A teenager in the Tri-Cities area of Washington has faced repeated arrests, hospitalizations, and failed attempts at treatment over the past two years, while his mother struggles to find help. His story, shared in a recent article by Cory McCoy of the Tri-City Herald, highlights a serious issue within Washington state’s youth mental health system.
Currently, Washington has only 109 inpatient beds for youth statewide, despite nearly one million people aged 10 to 19 living in the state. This means there is far less space than needed for young people seeking mental health care.
The system’s failure is especially evident in emergency rooms, particularly in rural areas where help can be hours away. Families often have to wait months for treatment, watching their children’s conditions worsen. Gordon Cable from Greater Columbia Behavioral Health describes the wait times of three to seven months as “almost unconscionable.”
The lack of proper care has devastating effects on families. While some can temporarily move to larger cities like Seattle or Spokane for treatment, most cannot. This often leads to involvement with the criminal justice system, which is no substitute for proper mental health care.
Untreated mental health issues in adolescence can lead to long-term health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. It also affects academic performance, with students missing school and struggling with grades due to a lack of support.
A new mental health facility, the Columbia Valley Center for Recovery in Kennewick, is set to open, but it won’t offer services until 2028, leaving many teens in need without immediate help. The community can’t afford to wait that long.
Some programs are available, like the Youth Access and Resource Program in the Tri-Cities, which helps families navigate the mental health system, but they are limited by a lack of resources.
As lawmakers prepare to return to Olympia, they must act quickly. First, emergency funding should be provided to create temporary mental health facilities in rural areas. Second, private insurance policies should be reformed to allow easier access to state programs, as the current system often forces families to wait until their child is in crisis.
Communities should also explore converting existing buildings into temporary youth treatment centers, as has been done successfully in other parts of the state. While this requires investment, the cost of doing nothing is much greater.
Every day without action means more teens in crisis, more families in distress, and more strain on communities. Washington’s young people deserve better care and attention now.