Mental Health Days 

In the year 2021, 16.64% of youth (12-17) in the state of Utah have suffered from at least one major depressive episode. That means that almost one out of every five kids ages 12-17 has dealt with an episode in the past 365 days. Because of these staggering statistics, it is necessary that we educate our youth on the importance of mental health. 

One way to do this is to develop a mental health program to implement into all junior highs and high schools in the state. This schedule might look something like; the school day on Wednesdays will be dedicated to mental health. Every other Wednesday the students will come to school for an hour and a half to learn about the different principles of mental health. On the Wednesdays in between the students will have the day off to rest, recuperate, and practice mental health skills. Buses will be scheduled for kids that need it on Wednesdays when the students attend school.

One way to accomplish this would be to teach kids about how important mental health is and why it is necessary to take care of their own. Taking one day off of school every other week would decrease stress and allow students to catch up on work they might not have been able to finish during class. 

Becky Lant, an English teacher from Mountain View High School said, “Teenagers are amazing! They have many responsibilities and expectations, which they work hard to accomplish. But, they also have heavy burdens. Life can be overwhelming and we don’t always have the skills to deal with stress and anxiety. This can increase their struggles. Focusing on mental health skills helps teens learn how to manage their emotions, think clearly, and increase their self-confidence, etc. Mental health is the key for teens to be happy, safe, and thriving.” 

 Going to school five days a week for six hours everyday is a lot for kids. Participating in extracurricular activities can add more stress to teenagers, on top of school and homework. Social pressures are another thing that can add stress to this age group. These social pressures might include fear of being judged, fear of failure, and fear of not being good enough. Taking care of yourself is a crucial part of life. The youth need to learn and practice this at a young age so when they are older they know the value that their mental health has.