A new article says that autistic kids and adults in Minnesota are having a tough time getting help for their mental health. Many of them have to stay in hospital emergency rooms for a long time because there aren’t enough places that can help them.
The article talks about a 10-year-old boy with autism who had to stay in the emergency room for more than three months. He was waiting for a bed in a special hospital that helps people with mental health problems.
The article also says that some groups of people, like Somali and Latino families, have an even harder time getting help for autism in the state. This means that some autistic people aren’t getting the help they need because of their race or background.
A doctor who works with kids says that autistic children often have to wait longer than other kids with mental health problems to get a bed in a special hospital. He thinks this is because there aren’t enough services and doctors to help them.
People who care about this problem are asking for more money and help to make sure autistic people in Minnesota can get the mental health care they need. A woman who started a group to help Somali American families with autism says it’s important to have services that respect different cultures to better help everyone who needs it.
See: “Why are kids of color in Minnesota spending days, weeks, and months in hospital emergency rooms that can’t treat their problems?” by Sheila Mulrooney Eldred on the Sahan Journal website (February 5, 2024)
