A new bill signed by Governor Pritzker will allow for students to take five excused absences for “mental health days” starting in January 2022. The stress and impact of the coronavirus is the prime motivator for this bill, with State Representative Barbara Hernandez noting, “Many students feel stressed and have developed anxiety and depression because they’re not able to see teachers and friends, and may have lower grades due to remote learning.” Mental health emergencies among school-aged children have skyrocketed since the start of the pandemic.

The National Suicide Prevention Hotline can be reached at 800-273-8255. More mental health resources can be found at NAMI Chicago.