Scenic natural beauty is pervasive in the state of Washington. However, adolescents and young adults are just as likely to experience mental health problems as in any other state. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 1.2 million adults in Washington have a mental health disorder. The offspring of parents living with a mental illness are at far higher risk of developing one than those with parents not afflicted with a mental illness. Depression and anxiety have increased nationwide in youth as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic – and this is also the case in Washington. Furthermore, an increase in youth substance abuse has also occurred. Described below are the five best mental health treatment centers for teenagers and young adults in Washington.
1) Seattle Children’s Hospital (Seattle, WA)
Inpatient mental health treatment is provided by the Psychiatric and Behavioral Medicine department of this hospital for youth aged 3-18 in the 41-bed Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Unit (PBMU). Offered to patients is short-term inpatient care during a mental health crisis. Meanwhile, outpatient mental health services are provided in various clinics, including the following:
- Autism Center (providing services to people with Autism Spectrum Disorder [ASD] from 15 months – 21 years of age);
- Behavioral Health Crisis Care Clinic;
- Mood and Anxiety Program (providing services to youth aged 6-18);
The Psychiatric and Behavioral Medicine team works with children and teenagers with a range of emotional, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental issues, such as ADHD, anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, and psychotic disorders. Notably, they have clinicians who specialize in working with deaf (or hard-of-hearing) youth who have mental health concerns.
Payment Options: Diverse types of health insurance are accepted (as well as self-pay).
2. Newport Academy (2 inpatient and 1 outpatient site in the Seattle, WA area)
This mental health treatment center specializes in providing services to teens and young adults, and its primary focus is on psychological, behavioral, and/or substance abuse issues. In Washington (WA), Newport Academy provides both inpatient (residential) and outpatient mental health care. Located near Seattle (and surrounded by picturesque forests and mountainous shore-lines), the residential programs are gender-specific with one for males and the other for females. The outpatient program is located in the suburb of Kirkland (which is 14 miles east of Seattle). It is tailored for teens who are experiencing anxiety, depression, substance abuse, or other mental health concerns. Besides therapy sessions, experiential activities are offered at the outpatient teen mental health program (including such activities as art/music therapy, yoga therapy, Adventure Therapy, and excursions to nearby scenic places such as Lake Washington).
Payment Options: Diverse types of health insurance are accepted (as well as self-pay).
3) Behavioral Health Resources (Olympia, WA)
This outpatient mental health center is a multi-county provider of mental health and addiction recovery services, and it serves children, teenagers, and adults. Its Children, Youth, and Family Services Program (CYFSP) has a highly-trained clinical team specializing in providing age-appropriate mental and behavioral health services for individuals and families who are struggling with a variety of mental health issues (such as depression, grief and loss, trauma, anxiety, behavioral issues, and ADHD). CYFSP clients and families participate in designing and implementing their plan for treatment, and services may include individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, education and skill building, case management, and/or medication management.
Payment Options: Diverse types of health insurance are accepted (as well as self-pay).
4) MultiCare Takoma General Hospital (Takoma, WA)
This 27-bed mental health unit in Takoma General Hospital provides inpatient mental health care to teens aged 13-17. It is designed for brief, acute stays of 7–10 days. This unit was designed as an inviting space with private rooms and open social areas, while also including state-of-the-art safety features to protect patients and staff. The collaborative mental health care team is composed of pediatric and mental health experts (including psychiatrists, psychiatric advanced RNs, other RNs, lead psychologist, social workers, mental health professionals, and mental health technicians). The unit’s treatment program is based on Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) and recovery principles – valuing the empowerment of teens to play an active role in their behavioral health stabilization.
Payment Options: Diverse types of health insurance are accepted (as well as self-pay).
5) Sea Mar Community Health Centers (Seattle, WA)
As a state-licensed community mental health agency, Sea Mar Community Health Centers provides mental health care to children, teenagers, and adults. They also meet all state of WA requirements for providing court-mandated services. Offered by their behavioral health clinic in Seattle (and at other locations in WA) are the following outpatient services:
- Assessment/evaluation for mental health disorders;
- Case management for youth and adults;
- Psychiatric medication assessments and management for youth and adults;
- Individual therapy;
- Group therapy;
- Family therapy
This community health center (including Seattle Behavioral Health Clinic) provides services to clients of any age, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation, and regardless of income, occupation, gender, immigration status, or citizenship status.
Payment Options: Diverse types of public and private health insurance are accepted. This health center provides services regardless of a patient’s ability to pay and – for uninsured and under-insured patients – it offers a sliding fee scale determined by household size and income.
Risk of “Dropping Out” of High School or College and Mental Health Conditions
Teens who do not complete high school and young adult “college drop-outs” are disproportionately those with mental health and/or substance use disorders. Among teenagers who “drop out” of high school, over 20% end their education because of early-onset psychiatric disorders – and especially mood disorders (such as clinical depression or Bipolar Disorder). Study findings published in the Journal of Adolescent Health in 2018 found that at least one high school “drop-out” of every four had symptoms of depression beginning three months prior to halting their education. Unemployment or low-wage employment is the typical consequence for young adults who quit high school before receiving their high school diploma.
If you are a teen or young adult who has a mental health or substance use problem – or the parent of a teen or young adult with such a problem – it is vital to seek help before the problem causes you to make choices that will be permanently harmful to your future adult options.
