Mental Health Day

Yellow number two pencils have a certain smell. It reminds me that school is starting soon… as if I cannot read the huge ‘Back to School Sale’ signs in every store. If you listen closely, you can almost hear the children crying out in agony and parents rejoicing in the return of their freedom. But at what point do we stop trying to silence our kids and listen to them? There may be a lot of reasons why they do not look forward to school. Making friends can be difficult; teachers may not have the time to give students one on one attention that they need to learn. Bullying and cyber-bullying are spreading across our schools like the flu. If people had the flu, we would let them stay home, rest, and recuperate. So why are we telling students to be strong and get through it? Younger generations are taking on more stress than ever. And we are seeing more people reaching out for help with mental illness.

    Many students feel defeated before they even walk into a classroom. And why would they try if they think that they are just going to fail? With so many who are struggling, we need to stop ignoring and stigmatizing them. It is time we discuss and seriously look at the idea of a mental health day.

    A mental health day is similar to the idea of a sick day. It treats mental health with the same respect, validity, and dignity as physical health. This means students would be at liberty to put their mental health above their grades. This is not to say their grades should suffer, however students should be afforded the right to value every aspect of their health. This means having the ability to take time off, leniency in assignments, and have their mental health respected. 

You can take this time to relax. Catch up on any sleep you have been missing. Or if you have trouble turning your brain off, try rewatching one of your favorite movies. I love snuggling up with a cozy blanket and finding an old episode of Scooby Doo on Netflix. Or unwind through your favorite books. Reading can transport you to another world. Or put on calming music and light aromatically soothing candles. No matter how you choose to relax, feel liberated to do so.

    Know that missing a day of class is not the end of the world, and that it is okay to prioritize your mental health. This is not an easy way to get out of schoolwork or an excuse for lack of gumption. This is learning to take a breath. If we can implement tools for students to be able to express what they need and take steps to help them, we can make their experience richer and more pleasant. A learning environment should be a happy and safe place for all who are in it.

    Students should be able to look forward to their classes starting. No one should be weighted with anxiety and depression brought on by the intensity of their educational environment. And hopefully by initiating conversations like this between students, parents, and administrators, channels of communication will be made and maintained. So that when students are anxious and stressed about a test or a bully or anything they are going through, they know that they have support systems and people behind them, people who will trust them and listen and help. By giving students these tools and your support, we are equipping each other to be successful and able to manage the stressors of life.