We all know how important it is to take a sick day when we’re physically unwell. But what if students could take a day off to recover from emotional exhaustion? Should mental health days become a recognized part of the school calendar?
I’m sure many of us have asked ourselves this, especially when we really just don’t want to get out of bed. School can be so draining for kids now—whether it’s because of other students or just the workload. We deserve to give ourselves a break that isn’t only because we’re physically sick. As long as we don’t abuse this privilege, it could really help students and improve how they feel throughout the week.
According to DCPS Mental Health, “Nearly 60% of teens report experiencing some form of mental health challenge, such as anxiety or depression.” This can come from the stress of trying to keep up with schoolwork, conflicts with other students, or personal struggles. On top of that, it’s hard to balance homework, extracurriculars, and personal time, which can leave students feeling completely exhausted.
I know from experience that unless your parents are really laid-back, you usually have to fake being sick in order to skip a day of school—even when you’re not physically ill. Sometimes, we just need a break, and we deserve to have one.
If schools allowed us to take “mental health days,” it could give students a chance to reset before jumping back into the daily routine. It’s understandable that staff and parents might worry about students abusing the system, but if there were a limit—like only being allowed a certain number of days per month—that concern could be managed.
Even though a policy like this might not happen any time soon, it’s important for parents and teachers to understand that students need breaks too.
Panther Press serves as the voice of the journalism students at Glen Edwards Middle School. The views on this site do not reflect the views of WPUSD or the administration at GEMS. Our goal is to promote student expression and provide a platform for diverse voices and viewpoints within our campus community.
