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Mental Health
It’s a mental health day, not a procrastination day.
A child taking a day off from school has traditionally been seen as being overindulgent, but a child begging to stay home could be a sign that they actually need a mental health day.
Over 50% of South African teenagers between the ages of 15 and 18 are dealing with symptoms of depression. While 30% of children between the ages of 10 and 14 are also similarly affected. With this reality, parents can consider mental health days as an opportunity to check in and understand why the child may be avoiding school.
Why a teenager might need a mental health day?
A teenager could be dreading their upcoming exam season and feel overwhelmed with the preparation ahead, or perhaps they’ve just overcome a really busy period at school and feel the need to recharge.
Teenagers, much like adults, can feel exhausted from pursuing goals that they have set for themselves; maybe your teen feels they need a break from having practice every day after school since they are on a sports team. That’s where a mental health day comes in.
Points to consider when evaluating your teen:
- Are they feeling overwhelmed?
- Did something happen at school that was upsetting, such as a fight with a friend or an embarrassing moment in class?
- Are they worried about their results for the term?
- Are they feeling anxious, sad, or stressed?
- Is something happening at home that is adding stress, like the illness or loss of a loved one, the death of a pet, a big move, or a divorce?
Making the most of a mental health day
The main priority should be doing activities that leave your teen ready to take on school again.
These are some of the mental health day activities that could help your teen feel restored and recharged:
- Taking a walk outside or spending time in nature
- Baking, drawing, painting, or other activities that your child finds calming
- A spa day
- Meditating
- Listening to music or reading a book
A mental health day is not an opportunity to force them to talk about things they are not ready to divulge yet, or to make them spring-clean their room. Rather, it is about teaching your teen healthy coping mechanisms, skills that they will be able to use long after they have left home.
Ultimately, letting your teenager take a mental health day can go a long way in teaching them resilience, and it instils in them that their mental health is as important as their physical health.