Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill that would give public school students time off to seek help for mental health issues.
Senate Bill 2473 would allow students up to five sick days for mental health issues. Steve Murray, past president of the Illinois Counseling Association, approves.
Murray says that just as with physical sick days, schools have a limit on the number of days a student can miss and still receive credit.
Issues such as anxiety and depression are rising. He says addressing them will help students be successful in school and later in life.
Murray says the bill wouldn’t be a cure-all, but rather a starting point.