In a survey of 11th-graders conducted by the State of Oregon in 2017, 11.9 percent of students said their mental and emotional health was poor, with 24.7 percent of these students saying this affected their ability to learn. These numbers have almost doubled since 2015, displaying the decline in mental and emotional health that has become common among students. “I know that they wanted to be heard because I wanted to be heard,” says Franklin sophomore Olive Vigna. 

In a study done by the Oregon government on teen suicide rates, 38 percent of teenagers interviewed had the intention to commit suicide at the time. This statistic clearly illustrates the severity of the situation at hand. With a rise in academic pressure from schools, the need for aid with mental health is increasing. 

School counselors are present to provide support for struggling students, but they cannot provide the level of consistency that a certified therapist can. “My job is really to advocate for (kids) and speak up to teachers and parents, especially when it comes to  mental health … When it comes to the actual therapy, I’m not doing weekly 45-minute sessions with kids, I refer them out for that,” says Beverly Cleary K-8 counselor Liz Kobs.

Social workers and psychologists are there as in-school resources for students, but according to the National Association of Social Workers, they often aren’t funded and can be cut from the budget altogether. Places with lower socioeconomic status generally allocate funding to other areas, and even in schools with better finances, money rarely goes to social workers. Instead of receiving help in school, students who seek continued support from school counselors are referred to a therapist. Although this is a more reliable form of assistance, the cost of therapy can make it impossible to access for students with a lower socioeconomic status. 

The price of professional therapy varies depending on whether it is paid through a private company or a health provider. An hour-long therapy session can cost anywhere from $65 to $250, according to GoodTherapy.org. With prices being as steep as they are, the motives of therapists can be confused for inauthenticity. “Originally my opinions on therapy were really, really bad … I (did not) want to be there and talking about my feelings and crap, and (to) know in the back of my head that they’re getting paid to do this,” says junior Eli Carey, who currently attends therapy. 

Many students have faced similar prejudice as they begin to reach out for help. Aside from the disadvantage therapy places on people with a lower socioeconomic status, going to counseling is associated with a significant stigma. 

It can be challenging to admit to needing help, so being immediately shut down by preconceived notions can be disheartening. “I have friends that have had that experience of, ‘Oh, my parents won’t let me go to therapy because they don’t want to come to terms with the fact that I need therapy.’ They’re too scared that their kid is wrong or is struggling, I guess,” says Vigna. 

Vigna has been attending therapy for most of her life and has become more aware of those who struggle to ask for help. “I think that a lot of parents think that, ‘Oh, my kid doesn’t need therapy, he’s fine, whatever.’” This lack of validation can often deter students from seeking further help, potentially worsening their mental health issues.

Many people feel that it is easier to seek help in a space that they know. “There’s a lot of people who can’t go to see therapy regularly, and I know that some people, having that resource in school, they’d feel more comfortable because it’s an environment they go to every day,” says Carey. 

All schools are required to employ one counselor for every 400 students in Oregon, but Portland Public Schools (PPS) counselors cannot legally give advice on mental health and are required to outsource and find a therapist for the student. 

Although it is challenging to meet the need for therapy, progress is necessary. At Grant, the importance of students’ health is taking a backseat in favor of improving the graduation rate. A new walking class elective option was introduced to students for the 2019-20 school year, which was mainly provided for students who need credits. The priorities of our administration appear out of order. PPS is mismanaging the mental health of students by encouraging Grant’s administrators to implement trivial electives rather than tangible resources for students experiencing mental illness. 

Mental health affects every aspect of the person struggling with it, and thus should be addressed immediately. Should PPS fund mental health resources more generously, the wellbeing of students along with graduation rate would increase as a result.

While awareness surrounding mental health is increasing, and more students are coming forward about their experiences, it is unknown how much will truly be done about it. No matter how frequently schools express that they value students’ mental health, it is meaningless if they are allocating funds to arbitrary causes. Instead of financing essential resources, our administrators decide to value graduation rates over the well-being of students. We need leaders who provide solutions, not add to the problem