Mental Health Days at CHS

Why CHS should consider mental health days as excused absences

SONIA PATIL

investigations editor

SANIYA LAUNGANI

social media manager

Exhausted, distracted, and overworked—sometimes a day off of school is what feels right. But how do you take one without seeming like you are ditch ing? H o w c a n others see you genuinely need it?

Not all teachers are prepared to reschedule tests and make-up assignments without what is a “valid excuse”. Additionally, students are often pressured to conceal their true reasons for absence due to certain stigmas surrounding mental health. Said California Senator Anthony Portantino, “It’s really a flaw in the education code. If you break your ankle or have the flu, your parents send a note. But if you’re home with depression or anx- iety, it’s not treated the same way. The district doesn’t have to recog- nize it.”

Stu dents often brush off matters concern- ing mental illness and overwhelming stress because they are not prioritized over grades, athletic performance, or other extracurricular responsibilities.

As a result, this normalized stress instills the mindset that constant productivi- ty is n e c essary. It becomes a competition of struggle between one another—when confiding in someone about your three tests com - ing up, they respond with the two essays, three tests, and lab report they have. In this process, stress can feel invalidated, and when more serious mental health issues start to come into play, such types of conversations set harmful attitudes in students’ minds. Outside of academics, stu“ IF YOU BREAK YOUR ANKLE OR HAVE THE FLU, YOUR PARENTS SEND A NOTE. BUT dents face nuIF YOU’RE HOME WITH merous stressors at home, work, or DEPRESSION OR ANX- other outside matIETY, IT’S NOT TREAT- ters. Those who have to take care of family or work have no option to shorten their time on such activities. The pandemic ED THE SAME WAY ” put an overwhelming mental toll on students; according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, men - tal health emergency hos - pital visits among kids 12 to 17 years old escalated 31%. As mental health issues among students continue to increase, it is clear that there is an issue at large. States including Utah have already begun to consider mental or behavioral health as a valid excused absence for all students. Starting in January, Illinois governor Jay Robery Pritz-

ker will permit students in Illinois to take mental health days and make up any work they miss without having to provide a doctor’s note. It is time all states start implementing this policy for high school districts.

Some may argue that students will take advantage of the excusal policy and be absent from school for an extended amount of time. Teachers may wor- ry that classwork may pile up and the students miss valuable classroom interactions. However, an Arizona school district argues that the s a m e number of students who have been previously missing school will still be able to take days off, just with a more fitting title and reason for absence. While there will be a more significant number of students taking mental health days, the increase won’t be incredibly overwhelming if students use the reason for absence responsibly.

Though some students may inevitably take advantage of the system, it is more important that mental health days are offered to prevent mental illnesses from getting worse and being swept under the rug.

Said Mike Winder, a representative who supports mental health days, “All of us have mental health, just like physical health, even the healthiest among us sometimes have days where our mental health is just not well. Rather than push kids beyond the breaking point, a mental health day allows them to better manage their mental health.”

With the implementation of mental health days, students can practice self-awareness and prioritize their health. The ex cusal isn’t meant for students to take three weeks off of school but rather to recognize when they need a day or two to take a break for self-improvement and health. When used responsibly, mental health days can be beneficial. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, it takes a person who has a mental illness, on average, ten years to ask for help. Excused mental health days will result in de-stigmatization from students towards mental health issues and prompt students to seek the support they need and have open conversations. It pushes students to recognize when they need assistance to seek help. Mental health days are only a temporary solution to a larger problem. More resources need to be dedicated to teaching students about their mental and physical well-being. Implementing excused mental health days would result in more honesty in reasons for absence and CHS better understanding the number of students facing issues. And while ultimately parents must call in for the excusal, it also is the first step in teaching students how to prioritize their well-being and use this practice in their future OPINIONS | 9