May is Mental Health Awareness Month which is designed to raise awareness of trauma and the impact it can have on the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of children, families, and communities. This week is also GiveBIG 2024. GiveBIG is a statewide fundraising campaign where individuals and organizations come together across Washington to invest in our communities. When we give, we take a proactive step towards creating the society we want to live in.
In the spirit of Mental Health Awareness Month and Give Big 2024, I'd like to share two impactful stories of people living with mental health disorders who found help, support and recovery at Sound.
Anthony, a 16-year-old previously diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder was homeless and living at Mary’s Place when he had challenges that resulted in being admitted to Seattle Children’s Hospital. Upon discharge he was referred to Sound’s Wraparound Intensive Services (W.I.S.e.) Thanks to W.I.S.e., Anthony was no longer lost in a broken system, one in which he’d been written off as a “bad kid.” By having a team navigate the system with him, he and his mom became empowered to use the resources available to them. At the same time, Anthony’s therapist at Sound created structure and boundaries while treating him with unconditional positive regard. One year later, Anthony is making positive choices to invest in himself, connect with his peers and seek out trusted adults at school. Anthony recently shared with his therapist a few aspirations he’d written forhimself. They included, “You are a survivor not a lost cause,” and “You are unique and cannot be replaced.”
Similarly, Ellen was struggling when she was connected to the Clean Start program, part of Sound’s Belltown clinic. She was 51, homeless, and suffering from mental health and substance use disorders (SUD). Upon enrolling with Sound’s Adult Mental HealthServices, she was connected with a case manager, a psychiatrist, and a SUD counselor. Initially, Ellen was inconsistent about taking her medications and coming to her appointments, but as she became more motivated, she became more engaged, eventually attending group meetings and socializing with other clients. Her engagement and growing sense of community were critical to her recovery. Because of the care she received atSound, Ellen has been clean and sober for seven years and she is no longer homeless. Ellen loves talking about her journey to get to where she is today.
Anthony and Ellen are just two examples of individuals dealing with Mental Health and Substance Use challenges. There are countless others in our community that need our support. We can do more with your help. Your generosity will allow us to hire more clinicians, do more outreach, and provide more care to thousands more people in need. As we observe Mental Health Awareness month, now is the time to give BIG. Please consider donating to Sound today, your support matters.
Sincerely,
Katrina Egner
Sound President & CEO
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.
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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.
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Just a few short weeks ago, SOUND Behavioral Health welcomed more than 400 community members, partners, and supporters to Fremont Studios for the annual SOUND of Hope Gala — an evening dedicated to expanding access to mental health and substance use services across King County.
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