Honoring World Mental Health Day 2024: Highlighting DEEL-Supported Resources for Youth Mental Health

In honor of World Mental Health Day, celebrated annually on October 10, the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) is proud to highlight the ways our school- and community-based partnerships are responding to needs expressed by Seattle students and families for increased access to school-based mental health supports.

Spotlight on Holistic Resources and Supports for Student Mental Wellness

In the 2024-25 school year, DEEL will continue to partner with Public Health - Seattle King County to offer mental health services at 29 schools, including 8 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 13 high schools, with mental health practitioners onsite at all School Based Health Centers (SBHCs).

SBHC sites

Elementary Schools	Middle Schools	High Schools
1. Bailey Gatzert 2. Dearborn Park 3. Highland Park 4. Roxhill 5. Rising Star 6. West Seattle 7. Beacon Hill International 8. Lowell	1. Madison 2. Mercer 3. Robert Eagle Staff 4.  Aki Kurose 5. Washington 6. Meany 7. Denny International	1. Chief Sealth 2. Lincoln 3. Roosevelt 4. West Seattle 5. Garfield 6. Franklin 7. Interagency Academy 8. Nathan Hale 9. Nova 10. Cleveland 11. Ingraham 12. Rainer Beach 13. Ballard 14. Seattle World School

In addition to mental health care accessible to students through the SBHCs, several DEEL investment portfolios broadly support youth violence prevention in schools through programming that promotes Social Emotional Learning and positive youth development. Interventions and programming at the heart of DEEL School-based Investments, Opportunities & Access, Youth Leadership & Cultural Education, and Student Mental Health Supports strategies strengthen protective factors for participating youth while mitigating risk factors by enhancing school climate and community-building interventions inclusive of restorative practices.

DEEL also invests in specific youth violence prevention programming through community-based organization partners, including The Good Foot Arts Collective, Bridging Cultural Gaps, and Creative Justice, to offer in and out of school services focused on supporting students struggling with substance abuse and different forms of violence (domestic, gang-related) through trauma-informed, healing centered approaches rooted in cultural responsiveness.

DEEL partnerships are responding to the need for youth mental health care by increasing access to telehealth services for all middle and high school students, and Seattle youth up to age 24. This fall, DEEL is partnering with the Human Services Department (HSD) to expand services provided by Joon and identifying additional telehealth providers through a Request for Proposal, with the full suite of telehealth services slated to launch by Spring 2025. Continue reading to learn more about these ongoing efforts in support of Seattle youth and families.

Open Now: Telehealth for Students & Youth Request for Proposal (RFP)

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Through Friday, October 18, 2024, eligible mental health service providers can apply to the Telehealth for Students & Youth Request for Proposal (RFP) supporting the mental well-being of Seattle's diverse student population. The RFP is part of a multi-faceted City-wide youth mental health investment strategy that delivers supports for youth across the mental health continuum, reaches youth in ways that are culturally responsive, localized to their communities, evidence-based, and informed by youth and family needs. Previously published guidelines established that organizations interested in participating in future DEEL RFP processes related to student telehealth services MUST have completed that RFI process to be eligible. To learn more about forthcoming telehealth services for Seattle students and youth to be funded through the RFP, read here.

City of Seattle Offers Free Therapy for Teens & Young Adults with Joon

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DEEL also shines a spotlight on virtual mental health resources for youth and young adults available City-wide. Thanks to a partnership with the City of Seattle Human Services Department, Seattle Public Schools students and area youth ages 13 to 24 can access confidential virtual therapy with Joon, now through the end of the year. Care is provided free of charge, with no cost to the youth or their family. Local teens and young adults have until November 15 to enroll and begin receiving 1:1 therapeutic care.

Young people interested in connecting with a therapist can get started here. Learn more about Joon's partnership with City of Seattle here.

Confidential Mental Health Support with #ReachOut

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Youth and families can also seek immediate, accessible mental health support at no cost through #ReachOut. With the 988 Hotline, immediate and confidential mental health support is only one call or text away. No matter what you're going through, you don't have to go through it alone. 24/7, call or text 988 for free to #ReachOut for support. Save this number and share it with your friends. You never know what difference it can make.

Learn more about the 988 Hotline at 988lifeline.org/

#mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthresources #ReachOutSeattle

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