"Insurance status determines access to mental health care, leaving suicidal patients vulnerable"

Suicidal patients without health insurance are often turned away by private psychiatric hospitals, leading to long waits in emergency departments. A recent investigation found that Tristar Centennial Medical Center in Nashville had discharged or held patients in the emergency department for up to six days until space became available at a state-run psychiatric hospital. The lack of capacity for uninsured patients in Tennessee is a widespread issue, with mental health patients experiencing long wait times for admission. The situation highlights the challenges faced by healthcare providers in addressing the increasing need for mental healthcare services.