A bulletin board in the English hallway promotes mental health. Photo Credit: Amara Hintz
By Amara Hintz ‘24
Schools should allow students to take mental health days because they are good for students in the long run. Parents should keep in mind why students may want to take the day off, and students should advocate for themselves.
Some say mental health days may be used to get out of school work, could reinforce avoidance and anxiety, or could be used as a substitute for treatment or a long term situation. Although this all can be avoided with communication. Students, Talking with your parents or guardian about how you are feeling about something can help. If you are feeling anxious, or something is going on at school, talking with a parent can help change the situation, or fix it.
Mental health days are good for students. According to ChildMind, they are just a day off of school that can help a child recharge and rest. Letting children stay home can have big benefits with their mental health.
According to the New York Times, former student Derek Evans said, “Dealing with anxiety through high school has always left me tired, exhausted up against some weeks, and the difference one day makes is honestly life changing.”
Most parents are in favor of mental health days. In a survey taken in 2021 by the National Alliance on Mental Illness they found that over 70% are in favor of schools allowing mental health days (Education Week). And in 2022 Verywell Mind found that 56% of parents already allow their children to take mental health days regardless of what their schools say (Education Week).
According to The New York Times, in 2018 a girl named Chloe Wilson died by suicide because she was facing bullying after she came out as bisexual. She pretended to be sick in order to stay home from school. Her mother Roxanne Wilson said, “Because she lied to get her absences excused, we didn’t get to have those mental health conversations that could have saved her life.” Taking mental health days may cause you to have hard but necessary conversations. Parents, If children need to take a day and their school doesn’t allow them to then they will just say they feel sick and that can have negative effects.
Schools need to make mental health days available to students, Parents need to understand that students need a day or two to recharge, and students need to stand up for themselves and make it known that these days are necessary.
Students Should get Mental Health Days off from School
By Amara Hintz ‘24
Schools should allow students to take mental health days because they are good for students in the long run. Parents should keep in mind why students may want to take the day off, and students should advocate for themselves.
Some say mental health days may be used to get out of school work, could reinforce avoidance and anxiety, or could be used as a substitute for treatment or a long term situation. Although this all can be avoided with communication. Students, Talking with your parents or guardian about how you are feeling about something can help. If you are feeling anxious, or something is going on at school, talking with a parent can help change the situation, or fix it.
Mental health days are good for students. According to ChildMind, they are just a day off of school that can help a child recharge and rest. Letting children stay home can have big benefits with their mental health.
According to the New York Times, former student Derek Evans said, “Dealing with anxiety through high school has always left me tired, exhausted up against some weeks, and the difference one day makes is honestly life changing.”
Most parents are in favor of mental health days. In a survey taken in 2021 by the National Alliance on Mental Illness they found that over 70% are in favor of schools allowing mental health days (Education Week). And in 2022 Verywell Mind found that 56% of parents already allow their children to take mental health days regardless of what their schools say (Education Week).
According to The New York Times, in 2018 a girl named Chloe Wilson died by suicide because she was facing bullying after she came out as bisexual. She pretended to be sick in order to stay home from school. Her mother Roxanne Wilson said, “Because she lied to get her absences excused, we didn’t get to have those mental health conversations that could have saved her life.” Taking mental health days may cause you to have hard but necessary conversations. Parents, If children need to take a day and their school doesn’t allow them to then they will just say they feel sick and that can have negative effects.
Schools need to make mental health days available to students, Parents need to understand that students need a day or two to recharge, and students need to stand up for themselves and make it known that these days are necessary.
Sources
https://childmind.org/article/should-kids-take-mental-health-days/#:~:text=Taking%20mental%20health%20days%20%E2%80%94%20that,reason%20%E2%80%94%20can%20have%20big%20benefits.
https://www.edweek.org/leadership/more-schools-are-offering-student-mental-health-days-heres-what-you-need-to-know/2023/01
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/12/learning/students-mental-health-days.html
https://www.nami.org/Press-Media/Press-Releases/2021/NAMI-Poll-Parents-Want-Mental-Health-Education-in-Schools-Mental-Health-Days-Off-for-Students
https://www.verywellmind.com/mental-health-days-and-kids-survey-6361951