Harmony Academy Recovery High School, located in Lake Oswego, is a unique school that offers support for its 40 students. The building, once an orphanage, now exudes a sense of community with its student artwork on the walls and reminders of togetherness.
AJ, 17, and MJ, 17, walk back into the school after gym class on a Friday in March. The red building smells of old wood and stacks of paper, with baggy jeans, experimental makeup, and purposefully unkempt hair filling the space. The hallway is short, lined with old couches and chairs, creating a comfortable atmosphere. A large handmade poster encourages students with the message, “We are in this together.”
Recently, Oregon’s struggles with providing adequate mental health treatment have become more visible. In response to this issue, The Oregonian/OregonLive aims to shed light on the barriers to quality care and identify policy failures through its teen recovery series. The series compares Oregon’s youth behavioral health system to other states and delves into the lengths parents must go to ensure their children’s safety.
To better understand the experiences of students at Harmony Academy Recovery High School