Schools in Illinois Give Kids 5 Mental Health Days
In August 2021, Illinois passed a bill allowing students to take up to five excused mental health days starting in January 2022. Any students who decide to take a mental health day will not be required to provide a doctor’s note and will be able to make up any work missed during their day off. Read the full story to learn how this new law is designed to help kids get care.
Important Update: On September 10, 2021, California passed a similar bill (SB-14) which amends 48205 of the Education Code to allow excused absences “due to the pupil’s illness, including an absence for the benefit of the pupil’s mental or behavioral health.”
Phrases to Help Calm an Anxious Kid
One in four children will experience an anxiety disorder in their lifetime, and the number keeps increasing over time. One way parents can help is to teach their children how to work through feelings of anxiety and nervousness. In this article, experts provide easy phrases parents can use to help alleviate anxiety and fear in different situations.
6 Podcasts to Help Prioritize Mental Health
Anxiety and depression can affect everyone. So, whether you’re trying to take care of your own mental health or looking to support those around you, here are 6 podcasts that can help you get started. Covered topics include burnout, saying no, starting a hobby, showing up, supporting other’s mental health and starting the conversation with teens.
Demystifying Mental Health Treatment
CHOC’s Director of Mental Health, Dr. Dani Milliken, was recently featured on Hope Happens Here, a podcast dedicated to hosting authentic and meaningful conversations around mental health. In this episode, Dr. Milliken sat down with long-time CHOC volunteer, Liz Hawkins, to discuss what mental health treatment for children and teens actually looks like and share insights for those seeking mental health treatment for their children.
Proof that School Interventions Help Kids’ Mental Health
A recent study showed that school-based interventions focused on helping students regulate their emotions in healthy ways are effective at preventing or reducing mental health problems in teens. Not only did participants describe improved mental health at the end of the 12-session program, but they displayed better responses to stress from the COVID-19 pandemic compared to non-participating peers.
FREE Virtual Mental Health Education Program (MHEP)
CHOC's Mental Health Education Program (MHEP) provides free online educational sessions from our team of pediatric mental health specialists that are open to all community members, including youth, parents, educators and providers. Through these presentations and trainings, we strive to partner with and equip our community with the knowledge, tools and resources to support the wellness of our County's children, adolescents and young adults. Download the Full Schedule.