(The Center Square) – Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has issued an executive order dedicating an initial $2 million to violence prevention efforts as part of a new strategy aimed at supporting the mental health and safety of young people.
The use of the newly announced funding has been guided by the city’s Innovation and Performance Team, which has been conducting interviews and focus groups over the past six months to understand the current state of youth mental health in the area and where resources could be most effectively used.
A survey of Seattle 10th graders found that 19% felt unsafe at school.
The city’s recent survey,A student-led approach to mental health services” identified five key insights and recommendations from stakeholders to improve prevention, early intervention and treatment for mental health issues.
The five recommendations are to increase awareness of and access to the city’s existing resources, expand mental health education and early intervention training, expand enrichment programs focused on addressing screen addiction/nature deprivation, implement proactive screening in high schools, and expand access to therapy.
$2 million for youth mental health and safety to help Seattle Public Schools students Shot dead at school Earlier this month.
“[The] “The tragedy at Garfield and the trauma it has caused our community reinforces the need to protect and support our students and those most vulnerable,” Harrell said. statement“These investments in youth mental health and school safety deliver on these priorities and call upon students, families and educators to act.”
In Seattle’s midterm supplemental budget, Harrell will propose allocating up to $10 million in funding in 2024 to begin providing resources to support mental health and school safety. Of the $10 million, $2.4 million would be dedicated to initial telehealth services and $2 million to violence prevention. Additional funding would be used to support the expansion of programs based on capacity and feasibility.
Harrell’s new investment strategy will begin this summer ahead of the 2024 school year. The first priority for mental health spending will be $2.4 million for telehealth therapy services. The city says the funding will expand access to telehealth from 80 students today to more than 2,000, further refining and expanding the initiative.
