Youth Mental Health
Free mental wellness resources for middle and high school aged Seattle youth, and young adults up to age 24.
አማርኛ 中文（简体) English Español 한국어 Oromo Soomaali Tagalog ትግርኛ Tiếng Việt
Call or text 988 to receive help any time.
The City of Seattle is proud to provide access to free mental health care for young people in Seattle. The Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) partners with a several mental health care providers to support the mental wellness of Seattle youth and young adults, with a focus on young people ages 13 to 24.
You can access FREE mental health care with one of our partner providers. There are local providers who offer in-person and virtual counseling services in 1:1 and group formats. There are also app-based platforms that offer virtual telehealth. Additionally, through a partnership with Public Health – Seattle King County mental health services are on-site through School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs).
These free mental wellness resources are designed to remove barriers to access and create options for youth to receive care in the best ways for their needs.
Get connected and receive care now!
Eligibility
You are eligible to receive care if:
- You live and/or attend school in Seattle. Use this tool to determine if you live within city limits
- You are a middle or high-school aged youth, or young adult up to 24 years old at the time of enrollment
Please note: Several providers specialize in care for specific underserved communities (LGBTQI+ youth, immigrant and refugee youth, etc.). Please see provider details and read eligibility criteria before you seek to enroll.
How to enroll
Free care is available now! Check out the providers below for virtual care, in-person care, and school-based care options. Please see websites linked below to enroll and access services.
Questions? Contact youthmentalhealth@seattle.gov
Please note: DEEL partner organization youth mental health providers and telehealth platforms are HIPPA compliant. A vendor contracted by the City of Seattle processes the information you provide and may use third-party tools to communicate. We recommend that you check the vendor’s privacy policy for details about information collection and use.
Telehealth (Virtual Therapy)
Available now! Offering culturally-aligned, community-based virtual care
Asian Counseling and Referral Service
Specializing in culturally responsive services for Asian and Pacific Islander communities. For middle and high school youth ages 13 and up who are attending a K12 school/district.
Consejo Counseling and Referral Service
Serving the Latinx and BIPOC populations with integrated mental health and substance use care. For middle and high school aged youth, and youth and young adults up to age 24.
Handspring Health (formerly Joon)
A Seattle-based organization offering youth-centered telehealth therapy with a tech-forward, app-based approach. For youth ages 13 to 24.
Seattle Children’s Hospital - Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic
Delivering whole-person care to a diverse patient base, emphasizing behavioral health. For middle and high school aged youth, and youth and young adults up to age 22.
Seneca Family of Agencies
Providing trauma-informed care to youth and families impacted by systemic marginalization. For youth in middle and high school.
Southwest Youth and Family Services
A longstanding provider of holistic behavioral health services in West Seattle and South King County. For middle and high school aged youth, and youth and young adults up to age 24.
Talkspace
A leading online behavioral health care company meeting the mental health needs of Seattle youth ages 13 to 24 through virtual therapy and asynchronous texting-based support. For youth ages 13 to 24.
Therapy Fund Foundation
Focusing on accessible, culturally specific mental health care for Black communities and other historically marginalized groups. For middle and high school aged youth, and youth and young adults up to age 24.
School-Based Care
On-Site as listed for all Seattle Public Schools students – Available now!
Access to SBHCs is available for all Seattle Public Schools students regardless of the presence of an SBHC on their school campus. SPS students can attend the nearest school-based health center for your school level (middle school or high school), if your school does not have an on campus clinic. Please see a list of providers and locations below.
Outreach and referrals for services are focused on students with the greatest need such as those experiencing non-academic barriers to learning, students not yet meeting grade-level learning standards, students less likely to access care in the community, and other historically underserved student groups, including students experiencing homelessness and LGBTQ students.
SBHC mental health supports include:
- Mental health screening, counseling, treatment and referral
- School-wide and targeted health education and health promotion
- Intensive interventions to support school success
Services are provided by trained professionals, including mental health therapists, mental health counselors, social workers, and psychologists.
To learn more and seek care, please visit linked webpages for SBHC sites as listed here:
Health Care Sponsor |
Middle Schools |
High Schools |
| Neighborcare Health | ||
| Odessa Brown Children's Clinic, a clinic of Seattle Children's Hospital | ||
| Kaiser Permanente | ||
|
Seattle Roots Community Health Formerly Country Doctor Community Health |
||
| International Community Health Services |
|
|
| Public Health - Seattle & King County |
|
|
| Swedish Medical |
|
Additional tools and resources
Available now for Seattle residents of all ages
988 Lifeline
Call or text #988, 24/7. The 988 Lifeline is for everyone. Access to free, quality, one-on-one assistance with skilled, judgment-free counselors who provide compassionate support. You deserve to feel heard and cared about anytime, anywhere, 24/7/365. 988 is a community-wide approach to creating a healthy future for our entire city by offering immediate response to mental health challenges with care and support.
Erika’s Lighthouse
A nonprofit working to remove the stigma surrounding mental health and provide free depression education and suicide prevention programs to any school.
Shine Light on Depression
A web-based platform designed to amplify the conversation around childhood and teen depression and suicide through access to resources for classroom education, family engagement, and teen empowerment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Parental consent: Age of consent in Washington State for mental health services is 13. Youth ages 13-17 may request services without parental consent. Parents may provide consent for parent-initiated services. RCW 71.34.500
Youth privacy: All telehealth providers working with DEEL meet the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Provider qualifications: Tele-therapy service providers practicing in Washington state must be licensed in compliance with Washington State requirements, ex: LMHC-(A), LICSW-(A), LMFT-(A), Psychologist etc. WAC (246) 341-0515: WAC (246) 341-0520:
Evidence-based care: Providers are utilizing a variety of evidence-based practices including, screening, assessments, referrals, care coordination, consultations, psychoeducational approaches, and individual, group or family sessions.
Digital equity: DEEL is partnering with Seattle Parks & Recreation to provide space and equipment for youth to access telehealth services at appropriately safe and confidential spaces.
Questions?
To access free mental health care: please contact our partner providers directly, at the contacts listed above.
If you or someone you know is in distress or crisis: King County Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has trained staff who can respond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call or text 988. You can also chat with them at 988lifeline.org
If you have additional questions, please contact us at:
Email: youthmentalhealth@seattle.gov
Phone: (206) 233-5118
Language assistance is available.
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提供语言协助。
Kaalmada luqadda waa laga heli karaa.
Gargaarsi afaanii ni jira.
Hay asistencia disponible en varios idiomas.
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Có sẵn hỗ trợ bằng ngôn ngữ.
Related Programs
View other Resources and Programs for Seattle Teens & Young Adults