The district social worker and program instructor said the demand for mental health professionals has skyrocketed.
BEAVERTON, Ore. — Students at Sunset High School in Beaverton had the opportunity to learn more about careers in behavioral health.
Lawson Parker, a senior at Sunset High School, said, “I’ve always wanted to be a clinical psychologist or clinical psychiatrist, and to be honest, I thought that was the perfect gateway for me.” spoke.
“I want to go into speech pathology. I really love working with children,” junior Vittoria Ecarce said.
“I’ve been a mental health advocate for as long as I can remember. In fact, that’s what I plan to major in after school,” said fourth-year student Natalie Fornari.
The program is new this school year and is part of Beaverton School District’s Career and Technical Education initiative.
Campbell Stewart, a social worker for the district and one of the program’s instructors, said the class connects teens’ education to careers after high school.
“I’m just excited to find a way for young people to be a part of this production,” Stewart said.
She said more mental health professionals were needed before the coronavirus pandemic. But now, she said, the need for clinicians, particularly culturally relevant clinicians, is exploding.
“So it’s really exciting to be able to leverage our really rich and diverse school community to help these young people understand how they can contribute to their mental health and behavioral health competencies.” said Stewart.
The new program is also exciting for students.
“I find it very appealing,” Eshalouz said.
“I want it. This is what I want to do,” Fornari said. “I always wanted to help people.”
Sunset High School’s classroom environment helps lay the foundation for the next generation of mental health professionals.
“It tells me so much about what I want to do. It’s been really great,” Parker said.
It’s still early in the school year, and students are currently focused on self-reflection and self-care, Stewart said. But throughout the year, they plan to bring in experts to discuss the different career paths students can take in the mental health industry.
School officials said they will also give students the opportunity to earn certifications in several areas, including certifications related to how to respond when people express suicidal thoughts.
Additionally, the program provides pre-practicum opportunities during high school and opportunities to work as a practicum after graduation as students continue to take more classes to pursue a career in the behavioral health field. We are partnering with.
