Effective mental health support in schools can lead to significant improvements in students’ emotional and psychological well-being, which is closely linked to their academic success and overall development.
Providence’s Well Being Trust has several initiatives dedicated to increasing access to school-based mental health support throughout the Providence seven-state footprint.
One recent example is in the Puget Sound region, taking place in the Renton School District (RSD). Through a partnership between Providence and Seattle Sounders FC to improve mental health resources for youth, Providence’s Well Being Trust is supporting efforts to increase access to services for the 15,000 students in the district.
In collaborating with Seattle Sounders FC, Work2BeWell, and Hazel Health,
Providence’s Well Being Trust has supported efforts to help thousands of students:
- Gain access mental health support at no cost via virtual therapy;
- Learn about mental health by attending in-person and virtual events using the Work2BeWell curriculum;
- Foster a culture to prioritize their mental well-being and support their friends.
Check out the recap of the impact of this work throughout the 2023-24 school year!
Virtual Mental Health Services – 2,000 sessions completed in first year
Students in RSD in all grade levels are able to partake in tele-mental health therapy sessions during regular school hours and at home – an important step in increasing mental health access and getting youth the mental health support they need. Providence’s Well Being Trust is honored to support this effort, which allows these services to be provided at no cost to the 15,000 students in the district.
This past school year was the first full one where virtual services were made available for all Renton students. In that time, more than 2,000 therapy sessions were completed.
In-school programming sheds light on anxiety and depression
A key component in teaching students about mental health is meeting them where they are. In-school programming within the RSD this past school year included six assemblies and 26 classroom lessons, including ones on self-care, anxiety, depression, and positive affirmations, in middle and high schools. Additional activities included student symposiums, lunchtime learning opportunities, staff trainings, and a suicide prevention awareness walk.
This abundance of learning opportunities in the district wouldn’t be possible without Work2BeWell, whose presence has been notable in not only helping students, but also letting their voices be heard when it comes to what they need and how they can contribute to the effort.
Seattle Sounders FC and Providence Team Up for Student Well-Being
Seattle Sounders FC is prominent in Puget Sound’s sports culture, and their involvement in the work to improve youth mental health is enlightening and empowering for students. Through its charitable partner RAVE Foundation, multiple mini pitches featuring – soccer play spaces providing youth the opportunity to experience physical and mental health benefits through play and sport – have been completed in Renton. The most recent was celebrated on July 23 at Tiffany Park in partnership with Seattle Storm and the City of Renton along with Providence Swedish, King County Parks and Symetra.
“Providence and Sounders FC are both headquartered in Renton, and the city is in the fabric of both our organizations,” said Dr. Arpan Waghray, CEO of Providence’s Well Being Trust. “As such, this work is imperative for the schools and families we also call our neighbors. Enhancing the mental health of Renton students and greater community is very much a home project that both organizations highly value.”
Seattle Sounders FC has also hosted RSD students and staff for mental health themed Match Day takeovers, their Renton training facility opening, and the We Can Be Well mental wellness panel that featured U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. Current Sounders Defender Alex Roldan and former Sounders player and current ambassador Brad Evans have been two key figures at events and in student mental health messaging.
A Word From Dr. Shannon Harvey, Deputy Superintendent of Renton School District
“Mental health support in schools continues to be a prominent need in districts across the country,” says Shannon Harvey, EdD, Deputy Superintendent of Renton School District. “The work with Providence, Seattle Sounders FC, Providence’s Well Being Trust, and Work2BeWell puts mental health in the forefront of not only students, but also staff, parents and guardians, and community members.
It’s so exciting to see what we accomplished this past school year, and I’m looking forward to seeing how many more students we can serve. Every student deserves quality mental health and support.”
Learn more about the Providence and Seattle Sounders FC partnership to address the youth mental health crisis.
