New York parents support mental health sick leave for kids

When it comes to mental health sick days, what do New York parents think about keeping their kids at home?

Nationwide, about 26% of public school students were classified as “chronically absent” last school year, up from 15% before the pandemic, according to Test Prep Insights.

Why are kids spending more time at home?

This issue is due to several factors:

1) Some families take holidays during term time, taking advantage of off-peak travel discounts.

2) Some parents from different income groups may be too busy with work to monitor their children’s attendance.

3) Mental health has emerged as a significant factor in student absenteeism.

Test Prep Insights A survey of 3,000 parents was conducted.

“The survey aimed to gauge the extent to which parents support absences when it directly benefits their child’s mental health. Traditionally, school authorities have discouraged extended absences, but changing perceptions of mental health in recent years may indicate a change in attitudes.”

79% of New York parents believe their children should be allowed to miss school for mental health reasons (compared to 73% nationally). Support for the idea is highest in Minnesota, where 86% of parents are in favor of changing the rules, while Vermont has the lowest support, with only 40% of parents in favor.

When asked what would justify a mental health day for their student, over half (52%) of parents cited symptoms of a mental health disorder such as anxiety or stress. A further 24% cited family or personal issues, 15% thought grief over the loss of a loved one was justified, and 8% thought feeling overwhelmed by schoolwork was a reason for the day off.

Thirty-nine percent of parents would like to see more mental health awareness training for teachers, 23% would like mental health education to be incorporated into the curriculum, 21% wanted more communication between schools and parents, and 17% wanted more mental health professionals on site.

What do you think about this? Are you for or against the survey? Let us know by sending us a text message on the Station app.