Seattle Mayor Unveils $2 Million Plan for Youth Safety and Mental Health

Seattle Mayor Proposes New Plan to Address Youth Mental Health and Gun Violence
SEATTLE — Mayor Bruce Harrell has announced a comprehensive strategy to bolster youth mental health and combat gun violence in the city. This plan includes an Executive Order allocating $2 million specifically for violence prevention and intervention initiatives.
The announcement follows the tragic shooting of 17-year-old Amarr Murphy-Paine outside Garfield High School, which has deeply affected the community.
Key components of the proposal include:

• A $10 million allocation from Seattle’s mid-year supplemental budget to enhance youth mental health and safety.
• $2.4 million dedicated to expanding telehealth therapy services, increasing access from 80 to over 2,000 students.
• Immediate and long-term actions under Executive Order 2024-01, such as:
  • A "100 Days of Action" campaign focused on violence prevention.
  • $2 million dedicated to youth violence prevention.
  • Enhanced safety measures around schools including increased police presence, CCTV cameras, and patrols.
  • Better identification of at-risk students.
  • A commissioned report to track firearms and improve partnerships for addressing illegal guns.
  • Advocacy for state-level changes to firearm safety regulations.
    These measures aim to address the concerns highlighted by a survey of 10th graders, which revealed that 19% feel unsafe at school and 12% believe handguns are accessible. The initiative underscores the city’s commitment to improving youth and community safety.