School can be rife with stress, anxiety, panic attacks and even burnout — but there’s often no formal policy for students who need to prioritize their well-being. Hailey Hardcastle explains why schools should offer mental health days and allow students time to practice emotional hygiene without stigma. Follow along to learn how she and a team of fellow teens transformed their advocacy into law.
New Illinois law will allow students to take 5 mental health days, starting in 2022
Kids in Illinois will soon be able to take up to five mental health days off school.
A law signed by Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker last month will allow for five excused absences from school without the need for a doctor’s note, beginning in January.
Proponents of the bill argued that students are under increasing amounts of mental strain, particularly amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Many students feel stressed, and have developed anxiety and depression because they’re not able to see teachers and friends, and may have lower grades due to remote learning. This will allow them to get the help they need,” said State Rep. Barbara Hernandez, who was a co-sponsor of the bill.
The law applies to all public school students, ages 6-17.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a study last fall that showed mental health-related emergency room visits among children increased 24% for those between the ages of 5 and 11, and 31% for ages 12 to 17 since around the start of the pandemic in April 2020, compared to 2019.
“As society continues to increase the importance of addressing mental health as a part of health care, we must ensure that our students have the ability to address issues they are dealing with,” State Sen. Robert Martwick said in a statement after the bill passed the Senate. “This bill removes the stigma and allows students to prioritize their mental health and stability.”
Reference: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/09/02/illinois-students-mental-health-five-days-off-school-law/5705035001/?fbclid=IwAR3NLjkZ7oyzIPFV8gcKqEA0R4H3JnaXFhsZpYGll0A2ZxNKwUtZ8PHGqXA