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Building the Behavioral Health System Washingtonians Deserve


August 18th, 2026

Bellevue, WA


Washington State has made ambitious commitments to transform how people experiencing mental health crises receive care. Yet as a recent Seattle Times investigation makes clear, passing a plan is only the beginning. Delivering on its promise requires sustained funding, effective implementation, and accountability.

HERO House NW CEO Dr. Kailey Fiedler-Gohlke has been part of this work for years, advocating for a behavioral health system that responds to people with compassion, dignity, and appropriate care.


A Vision for a Better Crisis Response

In 2021, Washington lawmakers approved important changes intended to strengthen the state’s behavioral health crisis-response system. These included establishing 988 as an alternative to 911 for behavioral health emergencies, expanding mobile crisis-response capacity, and investing in teams that bring mental health professionals into crisis situations.


The goal was both practical and urgently needed: people experiencing mental health crises should receive a health-centered response whenever possible.

These changes represented meaningful progress. They also reflected a growing recognition that law enforcement officers are too often asked to respond to situations that would be better handled by behavioral health professionals, medical providers, and trained peers.


The Gap Between Policy and Practice

The Seattle Times article examines how Washington’s behavioral health plan struggled to fulfill its original promise. Complex implementation, workforce shortages, inconsistent coordination, and insufficient resources have all presented barriers.


For individuals and families trying to find help, these are not abstract policy challenges. Delays and gaps in care can lead to hospitalization, homelessness, involvement with the criminal legal system, or prolonged isolation. A crisis-response system only succeeds when people can reach the right support at the moment they need it.


The article is an important reminder that announcing a new approach is not the same as building a system capable of delivering it. Lasting transformation requires continued investment in the full continuum of behavioral health care—from prevention and early intervention to crisis response and long-term recovery.


Community-Based Support Must Be Part of the Solution

Crisis services are essential, but people living with serious mental illness also need opportunities to build stable, connected, and meaningful lives beyond moments of crisis.


That is where community-based programs such as Clubhouses play a vital role. HERO House NW provides welcoming communities where members can develop relationships, pursue education and employment, access resources, and work toward their personal goals. This ongoing support can help reduce isolation, promote recovery, and prevent crises before they occur.


As Washington evaluates its progress, community-based organizations and people with lived experience must have a meaningful role in shaping what comes next. Their knowledge is essential to designing services that are accessible, responsive, and grounded in the realities people face.


Our Commitment Continues

HERO House NW remains committed to working with members, families, policymakers, providers, and community partners to strengthen Washington’s behavioral health system.


We are proud of Kailey’s leadership and her continued advocacy for approaches that treat mental health emergencies as health emergencies. We will continue speaking up for the funding, services, and community connections people living with serious mental illness need—not only to survive a crisis, but to thrive.


 
 
 

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