September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, serving as an important reminder that everyone goes through difficult moments, and no one should have to navigate those moments alone.
If you find yourself in crisis or feeling overwhelmed, know there are different types of support available depending on what you need. For example, both King County’s Making Life Easier program and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline have mental health professionals available 24/7. Reaching out early, even just to talk something through, can make a real difference.
Please read below for an overview of King County’s confidential resources to support your mental health at work and at home:
Making Life Easier (MLE):
MLE supports both personal and work‑related concerns. MLE is offered free of charge to employees and anyone living in their household. Services include 24/7 in‑the‑moment counseling for urgent issues, short‑term counseling appointments, text-based coaching, financial and legal consultations, online support groups, and more.
To contact MLE, visit www.kcmakinglifeeasier.com (group code: kingcounty) or call 888‑881‑5462 any time for MLE’s 24/7 services. Employees can also learn more on the King County intranet.
Insurance‑based counseling:
Mental health providers are available through your King County health plan. If ongoing therapy feels right for you or your dependents, your insurance provider or the King County benefits team can help you find covered options.
For more information on accessing insurance-based counselors, visit this Balanced You blogpost.
Employee Assistance for Supervisors (EAS):
While EAS is designed for supervisors and people leaders, it directly benefits employees by helping leaders navigate tough or complicated situations and maintain supportive work environments for employees.
If you are a supervisor or people leader and would like to contact EAS for more information, please visit the EAS website, call 206-263-8733, or email DRHEAS@kingcounty.gov.
Additional Resources
If you would like to learn more about how to help others experiencing mental health difficulties, consider joining a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training. MHFA helps participants learn to recognize signs of mental distress in others and respond in supportive, practical ways. Classes are free for King County employees and are offered throughout the year.
For more information on suicide prevention, please review MLE’s Suicide Prevention Guide.
If you are someone you know is in a mental health crisis such as experiencing thoughts about suicide, please call 9-8-8. Additional crisis numbers can be found here.