists) and inpatient treatment. Mobilising
parents and relatives based on a familiy- and network
therapeutic approach, is fundamental in the
treatment irrespective of where the patient recieves
the treatment. The organization of the psychiatric
emergency services to children and adolescents
should aim for flexibility and availability and offer
both inpatient and out-patient treatment. In this
way one can adjust the service by severity of mental
illness and in cooperation with and support from
the family and the network.