“High school can be a lonely, difficult place to begin with,” said Hailey Hardcastle, 19, who spent months lobbying for the Oregon law as a high school senior. But mental health problems among youths have been on a steady, alarming rise in recent years. ADAllowing students to take mental sick days could help parents and counselors take notice and spark conversations, other students argued at the hearings. “There’s been a lot of talk about mental health because of the school shootings we’ve had,” said Ethan Reed, a high school junior and a leader in the effort. “I know a lot of youth in our community who are still hurting from it,” said Reed, who sits on a state school safety group.

Source: Washington Post October 22, 2019 11:03 UTC