Need a Mental Health Day? Some States Give Students the Option

Need a Mental Health Day? Some States Give Students the Option

Posted on July 24, 2019

Reports on how lawmakers in Oregon and Utah have recognized the importance of the mental health of their students by allowing them to take sick days just for that. On July 1, 2019 a law in Oregon went into effect giving students five mental health days in a three-month period. The new laws are “a huge win, especially for individuals and families that are affected by mental health conditions,” said Jennifer Rothman, Senior Manager for Youth and Young Adult Initiatives. “The suicide rates for kids are not going down,” Rothman said. “They are actually rising very quickly, which I think is making schools think a little bit more about mental health conditions.”