Introduction:
In the past several years, the topic of mental health has become increasingly important. In the midst of a global pandemic that has added another stress factor for students, now is the perfect time to ensure that students’ physical and mental health, but especially the latter, are being cared for. Our youth are currently facing an extreme mental health crisis, and in this proposed legislation we seek to help ease stress and resolve mental health issues pertaining to students in the Bismarck Public Schools district.
The Mental Health Facts:
● Depression and anxiety are some of the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders in children and teens, and they have been rising over time.
● Suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15-19 year olds.
● Both peer pressure and increasing access to technology are listed as causes for depression, in addition to other prevalent factors such as chronic illness, healthcare, stress, and more. Relationship struggles, performance pressure with grades/academics, family trauma, and existing mental illnesses all support the proposed addition of mental health days.
● Researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy found that depression increased significantly among persons in the U.S. from 2005 to 2015, from 6.6 percent to 7.3 percent. Notably, the rise was most rapid among those ages 12-17, increasing from 8.7 percent in 2005 to 12.7 percent in 2015.
● One in six children between the ages of 6 and 17 experiences a mental health disorder each year.
● Behavior and personality changes, becoming isolated, being easily irritated, and experiencing frequent headaches and stomachaches may be signs of depression.
● This trend has been exacerbated by COVID, as a loss of family members, unprecedented physical and social distancing, financial concerns, and a loss of community all have the potential to induce or worsen mental and emotional disorders.
● “Depression is most common among those with least access to any health care, including mental health professionals. This includes young people and those with lower levels of income and education,” noted Goodwin. “Despite this trend, recent data suggest that treatment for depression has not increased, and a growing number of Americans, especially socioeconomically vulnerable individuals and young persons, are suffering from untreated depression. Depression that goes untreated is the strongest risk factor for suicide behavior, and recent studies show that suicide attempts have increased in recent years, especially among young women.”
● “There is still a stigma to depression and anxiety. So many people experience this stress, anxiety, and depression and don't necessarily talk about it,” said Dr. Fava. His hope for 2020, when a greater number of people are experiencing mental health issues, is that increased awareness and access to psychiatry will help eliminate that stigma.
● To help students across American society cope with the loss of their routines, adjust to new ones, and begin to heal from the stress of living in a global public health emergency, Guerriero and others claim that schools need to focus on students’ emotional needs - perhaps even before they worry about the curriculum. “Coping strategies and skills that oftentimes would be ancillary to what we were doing in the classroom [are] now going to have to be the primary thing,” he said.
● “For schools to recognize that sometimes it’s better to take a mental health day than push through when you cannot seem to cope is a tremendous support for students to feel understood and accepted, and [this in turn encourages] students to understand and accept themselves more,” Dry told Healthline.
● Suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15-19 year olds.
● Both peer pressure and increasing access to technology are listed as causes for depression, in addition to other prevalent factors such as chronic illness, healthcare, stress, and more. Relationship struggles, performance pressure with grades/academics, family trauma, and existing mental illnesses all support the proposed addition of mental health days.
● Researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy found that depression increased significantly among persons in the U.S. from 2005 to 2015, from 6.6 percent to 7.3 percent. Notably, the rise was most rapid among those ages 12-17, increasing from 8.7 percent in 2005 to 12.7 percent in 2015.
● One in six children between the ages of 6 and 17 experiences a mental health disorder each year.
● Behavior and personality changes, becoming isolated, being easily irritated, and experiencing frequent headaches and stomachaches may be signs of depression.
● This trend has been exacerbated by COVID, as a loss of family members, unprecedented physical and social distancing, financial concerns, and a loss of community all have the potential to induce or worsen mental and emotional disorders.
● “Depression is most common among those with least access to any health care, including mental health professionals. This includes young people and those with lower levels of income and education,” noted Goodwin. “Despite this trend, recent data suggest that treatment for depression has not increased, and a growing number of Americans, especially socioeconomically vulnerable individuals and young persons, are suffering from untreated depression. Depression that goes untreated is the strongest risk factor for suicide behavior, and recent studies show that suicide attempts have increased in recent years, especially among young women.”
● “There is still a stigma to depression and anxiety. So many people experience this stress, anxiety, and depression and don't necessarily talk about it,” said Dr. Fava. His hope for 2020, when a greater number of people are experiencing mental health issues, is that increased awareness and access to psychiatry will help eliminate that stigma.
