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This month, we’re highlighting concerns and new initiatives in youth behavioral health. Problem Gambling Awareness Month raises concerns about the growing impact of gambling on youth, while World Bipolar Day promotes understanding and support for those affected. We also spotlight the Thunderbird Treatment and Recovery Center, a new facility prioritizing family-centered care, and updates on Apple Health reimbursement for infant and early childhood mental health services.
Read on for key resources, upcoming events, and training opportunities!
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March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM), a time to shine a spotlight on the risks of gambling and its growing impact on youth. As gambling becomes more accessible through online platforms and mobile apps, young people are increasingly exposed to the temptation of betting. This shift in how gambling is marketed and consumed presents a serious risk to their mental and emotional well-being.
In Washington, over 10% of students in 8, 10, and 12th grade report gambling on the 2023 Healthy Youth Survey. And numbers for all groups increased from the previous survey in 2021.
Advertisements make gambling seem glamorous, creating a false sense of excitement around betting. People under 25 may not fully understand the dangers of gambling or its addictive nature, making them vulnerable to developing unhealthy habits at any early age. Studies show that people under 18 who gamble are at twice the risk of becoming problem gamblers as adults.
Problem Gambling Awareness Month serves as an opportunity to educate both young people and their families about the warning signs and potential consequences of gambling. Parents, schools, and communities must work together to raise awareness, ensuring that young people understand the risks involved and have access to resources for help if needed.
Prevention efforts, including parental discussions about the potential harms of gambling and limiting screen time, can reduce risks later in life. Those looking for more information on youth gambling in Washington can Youth Have the Power, hosted by our partners at the Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling.
If you would like more information about problem gambling prevention efforts at Health Care Authority, contact Jeremy Whitaker, Problem Gambling Prevention Coordinator.
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Washington Thriving is a collaborative statewide effort to develop a strategic plan that will transform the behavioral health system for children, youth, and young adults from birth through age 25.
HCA is dedicated to engaging in Community Awareness, Resources, and Education (CARE) on First Episode Psychosis.
This free, two-day virtual conference will take place on April 29 and 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
We are excited to announce our keynote and special speakers for this year’s event:
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Esmé Weijun Wang: Esmé’s New York Times-bestselling essay collection, The Collected Schizophrenias, won the Graywolf Nonfiction Prize and the Whiting Award for Nonfiction.
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Megan Jisho Caughey: Meghan Jisho McDonald Caughey, M.F.A. is an artist, musician, poet, teacher, and mental health activist and author of the award-winning book, Mudflower: Surviving Suicide and Schizophrenia through Art.
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Pat Deegan: Patricia E. Deegan Ph.D. is a founder of Pat Deegan & Associates. For over 30 years Pat has been a thought leader and disruptive innovator in the field of behavioral health recovery.
Learn more about these wonderful speakers and their talks.
Washington State Community Connectors and HCA are offering travel stipends for individuals affected by First Episode Psychosis and their loved ones to attend the 35th Annual Washington Behavioral Healthcare Conference in Kennewick, WA, from June 11-13, 2025.
What’s Covered?
- Travel, lodging, and per diem
- Conference registration
Who Can Apply?
- Individuals affected by a First Episode of Psychosis
- Family members or natural supports
- New Journeys participants are especially encouraged to apply!
Applicants must be 18+. If you need accessibility accommodations, please include details in your application.
Deadline: March 31, 2025
- Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis
The University of Washington is conducting interviews to better understand how adults experience medical care, treatment, support services, and medication management for alcohol use disorder. Your insights will help improve how care options are discussed through shared decision-making.
They are especially interested in hearing from women, pregnant and parenting individuals, trans-identifying, and non-binary people.
Join us for a free Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) series designed for behavioral health providers. Learn evidence-based strategies to engage families, motivate clients toward treatment, and support positive behavior change. Sessions are tailored for specific provider roles but open to all.
Register today:
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Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes significant shifts in mood, energy, and perception, affecting daily life and well-being. According to data from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R), an estimated 4.4% of adults in the U.S. experience bipolar disorder at some point in their lives, while approximately 2.9% of young people aged 13-18 are affected. Although the condition typically emerges in late adolescence or early adulthood, cases in younger children are less common.
Formerly known as “manic depression,” bipolar disorder remains widely misunderstood and stigmatized. The mood changes associated with bipolar disorder are much more intense and disruptive than the everyday emotional ups and downs that most people experience. Individuals may go through periods of deep depression as well as episodes of extreme energy and impulsivity, known as mania.
Diagnosing bipolar disorder can be complex, as many individuals first experience prolonged episodes of depression before showing signs of mania or other mood-related psychosis. This can lead to delays in receiving the right diagnosis and care. Recognizing patterns of mood shifts, seeking mental health screenings, and working with specialists trained in mood disorders are important steps toward an accurate diagnosis. If you or someone you know is experiencing persistent changes in mood, energy, or behavior, reaching out to a healthcare provider, psychiatrist, or mental health specialist can help ensure early intervention and appropriate treatment.
New Journeys teams are trained to recognize and assess symptoms of serious mental illness, including conditions that involve mood-related psychosis. While New Journeys is designed to support individuals experiencing early signs of psychosis, their teams can also help connect individuals with the appropriate care pathways for mood disorders, including bipolar disorder. To learn more or find resources, visit the New Journeys website.
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Individuals with substance use disorders (SUD), including pregnant and/or parenting women (PPW), may receive treatment at residential treatment facilities. In some cases, children may live with their parents in these facilities while the parents receives care. Dyadic care, meaning care that supports both the parent and child together, is an important goal of this work because a parent’s health and recovery directly impacts their child’s well-being. Through surveys and focus groups in 2023 and 2024, PPW residential treatment providers shared with HCA that there is a lack of clarity about Apple Health reimbursement for medically necessary mental health services for these children. Over the past year, HCA staff reviewed authorizing documents and consulted with subject matter experts. HCA recently released guidance to PPW residential providers that clarifies how to bill for these services and provides additional resources about infant-early childhood mental health services. This guidance is an exciting example of how collaboration across adult- and child-serving systems can help families receive the support they need together.
The Seattle Indian Health Board (SIHB) invested $36 million dollars into a state-of-the-art 92-bed residential treatment and recovery facility located on Vashon Island, Washington. The facility is scheduled to open its doors in late 2025 and will provide support for those individuals seeking recovery. While SIHB primarily serves American Indian and Alaska Native communities, its services, including those at the Thunderbird Treatment and Recovery Center, are available to all individuals, regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or ability to pay. A unique feature of Thunderbird treatment and recovery center is its goal to keep families safely together. Fifteen treatment beds will be designed for pregnant or parenting adults, allowing them to remain with their young children (0-5) while completing the program.
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Stay informed and connected with the latest resources and updates on behavioral health services for prenatal, child, and young adult care. Visit our website for more information on the programs and support available.
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