Children's mental health emergencies-part 3: special situations: child maltreatment, violence, and response to disasters.

OBJECTIVE: Children may be exposed to or even be the victims of a violent situation, or a disaster, and the likelihood of a child's exposure to a violent situation or a disaster is increasing.

METHODS: A review of the literature was done to address key mental health issues occurring with child maltreatment, violence in the home, community, in the emergency department, and disasters.

RESULTS: Although pediatric mental health issues regarding violence, disasters, and child maltreatment have often been overlooked or unrecognized, the consequences for the child in such situations can be devastating. However, recognition and appropriate treatment can favorably impact the child's recovery from exposure to such violent events or disasters.

CONCLUSIONS: Recognition and early intervention to address the mental health issues of children in violent situations or disasters can help ameliorate the negative psychological sequelae of such events. The importance of providing mental health and social services to children exposed to disasters was recognized by the Pediatric Institute of Medicine Report.