Many Americans today find themselves grappling with unprecedented mental health challenges. The current policies of our administration have left countless citizens vulnerable to stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma. We are collectively witnessing the silent and often neglected crisis of mental health deteriorating rapidly under the weight of relentless stress and the demands of our daily lives due to the constant noise and negativity from the administration. There is an increased risk to people from marginalized communities who are being directly targeted by the administration with hateful rhetoric. This includes xenophobia, homophobia, racism, sexism, abelism, etc. 

In recent years, mental health issues have surged to the forefront, affecting millions. The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experience mental illness each year. Yet, the support systems and policies put in place to help individuals cope have been woefully inadequate. An article by Psychology Today reports staggering statistics of 73% of American adults reporting elevated levels of anxiety related to the U.S. political climate, with many describing their feelings as anxious, exhausted, and even angry (Navigator, 2025).https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-mood-lab/202509/america-the-anxious

If we do not act now, we may be leading our society toward irreversible consequences. We need change now, and it begins with recognizing mental health as a critical component of our overall well-being and productivity.

Implementing a policy that provides every U.S. worker with a paid week off that is funded by the Federal Government is not just an act of compassion but a necessity. Just as our bodies need rest to recover from physical ailments, so do our minds. We hold the current administration accountable for increased mental health challenges and demand that they fund this policy. Individual companies and states should not have to cover wages through vacation time and sick pay, and employees should not have to use their accrued time off to cover stress caused by the administration. A one-week break to focus on mental health is not expected to solve the ongoing mental stress, but the hope is that it will bring awareness to this unacceptable suffering that many Americans are experiencing.  

We call upon our legislators, businesses, and community leaders to put mental health at the top of the political agenda and develop tangible solutions to address these critical needs. Providing a paid week off for mental health is the least that the administration can do.

We understand that this request will be met with resistance and non-compliance by the administration. The broader point is to raise awareness about mental health and to build support systems globally for the extremely stressful times that Americans are facing. It is recognized that the US Government is also causing considerable stress to people in many other countries, and we support their mental health as well. Many Americans do not support this administration and long for a leader who cares more about the well-being of everyone globally & collectively. 

Please sign this petition to demand immediate and meaningful action from our leaders. No American should have to choose between their mental well-being and their livelihood. Together, we can foster a culture of understanding, acceptance, and proactive support that prioritizes human health above all else. We look forward to a future where mental health is respected and protected as a fundamental right.

We also invite and welcome signatures from supporters globally. We wish we could do more here in America to change our leadership. We are trying, but we are feeling hopeless and exhausted because of the ongoing onslaught of harmful rhetoric & policies, unprotected free speech, Epstein Files, ICE attacks on innocent people, and now war, etc.

Please consider a donation to a mental health organization that helps people who are suffering from mental illness. Below are some examples: 
-National Alliance on Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org/personal-giving/
-Anxiety & Depression Association of America: https://adaa.org/donate
-The Trevor Project: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/be-the-one/
-Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective: https://beam.community/donate/
-Mental Health America: https://mhanational.org/donate/