September is Recovery Month and this year’s theme is “Recovery is for Everyone: Every Person, Every Family, Every Community.” Balanced You celebrates all those on their recovery journeys and is joining King County’s Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) Behavioral Health and Recovery Division in their shared vision to ensure that everyone in King County has a path to achieving and sustaining recovery so they can live full and healthy lives.
Celebrate Recovery Month
Join DCHS as #KingCountyGoesPurple to spread the message that recovery happens and there is a robust recovery community to support one another. From the DCHS Blog: “Too often, people who experience mental health or substance use challenges can feel isolated and alone. But, in reality, millions of Americans experience these conditions, and over 20 million Americans are in recovery! Ending the silence and stigma around behavioral health is key to helping folks get support and resources on their recovery journey.”
Support Recovery in your Community
If you are looking for a way to support recovery in your community, download the official Recovery Month Toolkit.
Explore the Substance Use & Substance Use Disorder Training and Resource hub from Public Health—Seattle & King County.
Resources and benefits
Balanced You is here to help you understand what online and phone-based resources are available to support you or your loved ones in beginning, returning to, or maintaining recovery.
Insurance benefits for mental health and substance use disorders
Behavioral health and substance use are covered benefits under all King County employee insurance plans. Call your insurance provider to ask for information on medically assisted and other professional treatments. If you have general questions about what’s covered by your King County medical plan, contact King County Benefits at KCBenefits@kingcounty.gov or 206-684-1556.
- Kaiser Permanente members: For help with access to mental health services, call 1-888-287-2680 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For help after hours, call the consulting nurse at 1-800-297-6877.
- King Care/Regence BlueShield members: Call customer service at 800-376-7926 for help finding a qualified therapist or other health care provider.
- Better Choices, Better Health Better Choices, Better Health: These six-week web-based workshops, available at no cost for benefits-covered employees and eligible family members, are designed for people living with long-term health conditions, including mental health conditions. Participants receive support while learning about and practicing self-care. Visit the Better Choices, Better Health website or call 1-888-384-1933.
- Making Life Easier Making Life Easier (MLE): Provides short-term counseling, legal and financial services, support for caregivers, and other daily living supports. Eight free counseling sessions per issue are provided for employees or anyone living in your home. MLE is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Visit the MLE website, username kingcounty or call 888-874-7290.
Recovery meetings
- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): Free 12-step program and support for recovery from alcohol use and addiction. For a list of Seattle-based meetings, visit the Seattle AA website. Or visit the Online Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous’ OIAA Meeting Directory for a list of hundreds of meetings in various formats, in many languages, happening 24/7.
- Heroin Anonymous: Free 12-step program and support for heroin use and addiction. For a list of meetings happening throughout the United States visit the Heroin Anonymous website.
- Narcotics Anonymous (NA): Free 12-step program and support for drug use and addiction. For a list of Seattle-based online meetings, visit the Narcotics Anonymous website.
- National Eating Disorder Alliance Network Virtual Support Groups (NEDA): NEDA and partners organize these virtual support groups for those in recovery from eating disorders or disordered eating or body image issues. Support available for individuals as well as family members. Visit the NEDA website for more information.
- Unity Recovery: National organization offering free digital recovery meetings. Online recovery support groups available throughout the day specifically for family and loved ones, LGBTQ+ individuals and allies. All recovery meetings are non-denominational and are open to anyone. Visit the Unity Recovery website for more information.
Additional resources
Additional resources including resource directories and resources for families of people struggling with mental health and substance use disorder are listed below.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness, Washington (NAMI): Maintains a directory of community resources. NAMI also offers free programs, education, and advocacy work for those affected by mental illness. Visit namiwa.org.
- Washington Recovery Helpline: Provides phone-based emotional support 24 hours a day and offers local treatment resources for substance abuse, problem gambling, and other community services. Visit warecoveryhelpline.org or call 866-789-1511.
- Crisis Connections: Provides phone-based crisis intervention, peer support, and resources for King County and other communities. Programs include the 24-Hour Crisis Line, King County 211, Teen Link, and WA Warm Line. Visit crisisconnections.org or call 866-427-4747.
- Mental Health America: The nation’s leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and promoting the overall mental health of all Americans. Visit mentalhealthamerica.net.
- Center for Addiction: Free and confidential helpline services for you and your loved ones struggling with addiction. You can connect to us in the following ways, with support available in English and Spanish. We’re available from 9:00am-midnight ET weekdays and noon-5:00pm ET on weekends. Text 55753, call 855-378-4373, or visit https://www.centeronaddiction.org
If you have questions, or need assistance in identifying additional resources, please contact BalancedYou@kingcounty.gov.