Tips & Info

Youth mental health issues are common — learn more

Snohomish County is supporting families’ needs regarding youth mental health, and shares the following statistics:

Mental Health Issues are Common in Children and Teens

According to the US Surgeon General:

  • One in five children will suffer from a diagnosable mental health condition each year.
  • One in ten kids will have symptoms that are significant enough to seriously affect their functioning in school, at home, and in the community.

In any given year, only 20% of children with mental illness are identified and receive mental health services. Some reasons can include:

  • The stigma often associated with mental illness.
  • Lack of knowledge regarding mental health issues.
  • Difficulty accessing or paying for services.

Kids who do not receive the care they need are:

  • More likely to struggle in school.
  • Less likely to graduate from high school.
  • Likely to have difficult family and social relationships and are at a higher risk for family and social conflicts.
  • At higher risk for delinquency.

The county is coordinating its first Children & Youth Mental Wellness Fair, a FREE event taking place on Saturday, May 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Evergreen Middle School, 7621 Beverly Lane in Everett. There will be drop-in presentations on a number of mental health topics, movies, music and speaker/former NFL player Trent Shelton.  View the flyer in English or the flyer in Spanish for more details.