In August, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a new bill. For students between the ages of 6 through 17, this bill allows five mental health days without the need of a doctor’s note, beginning in early January of 2022. Illinois is one of the few states to pass similar proposals. Utah and Oregon have passed a similar bill with California and Florida close behind them. 

A student’s perspective on this action is vital, so Andrew Jacobson (12) spoke about his opinions on the topic. He said, “The five mental health days, I feel, will be beneficial to students as it allows them to have time to not be as stressed out.” 

Mental health has become increasingly important in today’s society as the stigma for getting help is decreasing dramatically. With the shame of asking for help diminishing, more students will speak up and tell themselves they need a break to mentally and emotionally better themselves. By students using these five mental health days, they can focus on their grades and attitudes about life in general.