Seattle Sounders, Providence working to improve mental health in Renton School District

In America, one out of every three teens experience mental health issues on a regular basis, and suicide is the leading cause of death among high school and college students with more than 3,000 high school students attempting it every day. It’s a problem that accelerated over the pandemic and won’t slow down without proactive solutions. 

To help combat this devastating crisis, Providence and Sounders FC forged partnership to address and enhance youth mental health. A key component of this project includes a focus on improving mental health and wellness in local schools, starting with the Renton School District.

Photo credit: Seattle Sounders FC

Recently, the partnership has yielded great progress for the district, including the announcement of a mini pitch by RAVE Foundation opening in Renton this August and a mental health assembly at Talley High School, where student leaders delivered the Self Care Work2BeWell curriculum to their peers, and students and staff heard from Sounders brand ambassador and former player Brad Evans on how he takes care of his mental health now vs during his playing career. 

Offering Social Emotional Learning and mental health services to students has been a long-term priority for the Renton School District, which has already committed significant resources to this effort, but understands the growth of the crisis warrants more attention. The goal of this partnership is to build on this existing foundation by filling key gaps so that a comprehensive system of mental health support is available to every student in the district.

Mental health assembly at Talley High School in Skyway, WA
Credit: Seattle Sounders FC

“When we support the mental health needs of our youth, we can change the course of their lives for the better; when we do this for every child in need, we change the trajectory of the communities we serve, said Arpan Waghray, CEO, Providence’s Well Being Trust, a foundation dedicated to advancing mental health and well-being for all. 

Providence’s Well Being Trust is honored to help drive this important work that advances the mental health and well-being of our youth, and we look forward to supporting the expansion of this work to other communities in our region and beyond.  

Learn more about the partnership between Providence and the Sounders.  

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