Executive Constantine unveils new national report to tackle mental health crisis
King County Executive Dow Constantine was in Hillsborough County, Fla. last week to unveil a new report from the National Association of Counties (NACo) aimed at improving mental health outcomes and policies.
NACo’s Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing, which Executive Constantine co-chairs, released its final report on Saturday, titled From Crisis to Solutions: Policy Catalysts for Improved Outcomes. It contains recommendations for federal policymakers and county leaders to address the nation’s mental health crisis.
“We’ve made substantial progress in promoting our priorities for mental health service and policy reform, but there is a lot more to accomplish,” Executive Constantine said. “This report emphasizes crucial data, effective strategies, and recommendations for government at all levels.”
The impact of the mental health crisis in our communities is devasting. The report notes that nearly one in four U.S. adults ages 18 or older in the U.S. experiences any mental illness each year, with 26 percent of those experiencing a serious mental illness. About one in five adolescents aged 12 to 17 experience a major depressive episode per year. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10-14 and 25-34, and the third leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 15-24.
The report highlights the actions the Commission and counties are taking to meet the mental health needs of their communities. It also urges federal policymakers, local leaders, and stakeholders to support and implement policy reforms that will help address this crisis nationally and locally, including eliminating federal restrictions on Medicaid benefits for incarcerated individuals, and streamlining resources to establish crisis call centers and improve crisis response infrastructure.
Executive Constantine also called out the report’s finding that more needs to be done to create career paths for behavioral health professions, especially in underserved areas, and help to ensure an ample and representative workforce. “It takes people to treat people,” he said.
Executive Constantine and Los Angeles County, Calif. Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who co-chaired the group, urged all county leaders to leverage the report’s findings and recommendations for tackling mental health challenges in their communities. “As the formal work of this commission closes, we implore all county leaders to leverage this report, leverage the work we’ve been doing, and take the lead in tackling mental health issues in every community,” Executive Constantine said. Read the report here.
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5th Avenue Theatre discount tickets for all shows in the upcoming 2024-2025 season
King County employees can receive a 25% discount on all tickets for upcoming 5th Avenue Theatre performances through August 2025.
The upcoming season includes Disney’s Mary Poppins, the Waitress, Bye Bye Birdie, and more. Discounted tickets are also available for the show Clue. View the full lineup and more information here.
To take advantage of this offer, book directly at www.5thavenue.org/seacity. Use the promo code SEACITY to purchase tickets.
See all available employee discounts on the Employee Discount webpage.
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No AC? Can’t open your windows? Here’s how to stay cool
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
When it’s hot outside, it can be miserable inside if you don’t have air conditioning or can’t open your windows. These tips can help when it feels like an oven in your home.
How to reduce the heat inside
- Block the sun with shades, open the shades at night. Curtains and shades can keep your home from heating up. But at night, when lights are out and if you don’t need them for privacy, keep the shades open to let the windows release heat.
- Trap heat with closed doors. If one room gets hotter than other parts of the home, close the doors to keep the heat trapped in that room.
- Turn off the lights. Lights generate heat. Only keep on the lights you really need.
- Limit your electronics use. Home electronics heat up the home, so turn off electronics you aren’t using. Reduce the time you spend using computers, video games, TVs, and other electronics.
- Use your oven or stove less. Cooking with heat increases the temperature inside your home.
- Put a bowl of ice under a fan. The fan can circulate air cooled by the ice.
- Hang blankets over windows. Emergency survival blankets or wraps (the silver type also known as “space blankets”) work well to reflect the heat and typically cost around a dollar at drug stores, outdoor suppliers, or online. You can use painters tape to keep them up and block out the heat. The video below shows how simple it is to do.
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Complete Dependent Eligibility Verification by July 29
To ensure your family members continue their coverage on your King County medical, dental, or vision plan, please verify their eligibility by submitting documentation to Mercer. This dependent eligibility verification process must be completed by July 29, 2024, for each person enrolled to make sure they do not lose coverage on Sept. 30, 2024. The verification process can take a few days so don’t leave it to the last minute! If you have coverage questions, please contact King County Benefits.
Access the Mercer Secure Website to check your verification progress and submit documents. If you haven’t logged in to the Mercer site yet, you will need your Audit ID sent to you by Mercer Consulting by mail and email. If you can’t find your Audit ID, please call Mercer at 866-703-3763. You can also submit paper copies of your documents to Mercer at: Dependent Eligibility Verification, P.O. Box 14585, Des Moines, IA 50306-3585. Be sure to block out personal financial data and Social Security numbers before submitting documents.
