Why Mental Health Days Should Be Built Into The Academic Calendar

By: Amylah Edwards, Contributor

In today’s fast and high-pressure academic environment, students are facing more stress and anxiety than ever before. Between homework, exams, extracurriculars and personal challenges, many feel overwhelmed and burnt out. Just as we take sick days from work to recover from physical illnesses, students should have the option to take mental health days to recharge emotionally and mentally. Adding mental health days to the school calendar would not only support students’ well-being but also promote a healthier, more balanced approach to education, leading to higher grades. 

As the years have gone on, Gen Z has made mental health an open and comfortable discussion to talk about more than other generations. However, universities and professors will preach about caring for your mental health and encourage students to care for their mental health, but then will punish them for missing class by deducting a letter from their grade or taking points off an assignment for simply missing the class. It seems like the narrative of ‘help your mental health’ has been swept under the rug by some people and now not as many people seem to care about the issues at large. Fewer and fewer people are coming out and actually seeking help with their issues. This can be seen in the skilled trades community—there has been a steady decline in tradesmen speaking out and seeking help for their mental health issues. 

All of this is very concerning because this is the future of our nation. If this situation continues the way it is currently, in 20-30 years our future generation is going to be too afraid to take a mental health leave. They won’t seek the help they need because they may be scared to receive that punishment or ridicule from their professors, friends or family members—and it doesn’t just end with tradesmen. According to the National Institute of Health, about 10-30% of students experience depressive tendencies, with some even developing depressive disorders. This growing issue of unaddressed mental health concerns is not just for one group or community; it’s a widespread problem affecting students across all fields, from liberal arts to STEM, and yes, even the skilled trades. 

When students are punished or ignored for taking the time they need to care for their mental well-being, it sends a horrible message that their mental health is less important than deadlines, attendance or performance. But the truth is, mental health is a necessity. A student who is mentally healthy is more focused, more productive, and better able to succeed both academically and socially. When mental health is neglected, it can lead to burnouts, dropouts, substance abuse, drug abuse and in the worst cases, even suicide. 

What can we do to help? 

Schools and universities need to stop treating mental health as a secondary issue and start executing real support systems, like adding mental health days, flexible deadlines in certain circumstances. Increased access to counseling services and faculty training to help educators recognize and respond to signs of mental distress in their students. We must also break the cycle of silence. It starts with normalizing conversations around mental health, not just on social media but in real life too: in real classrooms and real offices. Students should be encouraged to speak openly about what they’re going through without fear of being dismissed, penalized or misunderstood. 

If we want to help create well-rounded and compassionate students, we need to take mental health seriously starting now. The well-being of students is not a distraction from their education; it's a crucial part of it. No grade, deadline or assignment is more important than a student’s life.