Should “Mental Health Days” Become a Thing? — Inside a YIG Senator’s Bill

By: Kaylie Ebert

A proposal to grant 5 dedicated mental health days to school districts was recently brought up in the senate for voting today, March 7th, and with it came a controversial debate. The writer of this bill, Portia Hah, from the Door County delegation says that unlike the standard excused absences, these won’t be like “sick days” but rather a way for students to manage their mental well- being. 

Supporters of this bill argued that mental health should be treated just the same as physical health, and if students are allowed a certain amount of days off because of things such as the flu, students should have the same grace for exhaustion or mental instability. Giving students the power to choose when they need a break can lead to a stronger sense of self-awareness, teaching students to recognize when they are overwhelmed before a breakdown happens. The idea of a “reset” factor was brought up by multiple pro speakers summarizing that school can be a stressful environment, a planned day off can prevent future burnout and eventually decrease days missed because of a bigger burnout you might have later on. Lastly, personal responsibility students are capable of knowing what is going on in school such as when tests are, assignments due, etc. and if a students chooses to use these mental health days as a way to see past these things they are hurting themselves more but for the students that use these days responsibly it can be a great asset to school districts.

Despite all the pro speakers the “nays” outweighed the outcome of this bill. The cons of this bill were loud, with a main concern being that missing school will lead to additional stress because of assignments and projects that students will be missing when they aren’t there. They argued that this will create a cycle of stress rather than reduce it. With that being said, they argued that with the Wisconsin absentee percentage already being high, this bill being added it will make it worse. 

Arguing that instead of schools giving more off days the districts should redirect funding to better resources to support students in need. Lastly, Concerns with the age appropriateness of this bill was also brought up. With the grades being K-12, is a five year-old able to make the decision that they need a “mental health day” or does it create a habit of avoidance? 

While in the end the votes did not make this bill pass, the debate highlighted the need for evolution in school systems. Whether this is done through dedicated days off or increased support in schools. The goal will always remain that mental health is important and recognized and someone who is “not okay” isn’t just marked as truant but as a student who is in need of help.