What a whirlwind month it has been! November began with an election and a chance to discuss stress management during an interview on Seattle’s KIRO radio and CBS national radio as we all awaited the results. It continued with incredible efforts to launch the Northeast and South King County Mobile Rapid Response Crisis Units, set to begin serving our community later this month. The Seattle Times just published an article featuring SOUND’s role in this new program.
We also celebrated our exceptional, inaugural SOUND of Hope Gala during a stunning event at the Museum of History and Industry in Seattle, where we reintroduced the community to SOUND’s mission and raised crucial funds to expand our work beyond Medicaid reimbursement limits—empowering us to help even more people in need. You can view the video that was shared at the Gala here.
Another wonderful highlight was Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf’s announcement that he has chosen SOUND Behavioral Health’s Deaf Services as his focus in the My Cause My Cleats campaign. On December 1st, DK wore cleats featuring SOUND’s logo, drawing attention to the only deaf behavioral health program in Washington. I was thrilled to join DK and SOUND’s Deaf Services Program Lead Clinician, Heidi Isakson, at the Seahawks ’practice facility several weeks prior to help design the SOUND cleat. We are deeply grateful to DK for championing this vital service.
As we enter into this season of giving, I’d like to highlight a few of the 15,000 lives SOUND will touch in 2024. They include a survivor of unimaginable trauma who has made remarkable strides in healing, an individual overcoming addiction who is now thriving in recovery, and a young adult with a disability who has gained independence and hope for the future.
Stories like theirs remind us of the incredible resilience and potential in everyone we serve. They are but a glimpse into the transformative work happening every day at SOUND’s 16 locations across King County and in homes, shelters, hospitals, and schools. When you make a donation to SOUND you are helping someone live their best life. What could be more meaningful than that?
From all of us at SOUND, thank you for your generosity this holiday season. Wishing you a joyous season filled with peace and meaningful moments with those you cherish.
With gratitude,
Katrina Egner
SOUND President & CEO
SOUND Behavioral Health’s Mobile Rapid Response Crisis Team (MRRCT) was recently highlighted in Latino Herald, spotlighting the lifesaving support available through 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The story highlights how MRRCT provides rapid, in-person response to individuals experiencing behavioral health crises across King County, often arriving within minutes to help stabilize situations and connect people to care. Since launching, the team has expanded its reach and continues to serve more community members in moments when compassionate, immediate support is needed most.
Read more
At SOUND Behavioral Health, we are inspired when young people step up to make a difference in our community. A group of students from Mercer Island High School —Levi Jones, Ronan Buckley, and Connor Flume — have done just that with their initiative, 988 Find Your Peace.Through T-shirts and sweatshirts featuring the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 988, these students are helping normalize conversations about mental health and letting their peers know that support is always available. All profits from their apparel go directly to SOUND, helping us provide critical counseling, crisis intervention, housing support, and recovery services throughout King County.
Read more
When SOUND clinician Marlene Andrews began volunteering at the Sammamish Animal Sanctuary, she noticed something unexpected. The animals, many of them rescued or recovering from neglect, required patience and consistency to build trust – much like the people she supported in her work at SOUND Behavioral Health. That realization planted the seed for what would become SOUND’s Animal Sanctuary program. In partnership with the Sammamish Animal Sanctuary, SOUND’s program is now a thriving part of the organization’s Child and Family Services offerings.
Read more
