We are currently in a mental health crisis. The prevalence of mental illness is increasing at an alarming rate among adolescents and will continue to rise. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, mood disorders have increased among adolescents by 60% since 2007, and suicide is the second leading cause of death in adolescents ages 10-34. Students are not only dealing with the pressure of academics, they also endure the pressure of fulfilling others’ expectations. In Pew Research Study, 61% of teens feel a lot of pressure to get good grades, 29% feel pressure to look good, 28% feel pressure to fit in socially, and 21% feel the need to be involved in sports and extracurricular activities. Struggling mentally significantly impacts a student’s ability to perform at their best in school, as itmakes it difficult for students to concentrate, leads to physical illnesses, and impacts the learning environment around them. 

Currently, Iowa legislation requires students to provide documentation for an absence to be excused for mental or physical health reasons. According to National Alliance on Mental Illness, only 50.6% of U.S. youth aged 6-17 with a mental disorder received treatment in 2016. This means that only about half of those struggling mentally could have provided documentation to miss school. 

Our goal is to implement Mental Health Days for K-12 students, which would allow them the option to take 3 excused absences due to mental health reasons. Taking a mental health day could prevent the onset or exacerbation of a mental illness, or it can save a life. Mental Health Days will decrease the stigma associated with mental health and show that mental health is just as important as physical health. Communication will increase between students, teachers, parents, and counselors about mental health, which can help to provide necessary resources. They will also encourage students to take the time they need to prioritize their mental health.
 
Students currently call into school taking mental health days by lying and stating they are ‘sick’. Students should be able to be open about their illness with staff members. With schools being an excellent place to become aware of students mental health issues, lying about their mental health problems decreases the school's awareness and their ability to provide students with mental health support. It is a priority to let students know it is okay to not be okay to combat mental health stigma and to allow students to seek help. 

While other states have already started adapting Mental Health Days, Iowa’s legislation has not, and mental health prevalence amongst teens keeps rising. Although one student may take advantage of a day off of school by calling in sick for a mental health day, this policy can save a fellow students life. In the end, there is no difference from a mental health issue, such as depression or anxiety, versus a physical illness, like a broken bone.
 
 - Grace Anderson and Hannah Ingle

For more information and statistics:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/data.html
National Alliance on Mental Illness
https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-By-the-Numbers