From Orphanage to School: Oregon’s Harmony Academy Recovery High School

Harmony Academy Recovery High School, a school located in Lake Oswego, offers support for its 40 students who are struggling with mental health issues. The building, which was once an orphanage, 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.”

Recent years have seen Oregon’s struggles with providing adequate mental health treatment becoming more visible. The Oregonian/OregonLive aims to shed light on the barriers to quality care and identify policy failures by exploring Oregon’s youth behavioral health system in comparison to other states. The newsroom delved 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, The Oregonian/OregonLive interviewed 15 teens, five parents and various educators and service providers. Spending around 2 1/2 months at the school, the newsroom chose not to use full names of the students to protect their privacy as minors. For continued coverage on mental health in Oregon visit oregonlive.com/mentalhealth