Washington State Health Care Authority launches "See How I Feel" campaign to support mental health awareness among older adults

For immediate release.

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) today announced the launch of See How I Feel, a new statewide mental health campaign to help adults ages 65 and older recognize changes in their mental health, start conversations, and connect to care.

Launching May 1 in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the campaign addresses a critical but often overlooked issue: mental health challenges among older adults frequently go unrecognized or untreated.

State survey data compiled for this campaign underscores the need for increased awareness and support. Nearly 2 in 5 adults ages 65 and older have personally experienced a behavioral or mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety, and less than 45% of older adults have discussed their conditions with friends or family.

“Too often, mental health changes in older adults are dismissed as a normal part of aging,” said Teesha Kirschbaum, Director of HCA’s Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery. “See How I Feel is about helping people recognize when something isn’t quite right, giving them the tools and confidence to talk about changes they're experiencing, and offering ways to find support to manage those changes.”

As part of the campaign, new TV and digital commercials will air in both English and Spanish throughout the month of May, expanding the campaign’s reach and ensuring culturally and linguistically accessible messaging for communities across Washington.

The campaign focuses on three key goals:

  • Recognizing symptoms of mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety
  • Starting conversations with family members, caregivers, and clinicians
  • Connecting older adults to care options, including one-on-one counseling, peer-to-peer groups or culturally appropriate programs

Stigma can prevent older adults from seeking help by encouraging honest, everyday conversations about how we’re feeling. See How I Feel helps normalize mental health challenges and makes it easier for people to reach out and get the support they deserve.

Family members and caregivers are also a key audience for the campaign. By increasing awareness of changes in their loved one’s moods or emotions and encouraging open dialogue, the initiative hopes to create stronger support systems around older adults.

Visitors can learn more about the campaign, explore resources, and find support options at SeeHowIFeel.org, or in Spanish at ComoMeSiento.org.

Media contacts

HCA Media Relations

About Washington State Health Care Authority

Functioning as both the state's largest health care purchaser and its behavioral health authority, the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is a leader in ensuring Washington residents have the opportunity to be as healthy as possible.
 
There are three pillars of our work: Apple Health (Medicaid); the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) and School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) programs; and behavioral health and recovery. Under these pillars, HCA purchases health care, including behavioral health treatment for more than 2.7 million Washington residents and provides behavioral health prevention, crisis, and recovery supports to all Washington residents.