SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced the launch of HearMeWA Tuesday, a new first-of-its-kind statewide reporting system addressing the safety and well-being of young people. In a release, Ferguson said HearMeWA will help young Washingtonians with bullying, mental health struggles, social pressures, suicidal thoughts, domestic violence, housing or food insecurity, gender identity, thoughts of violence, or things that make life difficult. The new reporting system offers young people a direct line to a national crisis center 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Ferguson said reports can be made by phone, text, online , or in HearMeWA mobile apps available in the Apple or Google stores. Once a report is filed, highly trained crisis counselors triage and connect the person with service providers who can help. Ferguson's office said HearMeWA is the first-ever program to offer these services statewide instead of relying solely on schools or 911 to respond.
The new reporting system will be an alternative for kids living in rural communities, which often only have emergency services for crises. “Young Washingtonians are facing a mental health crisis unlike anything we have seen before,” Ferguson said. “HearMeWA removes roadblocks that previously kept young people from seeking help for their most urgent challenges.
This will improve — and save — lives.” The idea behind HearMeWA started after planning at a kitchen table in the Tri-Cities, the release said. After s.
