SPOKANE, Wash. — On World Mental Health Day, mental health advocates are emphasizing the critical message: “It’s okay not to be okay, and you are not alone.” This message resonates deeply amid concerning statistics about mental health and suicide, particularly among young people.
According to the Washington Department of Health, suicide is the second leading cause of death for individuals aged 10 to 24 in the state. In an effort to address this crisis, resources such as the nationwide 988 crisis line have been launched to connect individuals in distress with the help they need. Data from August indicates that over 9,500 calls were made to the line in Washington, with more than 1,600 calls in Idaho, both showing significant increases from previous months.
“We are headed towards short days, cold days, a time in the year where our kids are back at school and starting to experience things like bullying and peer pressure,” said Samantha Clark, a representative from MultiCare Behavioral Health Clinic in Spokane. “When you combine that with the weather, a lot of people who feel things like depression or anxiety, their symptoms actually get a lot worse as the seasons start to change, and we know that behavioral health is still as an industry experiencing significant workforce shortage and wait times can be long.”
Clark emphasized the importance of creating safe spaces for open conversations about mental health and urged people to check in on their loved ones.
“It is so important that we’re creating safe places for our family and our friends to talk to us about what they’re experiencing. It’s true that mental health services are instrumental, they’re lifesaving. You could save a life. You can also save a life by just asking someone you care about how they are feeling. What can I do to better support you?” Clark said.
With pressures from social media and the political climate contributing to heightened anxiety, especially among youth, Clark encouraged families to prioritize screen-free time and engage in meaningful activities together.
“I think it’s so important that parents, adults, guardians, have some screen-free time at home, make connections, have no phones at the dinner table, find a hobby, find a sport, go outside, get some vitamin D and some sunshine, and have meaningful conversations with your kids where they can break free of that fake picture that social media places in their minds about how life should look for a young person,” Clark said.
If you or someone you know needs mental health services, please contact the Regional Crisis Line at 877-266-1818.
