Building hope through compassionate self-harm prevention in Federal Way

Conversations about self-harm are never easy, but they are essential. Every statistic represents someone’s child, sibling, friend or neighbour. By breaking the silence, choosing words that reduce stigma and offering safe spaces to talk, communities like Federal Way can move from isolation toward hope.

At Valley Cities Behavioral Health Care , that belief guides every step of prevention. Through the Zero Suicide framework, the organization is reshaping how health care providers respond to self-harm. This is not a short training session or program but a long-term, system-wide commitment that extends from leadership to frontline staff. The goal is simple but powerful: to make care safer, more responsive and more compassionate.

“Prevention is not a single step, it’s a culture,” says Payton