With suicides being at the highest level since 2000 it is crucial that students are given opportunities to properly acknowledge their mental health. People are working to pass bills allowing students to take sick days for mental health reasons.
Mental health is important
With sucide rates at the highest point since 2000 for teens ages 10-17 people are beginning to realize that our mental health does matter. With that in mind bills are being passed to allow students to take a mental health day off each semester.
A Florida state repersentative is working hard to pass a bill to allow for this to happen. She see's the value of acknowledging mental health. Other states have begun to modify their definiton of "sick" to include mental health to allow students needed time off.
This is not just helpful for students to give them a day off but, also opens a converstation with family that may be unaware. If a child is struggling they will have this oppertunity to talk to their guardians about it.
Why does this matter?
By addressing that the youth are having these issues people are going to become more open minded and understand that others can be struggling with these issues as well. Anxiety and depression are difficult to live with and should be addressed.
We can begin to be more open about our mental health within society and not feel the harsh judgement from people that you are being "dramatic." If people become aware through their children about the importance of mental health they will begin to understand what it is you are going through.
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