Seattle students demand $20M for mental health resources from proposed Amazon tax increase

SEATTLE — Seattle students are demanding the city sign off on a massive budget to address the mental health crisis in schools.

They claim the millions already directed toward Seattle Public Schools (SPS) for counselors, therapists, and psychologists isn't enough.

"It still affects me every day, and I don't think we should have to go to school in fear," stated a Seattle student reflecting on the deadly shooting of a student at Ingraham High School last year. She was among a crowd of students and a counselor at the Seattle council budget hearing demanding $20 million for more therapists and counselors to represent the diversity of Seattle schools.

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The money would come from an amendment to the city budget brought forth by Councilmember Kshama Sawant to increase the tax on tech giant Amazon.

It's not the first time the Seattle Student Union has asked for these resources. Last year, after a student walkout against gun violence, the city agreed to dedicate $4.5 million from the general fund for a pilot program.

The Washington State Association of School Psychologists has warned that these needed positions could be hard to fill because of the ongoing shortage of mental health professionals.

As of Monday evening, the hours-long public comment period was still underway, and KOMO News had not yet received a response from the city council about the students' demands or Sawants' proposal.

KOMO News has also reached out to Amazon for comment.