Best of 2024: Why Seattle's mental health problems are so visible

We have one more lookback on our 2024 reporting, as we transition into the new year. Severe mental illness is a very visible problem in Seattle. In 2023, police responded to almost 10 thousand scenes of people experiencing mental health crises. Investigative reporters spent the past year asking big questions on the show Lost Patients about why so many people with severe mental illness end up untreated, and on the streets. And as they did, Seattle continued to pass legislation against one of the connected elements, public drug use. The newest laws are stay out of drug areas, also called SODAs, in hot spots for drug use and sales. Those went into effect in October. And the problems are still visible. Today we re-visit an episode from earlier in the year because this question, of how the problem got so severe, is as relevant as ever. We talked to Lost Patients host Will James back in March. Listen to Lost Patients: KUOW - Lost Patients We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] , leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.