Table 8 Mental Health Services interventions and intervention characteristics

Liaison Mental Health Services

Liaison mental health services have been located in general hospitals outside of ED, but also located inside EDs [79]. Liaison team composition varies and can include nurses, social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists [79]. Liaison mental health services see clients directly (most referrals involve 60 min of contact with clients) in both initial and follow-up face to face contact with clients [79]. Liaison mental health services also perform administrative, supervision, audit and research, teaching, and meetings [79]. Some models of liaison mental health services include the integration of extra specialist mental health staff (mental health nurses rather than upskilled ED trained staff) as part of the full time ED team and involved in patient triage, mental health patient assessment, management, referral and liaison with other services [80].

Co-located Psychiatry Liaison Personnel/ Spaces

co-located psychiatry liaison personnel or spaces for patients [80] are not integrated into the normal ED team, but could be called upon to see mental health patients in the ED or in a bespoke space [80].

Psychiatry Specialist Services

Psychiatry specialist services review and care for ED mental health patients [80]. These teams include social workers, psychiatrist and psychologists who come to the ED after referral from the ED staff [80]. Daily rounds by a psychiatrist in the ED has also been implemented [80].