New Year, New Goals, New Strategies

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Mental Health America's 2022 Key Youth Findings

A growing percentage of youth in the U.S. live with major depression. 15.08% of youth experienced a major depressive episode in the past year, a 1.24% increase from last year’s dataset. In the bottom-ranked states, up to 19% of youth ages 12-17 experienced major depression.

Over 2.5 million youth in the U.S. have severe depression, and multiracial youth are at greatest risk. 10.6% of youth in the U.S. have severe major depression (depression that severely affects functioning). The rate of severe depression was highest among youth who identified as more than one race, at 14.5% (more than one in every seven multiracial youth).

Over 60% of youth with major depression do not receive any mental health treatment. Even in states with the greatest access, nearly one in three are going without treatment. In Texas, the bottom-ranked state for this indicator, nearly three-quarters of youth with depression did not receive mental health treatment.

Nationally, fewer than 1 in 3 youth with severe depression receive consistent mental health care. Even among youth with severe depression who receive some treatment, only 27% received consistent care. In Tennessee, the bottom-ranked state, that rate is as low as 12%. 65.6% of youth in Maine (ranked 1st) received consistent treatment, which is 16% higher than Vermont (49.7%) which is ranked 2nd.

Both adults and youth in the U.S. continue to lack adequate insurance coverage. 11.1% of Americans with a mental illness are uninsured. There was a 0.3% increase from last year’s dataset, the second year in a row that this indicator increased since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). 8.1% of children had private insurance that did not cover mental health services, totaling 950,000 youth.

Rates of substance use are increasing for youth and adults, even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. 7.74% of U.S. adults and 4.08% of youth had a substance use disorder in the past year. Substance use increased 0.07% for adults and 0.25% for youth over last year’s report. See Full Report

Linking Arms to Improve Child and Adolescent Mental Health in Pierce County

Kids’ Mental Health—Pierce County (KMHPC) is a coalition of people and agencies in Pierce County that are joining together to address the growing behavioral health crisis among school age children and youth.

Our Mission. Kids’ Mental Health – Pierce County is dedicated to developing a coordinated, responsive behavioral health system that serves the needs of children, youth and families at the right time, in the best place, with the best outcome for every family. KMHPC coordinates with initiatives focused on young children to create a continuum of behavioral health services starting at birth.

Our Vision. Our long-term vision is to reduce the number and severity of behavioral health issues in school-age children and youth (K-12) across Pierce County. To start, we are building coordinated, effective and efficient behavioral health services for these children and youth. “Crisis” is defined by the youth and family when the youth’s needs outweigh the existing resources within the family.

For more information and to link arms to improve child and adolescent mental health in Pierce County visit: www.kidsmentalhealthpiercecounty.org

A recent study on New Year’s resolutions found that about 40% of Americans set resolutions at the start of the year, and less than half are successful after six months. We all want to make positive and impactful changes in our lives, but how can we make the changes last?

Keep them realistic. When setting resolutions, it’s important to take time to reflect on the change you wish to see and what you realistically can do to achieve that change. By taking smaller, more achievable steps towards your goals, there is a greater chance that you will keep them.

This applies to all kinds of resolutions, including mental health. You can help manage your mental health symptoms by taking small steps every day. continue reading

KMHPC Upcoming Events & Webinars

Kids Mental Health Action Team Meeting

The KMHPC Action Teams are comprised of people and agencies working together to plan and implement KMHPC community-wide agenda. Meetings are held virtually the last Thursday of each month at 1:00PM.

Join us for our January Action Team Meeting as we develop priority actions and goals for 2022 for Kids Mental Health Pierce County. This month we will be working on identifying strategies and priority actions around our Youth Crisis System in Pierce County.

Next Meeting: Thursday, Jan 27, 2022 01:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Meeting Registration

Rescheduled to March 6, 2022

Join us for a private screening of My Ascension: A Documentary Film and Movement to Spread Hope and Fight Suicide. A suicide attempt left 16-year-old varsity cheerleader, Emma Benoit, paralyzed, but propelled her on a mission to use her painful experience to help others find hope and shine more light on the fact that 20 young people die every day by suicide in the United States. My Ascension is a feature length documentary that chronicles Emma’s inspiring journey and quest to walk again as she works to bring Hope Squad, a school-based suicide prevention program, to Louisiana. The film also highlights the stories of two remarkable young people who tragically did not survive their attempts and we learn first-hand from their families, friends, school officials and suicide prevention experts about the devastating effects of suicide and what can be done to prevent it.

The screening will be followed by a live Q & A with Emma Benoit, Pierce County providers and community members.

