Connecticut Joins Growing Number of States Allowing Student Mental Health Days

We see how mental health is becoming more and more talked about and accepted in everyday society. The help of celebrities and sports figures talking openly about their mental health struggles may make it easier for the average "Joe Schmo" to deal with their own. There is still a long way to go, but steps are going in the right direction.

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An article from News 8 WTNH caught our eye this week and we wanted to share it with you guys. Connecticut has joined 11 other states in the nation to allow their school kids to take "mental health days." With the pandemic disrupting literally everything, our school students were no exception. Nearly every student in America had to do most, if not all their school work at home with no interactions with other students, and we are seeing some of the effects it had on our kids and their mental wellness.

The pandemic is just one aspect of what our kids have to deal with on a daily basis, but it is definitely a factor. Pretty much whatever affects adults' mental health will affect our children's as well. This year, a nationwide mental health hotline went into effect to try and help ease some of the mental stress plaguing our nation. Here are the states that now have "mental health days" allowed for students in their schools: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.

According to verywellmind, more and more states are accepting a "mental health day" as a valid reason for missing school. Here is a breakdown of the states and their legislation status on the subject and some key takeaways from their recent study.

Key Takeaways

• In the past year, instances of mental health crises have increased for children and teenagers.
• States and school administrations are now recognizing the importance of mental health days for students as a form of support.
• Paying attention to your child’s behavior and prioritizing open conversations can determine whether a mental health day is appropriate.

In the study, 74% of parents who were surveyed thought that schools should offer mental health days for their students and that is happening all over the nation including here in Connecticut. Thanks for hanging out with me and see you again very soon.