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.
As a King County Employee enrolled in a King County benefits plan, you have access to comprehensive health care coverage, including mental health coverage. Whether you are enrolled in Kaiser Permanente or Regence, you have robust tools at your fingertips to connect you with a mental health care provider.
Mental health care providers include psychiatrists, psychologists, or master’s level therapists. They treat a wide range of conditions, from temporary anxiety brought on by stress, to longer-lasting conditions like bipolar disorder. Your provider will work closely with you to offer guidance and help improve your ability to achieve your life goals.
Mental Health Care for Kaiser Permanente Members
In-person or virtual care
Employees and their beneficiaries enrolled with Kaiser Permanente (Smartcare) medical plan can access in-person or virtual mental health care by either logging into their Kaiser Permanente online account or by calling the Kaiser Permanente mental health service line at 888-287-2680, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. This line is staffed by clinical professionals who can help you decide what type of provider you need and connect you to care.
If it’s after hours or you don’t have the phone number handy, call the number on the back of your Kaiser Permanente member ID card and they’ll connect you to the right place.
If your needs aren’t immediate, you also have the option to send your primary care provider (PCP) a secure message through the KP website or app to schedule an in-person or virtual appointment. Your PCP can refer you to a mental health provider that meets your needs.
Learn more about Kaiser’s mental health resources at kp.org/getcare or on the Kaiser Permanente Washington mobile app.
If you need help creating your online account, call the number on the back of your KP member ID card or 206-630-4636.
Mental Health Care for Regence Members
Provider Matching
Employees and their beneficiaries enrolled in Regence health care plans have access to the following service that can help match them to in-person or virtual mental health care providers who are accepting new clients:
- Headway: Headway can help Regence members ages six and older find an in-network therapist and book their next available virtual or in-person appointment.
- Rula: Rula can help Regence members age 5+ find virtual therapists for individual, couples or family counseling and can help and members age 13+ find psychiatrists for medication management.
In-person care
In addition to utilizing the provider matching tool above, employees enrolled in Regence can also find mental health care providers offering in-person appointments by visiting regence.com or dowloading the Regence app and looking for these in-network options:
- Private practitioners with a variety of expertise, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, licensed counselors and more
- Inpatient care
- Outpatient programs
Virtual care
Employees and their beneficiaries enrolled in Regence can access virtual appointments with mental health care providers by visiting regence.com or downloading the Regence app and utilizing the Provider Matching Tool or many of the other mental health resources available, including Meru Health, Equip, Talkspace, and more.
Making Life Easier
Making Life Easier offers a comprehensive range of resources, expert content, and tools designed to support and enhance emotional well-being for all King County employees and their households. From in-the-moment confidential counseling to online tools, you can access resources and support 24/7 in a secure, confidential, and user-friendly format at no charge to you. Access the program here or call 888-874-7290.
Mental Health Care for Children and Teens
Washington’s Mental Health Referral Service for Children and Teens, operated by Seattle Children’s, connects families with mental health providers in your community who accept new patients, work with your insurance and fit your child’s treatment needs. The Referral Service is accessible to children and teens 17 and under living in Washington state. Teens between the ages of 13 and 17 can also call the Referral Service to find providers for themselves.
View more mental health resources for King County employees here.