·
October 23, 2026 at 1:02 pm
PHOENIX, Ore. – U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden visited Phoenix High School on Friday to listen to student leaders discuss the growing mental health challenges facing their generation. As part of his statewide “Reimagining Health Care in America” meetings, the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee heard students express anxieties over recent school violence, including the tragedy in Bend, and the lingering social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Wyden commended the students for their vulnerability, saying they made a strong case for increased federal funding to address severe shortages of school counselors.
“Coming to school nowadays, I think for most students, it’s almost like playing a game… you never know if it could be you, or if it could be your friends… students like us and students in Bend pay the price,” said Max, a student from Phoenix High School.
Students urged lawmakers to address school safety and common-sense gun laws, emphasizing that youths currently bear the burden of legislative inaction. Junior Haven Fields and other peers shared how normalized the fear of gun violence has become, expressing the terrifying realization that a shooting could easily happen to them or their younger siblings. Additionally, students highlighted how the reliance on technology has fractured face-to-face connections. The students asked for adults to take the initiative in reaching out to struggling teens, and for mental health education to be incorporated into standard school curriculums.
“It’s just like breaking down those walls we still had from COVID, and just realizing that if we try to harbor a sense of community, it can just really help this cause of the mental health crisis,” said Jocelyn, a student from Phoenix High School.
In response to mounting student anxieties, Phoenix High School has leaned on local partnerships and expanded its support staff. School officials said they collaborate with La Clinica for mental health support and maintain an on-campus school resource officer through the City of Phoenix Police Department. The school currently employs two licensed school counselors, with plans to hire a third, who are tasked with delivering school-wide mental health lessons to help identify students in need of extra support. Wyden also praised the school for allowing students to sit in on the hiring process for upcoming student services roles, giving them an important seat at the table.
© 2026 KOBI-TV NBC5. All rights reserved unless otherwise stated.
——————————————————–
Click Here For The Original Source.
.........................
