• Marc Broadbent, Anne Creaton, Lorna Moxham, and Trudy Dwyer.
• Central Queensland University, Noosaville BC, Qld, Australia. m.broadbent@cqu.edu.au
• J Clin Nurs. 2010 Mar 1;19(5-6):712-5.

Aims And ObjectivesThe aim of this paper is to examine the use of mental health triage scales in Australian emergency departments (EDs) and to explore the use of the Australasian Triage Scale (ATS) with existing mental health triage scales.BackgroundSince the introduction of mainstreaming and deinstitutionalisation in Australian mental health care, the number of clients presenting to Australian EDs has been increasing. It has become apparent that the lack of mental health descriptors in existing triage scales diminishes the ability of ED triage staff to accurately assess clients with a mental illness. In response to this, specialised mental health triage scales have been developed and introduced into practice. Concurrently, mental health descriptors have been incorporated into the ATS used across Australian EDs.DesignA review of English language literature was conducted.MethodThe data bases Proquest, Synergy and CINAHL were searched using the key words 'emergency department', 'triage', 'mental health' and again using the term 'emergency mental health triage'.ResultsThere is a paucity of literature surrounding the use of mental health triage scales in Australian EDs; 18 articles were found to be directly relevant to the subject matter.ConclusionCurrently clients with a mental illness presenting to the ED may be triaged against one of four mental health triage scales. Research has shown that the mental health descriptors in the ATS are not as reliable as a specialised mental health triage scale.Relevance To Clinical PracticeThis has implications for clinical practice on two levels. First, it affects the initial triage assessment in the ED and the ability for mental health clinicians to respond in a timely manner and this will have an impact on clinical outcomes. Second, the use of the mental health triage criteria in the ATS may misrepresent ED workloads and affect data pertaining to ED performance.

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