Very Well Minds and Parents released a Mental Health Days and Children’s Survey, which found that stigma and income are barriers to using mental health days in schools.

new york, August 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ – Today, DotDash Meredith Very good mind And Parents Release findings from Mental Health Days and Kids: A Better Mind and Parenting Study. The study examines the benefits and barriers of mental health days for children and how economic divides prevent access and availability of mental health days.

of Mental health days and children Surveys show good awareness and support for children’s mental health days, but concerns about legitimacy and acceptance by others persist. The results show that more than half of parents (55%) have allowed their child to take a mental health day off from school or other obligations, and a further 32% said they would consider doing so. And while 3 in 4 parents believe mental health days are an effective tool, 46% don’t tell friends or family that their child has taken a mental health day.

“The pandemic, canceled activities and distance learning have contributed to the worsening of the child mental health crisis, with many states allowing children to take mental health days from school to focus on managing their symptoms,” he said. Amy Morin, LCSW, editor-in-chief, Verywell Mind. “While challenges such as socioeconomic status and persistent stigma still prevent widespread use, our survey results show that parents are beginning to embrace mental health days, giving us hope that more parents and schools will follow suit.”

Grace BastidasParents Editor-in-Chief: “More than half of the country currently has no mental health days in schools, and even when they do, 1 in 5 parents cannot allow their children to be taken. They simply can’t afford to miss work or pay for unexpected childcare, so taking a day off to reset and recharge becomes a challenge for many families.

The findings and analysis of the survey are available in separate stories Very good mind And ParentsDetailing the use and impact of mental health days a The number of American states is growing Allow them to be absent from school as an excuse. Among the most significant survey results are the following.

Awareness and acceptance have grown but some stigmas remain.

Parents welcome mental health days.

• A majority (68%) of American parents are aware of mental health days and 54% know other parents (parents with children in the same age range) who allow their children to take mental health days.
• 3 in 4 parents (75%) feel that mental health days are an effective tool for managing children’s mental health, and another 74% believe that schools should offer mental health days for children. Overall, 62% of children felt they should be able to take more mental health days.
• Among those who allow their child to take mental health days, 86% feel that mental health days have had an impact on their child’s mental health (77%) saying the results are positive.

A quarter, however, cite stigma as a barrier.

• While 42% of parents have no concerns about their child taking a mental health day, 1 in 4 (26%) are concerned about stigmatizing themselves or their child by allowing their child to take a mental health day.
• 1 in 3 parents surveyed think mental health days are less legitimate than sick days (34%) and another 1 in 3 (31%) feel mental health days are an excuse for children to skip school.
• 3 in 1 (31%) parents feel their child is too young to have a mental health problem.

Use of mental health days is consistent with school attendance and income

Schools in wealthier neighborhoods are more likely to offer mental health days.

• 55% of parents work at home 100 thousand dollars or more say they provide mental health days at their children’s schools, when they have 20% less income than the rest of the family 100 thousand dollars every year.
• 91% of parents would allow their child to take a mental health day if their family income is at least that 100 thousand dollars Every year and their school allows them, only 45% of parents in the same income bracket but compared to children in schools. do not Providing mental health days.

Parents allow their children to take mental health days when schools allow them.

• 81% of parents whose children’s schools offer mental health days do so compared to 45% who use their children’s schools. not at all Providing mental health days.
• However, 84% of those who did not allow their child to take a mental health day would consider allowing their child to take a mental health day away from school or other obligations if their school allowed it.

Parents rely on their children and schools to designate Mental Health Day.

Children and schools are talking.

• 58% of parents say they know if their child needs a mental health day when their child asks for one, and 31% feel they need one when their child’s school suggests it.
• When deciding whether their child needs a mental health day, 37% of parents consult a co-parent/guardian or school counselor (35%).
• 37% of parents said their child has seen a school counselor for emotional or mental struggles.

For more information at Mental Health Days and Kids: A Better Mind and Parenting StudyAnd for insights into the current state of mental health, visit Very good mind And Parents.

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Verywell Mind and Parents surveyed more than 1,000 American parents across a range of demographics, including age, race, income, geographic location and gender awareness. Respondents were all parents or guardians of a child between the ages of 8-12 (twins) or 13-17 (tweens).

About Toowell
Very good mind It is one of the largest mental health centers in the world, serving 6 million people a year in their crisis. The award-winning publication is committed to providing comprehensive mental health information on hundreds of topics with thousands of expert-authored, peer-reviewed articles and empowering readers to get the mental health treatment they deserve. Verwell Mind is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

About parents
For almost 100 years, Parents It provides trusted advice and a supportive community to 9 million monthly caregivers as they raise the next generation of confident and compassionate children. Parents’ team of editors, writers and experts are at your side as a source of up-to-date and practical information for big life decisions and mindfulness in the ever-evolving field of parenting. Parents are part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

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