Doors open at 1:30PM – Currently at Capacity
For More Information or Questions Contact:
Ashley Mangum at ashley.mangum@multicare.org or 253-403-4201

"My Ascension" for Suicide Prevention - Film Trailer

Learn More

Volunteers Needed for Youth Summit

KMHPC extends an invitation for Pierce County Community Organizations to participate in a resource fair that will be held from 4-5 at the Summit. If you are able to participate please complete this form: https://forms.office.com/r/tzUBjFL6Ct

Webinar Objectives:

Learn about strategies for developing and fine-tuning structures and systems to support youth emotionally, socially, and behaviorally.
Reflect on using the implementation of these structures in a variety of environments.

Training Registration

For School Professionals

Webinar Objectives:

Connect Social Emotional Learning frameworks and Culturally Responsive Teaching practices
Connect Trauma Informed understanding to Culturally Responsive Teaching practices
Analyze SEL competencies for issues of equity.
Gain an understanding of SEL through a cultural humility lens

Training Registration

Community Resources and Events

The Pierce County School & CBO Network Meeting takes place on the 4^th Friday of every month from 11-12. Our January meeting will be Friday January 28^th, from 11-12.

The intention of this network meeting is to build partnership with our organizations and school districts, collaborate on solution focused efforts, and to share our efforts and/or events within the community.

Google Folder Link (to view past meeting notes, agenda, and resources)

Meeting Registration

Friday, January 28, 2022 from 5:30-7:30pm

One Girl Better Systems (OGBS) is a Pierce County project that magnifies the voices of girls* and develops solutions that prevent girls with status offenses from falling deeper into the juvenile justice system. The OGBS taskforce is inviting you to participate in this virtual girl-led, racial equity-centered townhall event.

The purpose for the townhall event is to co-design and strategize alongside girls as we seek to improve the status of girls*, especially those in Pierce County, address the underlying conditions that perpetuate the adversity they face and pave pathways for a better future.:

Please join the Pierce County Opioid Task Force in exploring this year’s theme: Rooting Our Response to the Opioid Crisis in Racial Equity by registering here. Help spread the word by sharing widely with your networks!

The Pierce County Opioid Task Force promotes positive behavioral health and well-being and works to reduce opioid misuse and related stigma through systems change and community engagement.

Proposal Request

The Pierce County Behavioral Health and Therapeutic Courts and Liquor Tax Request for Proposal is being released February 7, 2022

Community Education
Prevention & Early Intervention
Outpatient and Community-based Services
Crisis and Inpatient Services
Services for Justice-involved
Housing Supports

Funding is eligible for the following types of programs:

Mental Health Treatment
Substance Use Disorder Treatment
Therapeutic Court Treatment
Case Management
Transportation
Housing Supports
Other innovative and effective programs that address unmet behavioral health needs

For more information about this funding go to Behavioral Health Tax | Pierce County, WA - Official Website (piercecountywa.gov)

Or to sign up for notifications of Human Services Solicitations and Competitive Bids click here: www.piercecountywa.gov/hsrfp

The 21^st Annual SIOL Conference will be held virtually Thursday, May 26, 2022. The Say It Out Loud (SIOL) Conference focuses on information sharing and networking to improve behavioral health services and decrease disparities faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ+) individuals. The conference strives to provide space to educate and share knowledge with attendees to better serve and support LGBTQ+ individuals and their families. Dialogue is encouraged across all topics that touch and impact individuals including understanding how differences with regards to gender identity and sexuality impact overall behavioral and physical health, self-determination, and well-being.

The SIOL Conference Planning Committee invites you to submit a workshop propose at the 2022 Say It Out Loud Conference. Visit the SIOL Conference Call for Proposal website for more information and to submit you workshop proposal.

APRIL 4-6, 2022

An annual gathering of educators, system leaders, and community members to disrupt historical oppression and create a socially just future for Tacoma’s youth and young adults.

At Graduate Tacoma’s second annual Charting Our Future conference, we are taking the work of a community-wide movement of youth advocates to the next level. As with all Graduate Tacoma events, we will build on our ability to connect across professions, lived experiences, and a shared vision for a Tacoma where every child succeeds in school, career, and life.

Join us for an in-person gathering of practitioners, leaders, and community to disrupt historical oppression and create a socially just future for Tacoma’s youth and young adults

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2022
Deadline for Submitting Proposals

FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022
Deadline for Presenter Conference Registrations

Click here for more information and to submit a proposal

Workforce Development

Join our YES Puyallup Program! Mary Bridge Children's is seeking a Mental Health Clinician-SW to provide Behavioral Health Navigation and support to Puyallup School District students. As part of an interdisciplinary team, and to promote optimal health outcomes, the MHC-SW completes comprehensive assessment and provides support and resources to identify and intervene regarding patient/family needs related to: mental health, trauma, environmental and caregiver safety; child abuse and neglect; trauma; grief and loss; adjustment to injury/illness; food, shelter and other basic needs; education and developmental needs, and parenting resource needs. Apply Now

Beacon Health Options is recruiting for a NCWA Care Coordinator position.
https://anthemcareers.ttcportals.com/jobs/7852990-outreach-care-specialist-ii
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