Effect of Decreasing County Mental Health Services on the Emergency Department.

Study Objective: We evaluate the effect of decreasing county mental health services on the emergency department (ED).

Methods: This is a retrospective before-and-after study at a Level I academic university hospital adjacent to the county mental health treatment center. On October 1, 2009, the county decreased its inpatient psychiatric unit from 100 to 50 beds and closed its outpatient unit.