A significant portion of mental health problems emerge during adolescence, with 50% of lifetime mental illnesses beginning by age 14 and 75% by age 24.

Students should be given mental health days from school because they allow for a break and help relax their minds to prevent feelings of being overwhelmed or stressed. Would you feel strained by a large pile of unfinished work? According to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, in the article “What is a Mental Health Day for Kids?” it states, “Signs you need a mental health day will vary for each child, but what’s most important is recognizing when a young person’s mood has shifted,” says Vinson. “For example, if your child usually loves going to school and suddenly has more difficulty getting out of bed or is acting more sluggish in the morning, this might indicate it’s time for a reset.” If schools provided mental health days, students would be more motivated to get up in the mornings and prepare for school.

Schools should provide mental health days for students because, regardless of their behavior or grades, loads of assignments and responsibilities can lead to difficulties in submitting work, which can cause grades to drop. According to The Western Howl (wou.edu) in the article “Opinion: Mental health days should be an option,” it states, “The fact that a student could risk their grade dropping severely is an additional, unnecessary stressor that can further impact a student’s mental health. If a class has someone overwhelmed with schoolwork, that student should be able to take a day to catch up on assignments and better themselves fully, without needing to get “permission” from a doctor to do so”. Allowing mental health days would enhance students’ efforts with their assignments and help them avoid being overwhelmed by missing work!

Schools should offer students mental health days for several reasons. Students can be affected by negative influences around them, may struggle to maintain a healthy mindset, and could experience burnout. According to The Dragon Chronicle (sites.cortland.edu), in the article “Mental Health Days: Why Students Deserve a Break,“ it states, “Academic standards for students have escalated significantly. The pressure of classes can be intense, from tests and coursework to extracurricular activities and even social expectations. Recent surveys show that around 60% of students feel overwhelmed by their academic responsibilities. This kind of pressure can severely impact mental health, contributing to high levels of stress and anxiety.” Based on this evidence, mental health days should be offered to protect students’ positive mindset and mental well-being from being harmed by schoolwork and negative influences.

Would you want your child’s grades to drop or their mental state to worsen? Providing students with mental health days would have a positive impact and act as an effective support, alleviating the stress and issues that burden them due to academic or social pressures.