by Jack Drabin

I want to talk to you about something super important—mental health days. Yeah, you heard me right. We all need a break sometimes, especially us boys. Let me tell you why:

First of all, mental health days give us a chance to do what “we” like, not just what school and parents tell us to do. Imagine this: you love basketball, but you hardly get to play because you’re buried under schoolwork, chores, and a million after-school activities. Sure, these things are important for learning teamwork and new skills, but sometimes, you just need a day to do nothing at all. No homework, no chores, no obligations. Just you, your basketball and the court. Sounds awesome, right?

That’s where mental health days come in. They’re days when boys can do whatever they want to help their mental health. It’s like hitting the reset button. It relaxes us and clears our minds from all the worries. We get to do what we want, when we want. It’s not just fun; it’s necessary!

And it’s not just me saying this. According to a survey by Lyra Health, 94% of benefits leaders say that offering mental health benefits is super important for workers. That’s nearly triple the number who said it was important last year! This shows that even adults are realizing how crucial mental health is. The survey also highlighted that stress and anxiety are huge problems for everyone, and having a good environment and support can make a big difference.

Mental health days are all about relaxing and doing what you love. They help us recharge and make sure we don’t get too overwhelmed. So, now that you know how important mental health days are, here’s the big question: When will you have your next mental health day?

Oh, and by the way, I wrote this while trying to convince my mom that “Take Your Child to Work Day” should really be a mental health day for kids. Wish me luck!

Jack Drabin is 11 years old and loves to write stories and draw pictures.