Supporting Recovery Throughout the Pandemic

National Recovery Month is celebrated in the U.S. each September to promote access to recovery, celebrate those participating in services, and educate communities about overcoming the barriers of stigma and discrimination.

Together as a community, we remember that behavioral health is essential to overall health and wellness and that prevention works, treatment is effective, and people do recover.

The City's Department of Youth and Family Services (YFS) provides community-wide substance abuse prevention and mental health promotion services via the Healthy Youth Initiative. Derek Franklin, YFS Clinical Supervisor encourages us to connect during these unprecedented times, "I hope Recovery Month serves as a reminder that an important part of getting through the COVID-19 pandemic is to focus on personal connections, grow resiliency, set aside any stigma around seeking help, and get support for mental health or substance use issues - we're all in this together."

YFS outpatient mental health counselors and school-based counselors provide mental health treatment and substance abuse intervention and referral. Mercer Island residents seeking services or information are encouraged to connect with YFS at (206) 275-7611 or www.mercerisland.gov/yfs or contact their child's YFS school counselor directly.