By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Last Saturday, Seattle’s Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) hosted a youth wellness fair to highlight the importance of mental and physical health for young people and celebrate the city’s growing network of student support services. The event, held in the Beacon Hill neighborhood, featured a mix of community resource booths, student-led demonstrations, and a keynote address by former Seattle Seahawks player Ray Roberts.
According to officials, the fair aimed to connect Seattle youth with free health and wellness resources while reinforcing the city’s commitment to supporting mental health as a foundation for academic achievement and overall well-being. With offerings ranging from on-site telehealth services to culturally responsive counseling, the event served as both a celebration and a catalyst for continued action.
“I’ve been supporting and overseeing implementation of the city’s investment in youth mental health and thrilled to be at this event today to spread the word about the different free resources that are available to all Seattle youth, ages 13 to 24,” said Amelia Moore, strategy and engagement manager with DEEL. “And part of the reason I’m so excited is that the reason that we’re able to offer these resources is really due to youth activism, youth were demanding more resources to support their mental health, and we were able to meet that.”
Ray Roberts, the event’s featured guest speaker, shared personal experience with mental health struggles as a way to connect with youth and encourage open conversations about seeking help.
“This event is important to me because I’ve had my own mental health battles and struggles, and through that, I’ve learned that there’s a lot of people, especially young people that struggle in silence. And this is my way of bringing attention to it,” said Roberts.
In addition to speakers, the fair featured booths from eight community service providers and three live demonstrations by youth groups and wellness professionals. These interactive elements gave attendees direct access to mental health tools and professionals in a welcoming, community-centered environment.
According to Moore, one of the clearest messages from young people was the importance of having choices when seeking mental health care. “That was the main thing we heard from youth was the importance of choice when selecting someone to go to to help support their mental health,” said Moore.
To meet that need, DEEL collaborated with six community-based organizations that offer culturally specific and responsive services.
“Many of them have different focuses on different student populations and are able to match them with therapists who share their identity, who understand their lived experience,” said Moore.
These partnerships are part of a larger citywide strategy to make mental health care more accessible and relevant—particularly for communities that have been historically underserved.
The growing need for youth mental health support is reflected in data from Seattle Public Schools:
• Approximately 30% of students report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.
• One in five high school students has seriously considered suicide.
• Students of color and LGBTQ+ youth are more likely to face mental health challenges.
• Only half of students with identified mental health needs receive appropriate support.
• The district has increased its mental health staffing by 25% over the past three years.
• School counselors are reporting significantly higher rates of anxiety and depression among students.
In response, DEEL has expanded its partnership with Public Health – Seattle & King County and now supports School-Based Health Centers in 21 public middle and high schools. Each center includes at least one dedicated mental health clinician, with recent funding allowing additional staff to be added across all school sites.
“We heard from youth that they wanted additional clinical supports in their school. So, we’ve now added additional clinicians to all of the middle and high school sites. They now have in-house clinicians,” said Moore.
Moore also noted that all of these services are available free of charge to Seattle youth between the ages of 13 and 24.
“As you can see by the different providers in the room, we have eight different telehealth providers, so we really wanted to give youth choice,” said Moore.
For Roberts, the event was more than just a speaking engagement. It was a chance to meet with young people directly and advocate for open, honest conversations around mental wellness.
“Being a part of events like this, supporting our community, we are supporting and providing resources and letting people know about the resources, because it’s truly life changing,” said Roberts. “Just being able to have a conversation with someone can save a life. And so that’s why that’s important to me.”