More information
- Dependent Eligibility Verification FAQ
- Dependent Eligibility Verification Website Demo
- Overview video: in English, Korean, Punjabi, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Ukrainian, or Vietnamese
- Contact Mercer at 866-703-3763.
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Get to Know: King County’s Behavioral Health Outreach Teams
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections
At King County’s Behavioral Health and Recovery Division, we’re working toward a future where everyone is able to access mental health and substance use care when, where and how they need it. We are also actively bringing care and support to people in the community experiencing behavioral health crises.
Our growing cadre of behavioral health outreach teams go anywhere and everywhere in the County to meet people where they are, offering compassion, support, connections to resources and treatment, medications for opioid use disorder, and more in a culturally responsive way. Read more.
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Loop Truck Shop in North Bend earns LEED Platinum certification
Crossposted from Clean Water Stories
You wouldn’t guess that a semi-truck maintenance facility would be all that tranquil, but on a recent morning in North Bend, the bay doors were open, and the sunshine was pouring in. Between the occasional rumble of a truck firing up, you could hear a woodpecker working on breakfast. Tucked into a thicket of trees just off I-90 sits one of King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division’s newest buildings.
Completed in late 2022 and operational since January 2023, the Loop Vehicle Maintenance Facility (AKA the Loop Truck Shop) has improved our ability to efficiently distribute biosolids to our farm and forestry customers across the state. Read more.
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Look for “KnowBe4” email with cybersecurity training links on July 15
On July 15, King County’s trusted vendor KnowBe4 will send a countywide email with links to cybersecurity training. This is a legit email, not a phishing attempt. Annual cybersecurity training is required for all employees and contractors with access to King County systems. Training must be completed by Dec. 31, 2024.
Cybersecurity training is an important safeguard that helps protect vital King County systems. The number of employees that complete training each year impacts King County’s insurance rates. Total instruction time for the training is about 60 minutes. If employees cannot find the email with the links to their assigned training, they should login to the KnowBe4 website with their work email at https://training.knowbe4.com/ui/login.
Thank you to every employee for doing their part to protect King County. For assistance, contact the KCIT Helpdesk.
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New mindfulness offerings
Mindfulness is the practice of being present and fully engaged with whatever we’re doing at the moment—free from distraction or judgment. It’s a proven method to reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance overall well-being. Balanced You is thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership with mindfulness providers CuriosityBased and SolJoy. This collaboration highlights Balanced You’s dedication to fostering a supportive and inclusive employee well-being program that is in alignment with King County’s values. Learn more.
Supervisors: Here is a printer-friendly PDF with the new Mindfulness Summer 2024 schedule to post at your worksites for employees who do not have access to email.
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Learn about Designated Crisis Responders in King County
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections
When a person is in a mental health or substance use crisis, law enforcement or emergency medical services are often the first to arrive. In some instances, Designated Crisis Responders (DCRs) also come to provide an essential service. DCRs investigate, evaluate, and ultimately decide whether to detain an individual under State statute for involuntary psychiatric or substance abuse care.
People can experience a wide range of behavioral health needs, and with that comes a range of services to respond to these needs. DCRs are a critical part of the continuum of care. So, who are DCRs?
- DCRs are master’s level (or higher) licensed behavioral health clinicians with specialized training in Washington state Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA) law.
- DCRs respond to a behavioral health crisis and balance the individuals needs, their civil rights and public safety, while also considering the least restrictive option available to meet the critical need.
- Per Washington state law, in cases where a person presents with an imminent threat to themselves, others or another’s property or is gravely disabled; DCRs are provided with the authority to place this person on an emergency behavioral health hold.
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Wellness Hero Velda Alexander
Balanced You Wellness Heroes highlights employees doing things to better their lives, the lives of their colleagues, and our community.
Meet Wellness Hero Velda Alexander, King County Metro Transit Operator. In this video she talks about her experience as a Metro bus driver, what keeps her grounded at work, what she does for self-care, and more. Check out the video of Velda below.
We want to hear your stories! If you have a wellness story or want to nominate a fellow co-worker you know to be a Wellness Hero, please send us an email at BalancedYou@kingcounty.gov. Wellness Heroes can be anyone who has used a King County or Balanced You resource to nurture their well-being.
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