Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) welcomed a Mental Health Specialist (MHS) to each of the area’s three high schools over the course of the 2018-19 school year.
Erich Priest, Chapel Hill High School’s MHS, began his new job in March.
The position, the first of its kind in the district, is “meant to be holistic and cover several different avenues for improving the overall mental health and well-being of our students and school community,” he said.
Priest has extensive experience as a licensed social worker, clinical addiction specialist and certified clinical trauma professional. He also participates in and organizes several community events, including workshops on HIV/AIDs.
“Being involved in the community, whether it be in a clinical role or through research and programming or volunteering, has certainly provided me with opportunities to practice many of the skills that were being sought out for someone to fulfill this new MHS position,” he said.
The MHS in each school works to improve the overall mental health in individual students and the school community as a whole, mainly by facilitating mental health initiatives and programs and creating a safe space for open dialogue about mental health.
Priest will work with both students and faculty “to help foster a safer and more supportive learning environment for students, as well as help provide trainings for teachers and staff to work together to build a responsive culture to meet the needs of our students.”
Guidance counselor Julia Royal appreciates the school community’s recognition of mental health’s importance.
“People are becoming more aware and accepting that mental health is as important as physical health for our overall well-being,” she said. “Our students are fortunate. We did not have this type of resource when I was in school.”
Priest plans to create school-based groups to increase student success both academically and socially.
“We want students [to] be [not only] academically successful, but also successful in relationships with themselves and with others,” Priest said.
He is excited about the opportunity to work in a permanent position in the district, commenting on Chapel Hill High School’s positive atmosphere.
“Chapel Hill High School has a very diverse population filled with very passionate and genuine people, which makes it unique,” he said. “I have felt more welcomed [here] than any other place I have worked. I am so fortunate to be a part of this team and community.”
