Free Days for Students with Mental Health Problems
Currently, 12 states, among which are Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, California, and Utah, allow their students to have days off when they have any mental health problem, after having passed an examination made by professionals, be it a psychiatrist or psychologist.
This is because one in five adolescents in the United States has experienced a major depressive episode, a persistent feeling of sadness, or other negative conditions in their emotional well-being. Therefore, the professionals give them excused absences from school, because just as when their body gets sick, they have to take care of their mind.
“So while I think they could be good, I think we need to have serious intervention to help kids with their mental health because it’s a really big problem; it’s an epidemic.”
Vanessa Etienne | PEOPLE