Melissa McCullough, a school-based mental health counselor at the Rainier Beach High School health center, recently met with Back2Besa host Besa Gordon to discuss the vital role of providing in-person counseling directly on campus. 

Having these services available in the school building increases accessibility, allowing students to sign themselves up and set their own appointments without needing to arrange transportation. This model creates consistency and leads to better outcomes, as students miss less class time and are able to attend sessions more regularly.

To normalize mental health support and reduce stigma, the health center staff actively integrates themselves into the school community. Staff members build rapport by greeting students in the hallways and participating in classroom health lessons to ensure they are seen as familiar, friendly faces. A cornerstone of this relationship is a strict commitment to confidentiality; McCullough emphasizes that the center is separate from school administration and that conversations held within its walls remain private.

Learn more about the Teen Health Center here.