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º£½ÇÉçÇø provides a number of programs and resources that can help Washington's youth achieve a healthy lifestyle. Through legislation, guidance, grant funding, programs, and webinars the goal remains that all students can be successful in school when their individual mental, emotional, social, and behavioral health needs are met. These initiatives are beneficial in maintaining a student's mental, social, and behavioral health.

If you or a loved one are needing immediate mental health support:

• Please call 988 or visit   
• The 988 Lifeline offers free, confidential, 24/7/365 support for thoughts of suicide, substance use concerns, and any other type of emotional distress. Trained crisis counselors who answer the calls, texts, and chats can listen, offer support, and provide helpful resources. 
• offers secure, free 24/7 support for you or a friend experiencing stress, anxiety, violent threats, sexual abuse, or anything that makes life hard. Trained professionals answer calls, texts, and online tips. HearMeWA was developed by and for Washington's youth with the .

Programs

Impacting Legislation 

Revised Code of Washington requires that all K¨C12 school districts adopt a plan to screen, recognize, and respond to indicators of social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health (SEBMH) such as, but not limited to, sexual abuse, substance use, violence, or youth suicide.  

WA School Counseling Legislation 

School?counselors must be certified and?deliver a comprehensive school?counseling program based on the national standards for school?counseling programs of the American school counselor association. 

A minimum of one full-time person, or equivalent, shall be provided for?counseling and guidance services. Personnel assigned to...counseling and?guidance responsibilities shall have a minimum of one year of training?beyond the bachelor's degree including.... 

Differentiates the?roles of 3 ESA's: school counselors, school psychologists?and?school social workers.?Also acknowledges?these professionals are?involved in multi-tiered systems of support for academic and behavioral?skills. 

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Detail the requirements of district comprehensive school counseling program plans aligned with the national school counseling model and implementation expectations. This legislation requires, among other things, that staff implementing the comprehensive school counseling program spend 80% of their time in direct and indirect service to students. ? 

Workforce Secondary Traumatic Stress

 and? acknowledges the significant toll STS has on educators, and?subsequently students, and focuses on the adoption of policy and procedures so that districts and schools can take meaningful steps in supporting their staff¡¯s health and well-being.?By implementing policy through the strategic use of professional learning and a continuous improvement process, districts and schools can reduce staff turnover, increase student outcomes, and model healthy behaviors for the entire school community. 

SEL 

Every other school year, school districts must use one of the professional learning days funded under RCW 28A.150.415 to train staff on SEL or SEL-related topics.?For more information on this requirement, please review the?. 

Mental Health Excused Absences 

The  and other youth advocates worked with state representatives to introduce and pass ?during the 2022 Legislative Session. 

HB 1834 directs º£½ÇÉçÇø to categorize a student's absence from school due to a mental health reason as an excused absence due to illness, health condition, or medical appointment; and to develop the rule and guidance to implement the rule in consultation with a student advisory group and the . 

Guidance 

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• : Review Washington-developed SEL?resources to help implement social emotional learning, including equity tools, learning activities, and related briefs. 
• Workforce Secondary Traumatic Stress (WSTS) Compliance Checklist  

Webinars 

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Comprehensive and Systems Design Resources

Interconnected Systems Framework 

Effective implementation of school-based behavioral health services and programs relies on a defined . The Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF) is a structure and process that maximizes effectiveness and efficiency by blending the strengths of school and community mental health with strengths of the multi-tiered framework of PBIS (Barrett, Eber, Weist, 2013).? 

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SHAPE System 

The  may be used to evaluate and improve the quality of school mental health systems. The assessment also includes a library of additional resources. 

Youth Mental Health First Aid 

 is designed to teach how to help an adolescent who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders. Some ESDs offer YMHFA training. Reach out to your region¡¯s prevention center director for more information. 

Youth Mental Health Literacy Library Resource 

 gives any teacher, school counselor or other staff member a comprehensive resource of professionally vetted curricula and school presentations to easily and quickly compare available programs at their fingertips. The site has three very important features. 

Whole Child Framework

 approach transitions from a focus on narrowly defined academic achievement to one that promotes the long-term development and success of all children.  

Five Resources to Support Student Mental and Behavioral Health

Student Mental and Behavioral Health Resource

• Contact your school counselor: Check your school or school district¡¯s website to find your school counselor¡¯s contact information. You can also visit the º£½ÇÉçÇø Counseling webpage.
• Contact your school district: For a full list of school district contacts, visit º£½ÇÉçÇø¡¯s district contacts list.
• Contact your regional educational service district (ESD): Find your ESD online. 
• Use º£½ÇÉçÇø resources: Visit our behavioral health webpage to learn more.
• Make a phone call: 
  • at 988
  • Mental health resources at .