I will soon reintroduce SB387, a bill from the previous legislative session - co-sponsored by Senators Costa, Hughes, Fontana, Haywood, Kane, Brewster, Street, Tartaglione, Comitta, Saval, Muth, Cappelletti, and L. Williams - which would allow students to take two mental health days per semester as excused absences. As with other excused absences, a parental note would be required to ensure the missed day is not counted as part of a pattern of truancy.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, one in eight children suffers from anxiety, yet 80% of those with a diagnosable anxiety disorder do not receive the treatment they need. Without proper care - such as counseling, medication, or other interventions - these children may face long-term challenges. Anxiety disorders have been on the rise among K–12 students since at least the 1950s, and experts predict that the numbers will continue to increase in the years ahead.

The COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened the mental health crisis. One study found that 25% of students reported experiencing anxiety symptoms, with concerns about academic delays, the economic impact of the pandemic, and disruptions to daily life contributing to their stress. A survey by YoungMinds revealed that 83% of young people felt that the pandemic worsened their mental health, citing school closures, loss of routine, and limited social connections as key factors.

As academic pressures have increased, many students have had less access to traditional coping strategies, such as support from family members, who may themselves be experiencing heightened stress. The modern era has placed an unprecedented mental health burden on students, requiring urgent attention and action.

While mental health days are by no means a solution to the epidemic that is the mental health crisis among our youth, it provides families with a tool to ensure that struggling students receive the support they need to maintain both their well-being and academic success. I hope you will join me in co-sponsoring this measure.