Besa Gordon on Student Mental Health: A Conversation with Pray Shiferaw
By Besa Gordon - Growing up, I spent a lot of time at teen health centers—not because something was “wrong” with me, but because I needed a safe place to talk, process, and breathe. Middle school and high school were the first times I learned what it meant to ask for help, sit with a counselor, and use mental health support as a tool instead of something to fear. Looking back, that access shaped the way I move through life today.
As an adult, therapy and mental health check-ins aren’t intimidating to me. They’re a part of how I take care of myself. A place to unload the day, work through pressure, and recenter when life feels heavy. It doesn’t mean I’m broken. It simply means I’m human—and that I value having a non-biased space where I can be heard, supported, or sometimes just listened to.
That’s why this conversation with Pray Shiferaw, the Behavioral Health Coordinator at Rainier Beach High School, felt so important. Through my partnership with Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL), I’ve been able to highlight the trauma support and mental health services they offer—free of charge—at more than 20 schools across Seattle, including Rainier Beach, Garfield High School, and Cleveland High School. Support that’s accessible right where students already are.
In this clip, Pray reminds students and families that seeking care is not a weakness—it’s a strength. That taking the first step can be hard, but schools can be safe, familiar places to do just that. She also shares why this work matters to her so deeply, especially as someone who wasn’t that far removed from being a student herself.
Our youth are carrying so much right now. Trauma, grief, pressure—and navigating all of that in a world that often feels unfair. When I spoke about this on Good Day, I said it plainly: I can’t fix the world, but I can make sure our youth are heard. That’s a promise I take seriously.
Teen health centers quietly change lives. And if this conversation helps even one young person feel seen, supported, or brave enough to ask for help, then it matters.
To learn more about DEEL’s free mental health services, visit seattle.gov/youthmentalhealth.
