Name: Why students should have mental health days
Uploaded: 2020-05-11T19:56:11Z
Duration: 7 min 15 s
Description: 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.

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.

Why students should have mental health days

Giving students official mental health days, just like sick days, can protect well-being and even save lives. In Oregon, suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10 to 24, showing how urgent this issue is. Institutionalizing breaks for emotional care opens up vital conversations, helps spot struggling students early, and challenges the stigma surrounding mental illness. Treating mental and physical health as equally important can change the culture of schools for the better.