Illinois has revealed that starting in January 2022, students will be given five excused mental health breaks a year. The bill states that students who decide to take a mental health day will not be required to provide a doctor’s note and will be able to make up any work that was missed. Illinois joins states such as Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Virginia that have passed similar bills in allowing students to have mental health days.
Illinois State Representative Barbara Hernandez expressed to the Journal-Courier how important this new bill is for the students of her state.
I am really excited for this. I think it will help students, parents and teachers, and can help them understand what’s going on in their students’ lives
How mental health days will work
In Illinois, students will be given five excused mental health days a year. Hernandez states that if a student requests a second mental health day, a school counselor will reach out to the student’s family. According to the Illinois bill, the student may be referred to get professional help. The state has until the end of the year to officially “iron out” the full details of a specific plan in which to execute the bill to the best of its ability.
Illinois is not the first state to pass this bill
The New York Times has reported in the past how teenagers have advocated for mental health days off from school to attend to their own self-care. In the last two years, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Virginia have passed bills that permit children to be absent from school for mental or behavioral health reasons. Why this is certainly a step in the right direction, it’s nowhere near the dent that needs to be made in recognizing the importance of mental health wellbeing in adolescents.
What does a mental health day mean?
Like adults, there is no precise definition of what it means to take a mental health day. Mental health days are typically used for relaxing and to recalibrate; to recharge from the daily tasks of life. There is no set term for how a student must take their mental health day unless the school district outlines specific requirements.
Why students need mental health days
The pandemic has brought a lot of challenges for our children which has resulted in more cases of anxiety and depression due to either being away from their peers or falling behind in school. In 2020, it was reported that suicidal behavior had increased in teenagers and whether this is in correlation to the pandemic is irrelevant. We know how it feels when we are burnt out and stressed. It’s pertinent to be aware children can be burnt out and stressed, too.
Signs that your child may need a mental health break
Even if you don’t live in a state that allows excused mental health days, you can allow your child to take a mental health day from school. In fact, it’s absolutely encouraged to do so. Signs that your child may need a mental health break include:
Easily irritated by displaying anger or becomes short-tempered.
Physical changes such as sleepiness, headaches, or stomaches can first present as a mental health issue.
Personality changes include your child acting differently than they normally do. For example, if your child is outgoing and suddenly becomes reserved or would rather be alone.
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The benefits of students taking mental health days
Mental health days are a positive experience all around — students take a well-needed break from the daily grind of school tasks while parents have the opportunity to reconnect with their children. Some other benefits of students taking mental health days may include:
Better school performance and work ethic
Sense of understanding the importance of mental health
Extra family time
Fewer pressures and burnt out
The time to decompress and reflect
Decrease in anxiety and depression
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How students can take action
If the state you live in doesn’t offer a bill for mental health days for students, it’s absolutely possible to take action and advocate for mental health wellbeing. For example, students in Oregon created a bill called Chloe’s Law and presented it in front of the House Education Committee at the Oregon State Capitol; in 2019, the bill was signed. Written letters to your Department of Health and Congressmen and women are also a start to advocating for mental health days for students.
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The real question is this: why can’t every student in every school district be given the opportunity to have excused mental health days? The benefits far outweigh the risks. It’s about time we focus on the mental well-being of our youth. They deserve it.
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This post was previously published on Medium.
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Photo credit: MChe Lee on Unsplash