● To help students across American society cope with the loss of their routines, adjust to new ones, and begin to heal from the stress of living in a global public health emergency, Guerriero and others claim that schools need to focus on students’ emotional needs - perhaps even before they worry about the curriculum. “Coping strategies and skills that oftentimes would be ancillary to what we were doing in the classroom [are] now going to have to be the primary thing,” he said.
● “For schools to recognize that sometimes it’s better to take a mental health day than push through when you cannot seem to cope is a tremendous support for students to feel understood and accepted, and [this in turn encourages] students to understand and accept themselves more,” Dry told Healthline.
Proposed Bill:
Mental Days: Two excused absences per semester. This would be an extension to the current allowance of 10 excused absences before credit loss. These days would also explicitly be listed as mental health days in order to help increase awareness.
Our Goal:
Mental Days: Two excused absences per semester. This would be an extension to the current allowance of 10 excused absences before credit loss. These days would also explicitly be listed as mental health days in order to help increase awareness.
Similar Laws in Other States:
● On July 1, a law in Oregon went into effect giving students five mental health days in a three month period.
● In 2018, Utah changed the definition of a student’s “valid excuse” to miss a day to include an illness “which may be mental or physical.”
● In 2018, Utah changed the definition of a student’s “valid excuse” to miss a day to include an illness “which may be mental or physical.”
Works Cited:
“Adolescent Mental Health.” World Health Organization , World Health Organization, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health.
Cassata, Cathy. “Yes, Children Need to Take Mental Health Days Too - Here's Why.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 23 Nov. 2019,
www.healthline.com/health-news/mental-health-day-for-kids.
“Data and Statistics on Children's Mental Health.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 15 June 2020,
www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/data.html.
“Depression Is on the Rise in the U.S., Especially Among Young Teens.” Search the Website, 30 Oct. 2017,
www.publichealth.columbia.edu/public-health-now/news/depression-rise-us-especially-a mong-young-teens.
“Depression on the Rise During COVID-19.” Massachusetts General Hospital, www.massgeneral.org/news/coronavirus/depression-on-rise-during-covid-19. JadeScipioni. “Students Can Now Take 'Mental Health Days' off from School in Oregon-Here's Why.” CNBC, CNBC, 22 July 2019,
www.cnbc.com/2019/07/22/a-new-bill-allows-oregon-students-to-take-mental-health-da ys.html.
North, Anna. “Remote School Has Kids Isolated and Stressed. Here's How to Help.” Vox, Vox, 10 Sept. 2020,
www.vox.com/21429008/kids-covid-19-schools-students-remote-stress.
Taylor, Derrick Bryson. “Need a Mental Health Day? Some States Give Students the Option.”
The New York Times, The New York Times, 24 July 2019,
www.nytimes.com/2019/07/24/health/oregon-mental-health-days.html.
Cassata, Cathy. “Yes, Children Need to Take Mental Health Days Too - Here's Why.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 23 Nov. 2019,
www.healthline.com/health-news/mental-health-day-for-kids.
“Data and Statistics on Children's Mental Health.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 15 June 2020,
www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/data.html.
“Depression Is on the Rise in the U.S., Especially Among Young Teens.” Search the Website, 30 Oct. 2017,
www.publichealth.columbia.edu/public-health-now/news/depression-rise-us-especially-a mong-young-teens.
“Depression on the Rise During COVID-19.” Massachusetts General Hospital, www.massgeneral.org/news/coronavirus/depression-on-rise-during-covid-19. JadeScipioni. “Students Can Now Take 'Mental Health Days' off from School in Oregon-Here's Why.” CNBC, CNBC, 22 July 2019,
www.cnbc.com/2019/07/22/a-new-bill-allows-oregon-students-to-take-mental-health-da ys.html.
North, Anna. “Remote School Has Kids Isolated and Stressed. Here's How to Help.” Vox, Vox, 10 Sept. 2020,
www.vox.com/21429008/kids-covid-19-schools-students-remote-stress.
Taylor, Derrick Bryson. “Need a Mental Health Day? Some States Give Students the Option.”
The New York Times, The New York Times, 24 July 2019,
www.nytimes.com/2019/07/24/health/oregon-mental-health-days.html.