This September, I found myself deeply inspired by the power of community partnerships to advance SOUND Behavioral Health’s mission of hope, healing, and recovery. Time and time again, I am reminded that when we join forces with others who share our values, the results are transformative – not just for our organization, but for the communities we serve.
Earlier in the month, we celebrated the ribbon-cutting of a new integrated International Community Health Services (ICHS) Community Health Services (ICHS) clinic at our SOUND Auburn location. This milestone brings primary care, dental, and behavioral health services together under one roof, creating more accessible and comprehensive care for our neighbors. The ICHS Auburn Clinic came to fruition through our longstanding relationship with ICHS. Over many years, we – and our teams – have shared a commitment to using healthcare as a pathway to support our most vulnerable neighbors. This clinic is a tangible example of the power of that shared vision.
We also launched our SOUND Activation Station at Southcenter Mall, designed to bring resources and conversations about behavioral health directly into the community. In partnership with Southcenter Mall, and in recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day, we hosted a pop-up table inside the mall. By meeting people where they are, we created a welcoming space for shoppers to pause, access educational materials on suicide prevention, and learn more about SOUND’s services. This effort reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting the South King County community by raising awareness, sparking conversation, and connecting people with vital resources.
Looking ahead, our upcoming Sound of Hope Gala Sound of Hope Gala will be another opportunity to gather with our community of supporters and partners to amplify SOUND’s mission. With the theme Open Hearts, Open Doors, this special evening will feature dinner, powerful mission-driven stories, a fundraising auction, and live entertainment. I hope to see many of your names on the RSVP list in the weeks to come as we gather to celebrate and sustain this vital work that keeps our communities safe and thriving.
While systemic challenges in access to and funding for behavioral health services persist, I remain hopeful and encouraged. Our resilience is strengthened by the network of compassionate partners who stand alongside us. Together, we continue to build more equitable, accessible systems of care and to advocate for behavioral health services that meet the needs of our communities.
Thank you for standing with SOUND, this month and always. Your support transforms lives and ensures that hope, healing, and recovery are within reach for everyone who walks through our Orange Door.
Most 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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