Students need a certain amount of time to be able to relax and rest instead of going to school. School has a huge impact on students’ mental health and wellness by affecting their academic performance and social skills. When students are given the opportunity to take a day to themselves, it allows them to take time to be the best version of themselves.
Studies have shown that following the COVID-19 pandemic there has been an serious uptake in mental illnesses. A study done by KFF/CNN shows how 90% of U.S. adults believe that there is a mental health crisis in the United States.
Using social media impacts teenagers’ mental health. Social media is programmed to be addictive and keep users engaged so they will continue using the app. This activates the brain to release dopamine which is referred to as a chemical that “makes us feel good.” The constant use of these apps can be linked to increased depression and anxiety because of FOMO (fear of missing out) or other reasons.
There are many ways to approach teens struggling with mental health. Students in schools need mental health days in order to take a break from their usual activities.
An increased amount of anxiety can affect your brain and cognitive thinking skills. Mental health impacts our cognitive processes such as perception, memory, thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving. A mental health day would also allow students to take a break and return to school with clear thoughts, better concentration, improved decision-making, and the capacity to learn and adapt to new information.
A benefit to mental health days allows for time to reduce stress and prevent students from burning out. Middle and high school kids have multiple responsibilities to live up to including getting high grades, sports, and extracurricular activities such as clubs and volunteering. Students are held to a higher standard than ever before which involves high amounts of pressure.
Another benefit is increased self-confidence and self-awareness. Students feel the pressure of their academic performance being tied to their worth. A mental health day is a day to reflect on bad thoughts and understand they are worth more than one test.
It is very easy to rationalize why a mental health day may not be needed but your physical, emotional, and mental well-being are vital to your existence. Allowing time to yourself is crucial to being the best version of yourself and giving the best performance in school.
The biggest worry among parents about their kids taking a mental health day is if they are using it wisely. Parents cannot be home all the time because of work or other responsibilities, but there are other ways to approach this. If you would like your child to use their day correctly, limit their screen time or buy a book for them to read. This is a great way to get them off of their devices and allow self-care.
Everyone needs days off–a great place to start is with students.
