Mental health pilot program at Seattle schools is working, but challenges remain

Officials say they are seeing results from a pilot program that began last year to provide enhanced mental health services for students at a handful of Seattle schools. But they say the need for those services across the district remains high.

Program administrators with Seattle's Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) presented an update to the City Council Thursday morning, highlighting the mental health program's impact within the Seattle Public School District.

With a $4.5 million investment from the Seattle City Council, the mental health pilot has already shown promising results in its first year, according to Tony Chapelle, director of DEEL.

"These investments are already reducing disciplinary action in schools and giving students a greater sense of understanding of their emotions," Chapelle said. He emphasized the program's role in addressing the heightened mental health challenges exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

But Chapelle said challenges remain. One in five young people still experience depressive feelings, he said.

"This is something we seek to address,” Chapelle said.

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Chris Alejano, K-12 post-secondary division director at DEEL, outlined the objectives of the $4.5 million project.

“We're attempting to expand student mental health services in Seattle Public Schools, and of course, we also [want] to make the most of the limited resources,” Alejano said.

Alejano said the program has implemented a comprehensive mental health support continuum, incorporating direct clinical care, assessments like the strengths and difficulties questionnaire, and efforts to bolster social-emotional learning.

He also highlighted the importance of early intervention in improving mental health outcomes for young people.

The pilot program offers in-person mental health services to enrolled public school students during the week, and sometimes on Saturdays. On-campus access to mental health care enables students to develop healthy identities and manage their emotions effectively and helps reduce the stigma of seeking mental health support.

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The pilot program started in the 2023-24 school year in five Seattle Public Schools, including Aki Kurose and Denny International middle schools, along with Rainier Beach and Ingraham high schools. In the second year of the piot, which starts this fall, the program is adding mental health services at Cleveland and Garfield high schools.

Amelia Moore, strategy and engagement manager at DEEL, said services are tailored to meet the unique needs of each school.

“Ingram's approach was very targeted," Moore said. "It focused on developing a protocol to identify students at the greatest risk and then connecting them to clinical services.”

Moore said the pilot employs three strategies — mental health counseling, screening and referral, and prevention work. She said those three areas combine "to create an integrative model of mental health care across the school.”

Despite its successes, the program faces challenges such as funding limitations and a shortage of culturally competent mental health clinicians.

Only a fraction of the district's more than 50,000 students currently benefit from the pilot, but program managers say they hope to expand its impact this fall at the seven schools currently being served.

Looking ahead, program officials say they plan to enhance tracking and data collection and to refine program strategies and expand impact on student mental health across Seattle Public Schools.