Why students should get mental health days - Hailey Hardcastle

School can be rife with stress, anxiety, panic attacks and even burnout -- but there's often no formal policy for students who need to prioritize their well-being. Hailey Hardcastle explains why schools should offer mental health days and allow students time to practice emotional hygiene without stigma.
Watch the full talk here: • Why you should take a ...
#shorts #tedx #psychology #mentalhealth #wellbeing #depression #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #school #student

[@marlenezarah6501]

One day when I was about 14 I told my teachers that I had a stomach ache and they let me go home. I didn't habe a stomach ache, but I just couldn't mentally cope with being at school that day. I didn't want to go home, so I started walking. My school was 15 km away from my house and I walked the entire way back. I habe no Idea how I found the way, because I didn't have a smartphone and I had never walked that way before. I walked along the river and through the fields, put my feet in the cold water, stopped at a playground to use the swing and the slide and lay down in the grass to watch the clouds. Somehow I got home pretty much exactly at the time I would have gotten home if I had stayed in school and then taken the train. When I got home I felt like a new person. The walk changed my mood completely. I needed that break, i needed to get a connection to nature and to my own body again. I didn't tell anyone about this at the time and nobody asked any questions. They didn't even question the sunburn I had 😅 Years later I told my mom about it and she said that I could have totally told her and that she is glad that I found a way to get a break from everything to regulate my emotions. That day was one of the best days of my teenage years. I didn't make the decision to walk home, I just started walking without knowing why. In my memory that day feels like a movie. That day I learned how to regulate my emotions, how to get back into my body when I feel like I'm out of it. I learned to trust myself, I got more confidence, because I had found the way home and I had walked 15 Km. I learned that it is important to take care of your mental health, that it is okay to take a step back and quit sometimes. That playing like a child can still be fun, even when everyone says you're too old for that. That Fun doesn't have an age limit. I wouldn't have learned any of these things in school and it was easy to catch up on the things I missed that day.

[@cpa0510]

I hope you are good! ❤

[@Tharuruu]

I love being a kid and thee is nothing wrong with that

[@milynh1798]

thank you for sharing this, it was very inspiring to me ❤

[@حياةحنان-ن5ج]

من أجمل ماقرأت المشي وسط الطبيعة ينعش العقول ويهدئ الأعصاب

[@arifariffulislam2246]

Wish you good luck

[@whale2207]

One day my daughter started crying in the car uncontrollably and asked me if she could stay home. We were at the school already, but I immediately said yes and drove home. It was as it a big burden had lifted from her shoulders. I let her calmed down and then later that day I spoke to her to find out why she was she feeling that way. My parents would had not allowed me to be absent. Those are little moments that you never forget as a child.

[@TheCureThatKillz]

Congratulations, sounds like you are raising one of these self entitled, thin skinned, and fragile people who freak out over everything because their parents pampered them and never taught them how to push through adversity, overcome difficulties, and take control of their mindset. Congrats, more of the exact type of people who are ruining society.

[@gokulhemanthkumar4556]

Why can I relate to your daughter so much. Damn.

[@ami2474]

My mom let me stay home when she knew I was having a hard time. At first, it felt like she was being irresponsible (she'd ask me like "Hey, would you like to stay home today?" And I didn't understand why) and just didn't want to drive me, but over time I realized what she was doing. My mom is narcissistic and bipolar so she's had a lot of rough parenting moments, but it's things like this that made her parenting stand out in the best way from all of my friends' parents and I could never thank her enough for doing it for me

[@wrathuu]

I've done this many times and my mom NEVER let me stay home. You are such a good parent

[@fdggfgdfgd251]

You should have disciplined her. She's gonna be a total snowflake

[@nosne1948]

My asian parents will just call me lazy if I suggest this.

[@nosne1948]

@@Dimitris_Half clearly you're not asian

[@vintage25]

True

[@Khobinda144]

African too hahahah

[@nizambao4653]

Definitely. Even here in Africa

[@jonijohnston1688]

My Dad would think the same way...just work more, and then you don't have time to worry... Ya, he never got my panic attacks, stomach ulcers, and depression...very closed minded To better days 🎊

[@MindfulThreads_]

Mental health days are so important and key to maintaining a healthy mindset when dealing with negative environments or workplaces. Take your mental health days!

[@littlebopeeps5852]

Workplaces need to implement this as well.

[@npham1198]

Some already do like Deloitte! Unfortunately, not every workplace does though :/

[@TheCureThatKillz]

Give me a break

[@grebsolbsinned5438]

No

[@MEZOMEZO2011]

100%. Sadly, you might see some business owner saying this is useless or fighting against it.

[@TheCureThatKillz]

@@MEZOMEZO2011 as well they should, they have businesses to run. You clearly are not a business owner. But guess what, most people get 52 “mental health days” a year…did you know that? They are called “weekends”.

[@ethics5470]

Youth mental health issues are a developing concern that requires prompt response. Their future success and well-being may be significantly impacted by the rising levels of stress, anxiety, and despair. It is tragic that so many of these kids aren't getting the support they require. The stigma around mental health, which keeps them from getting treatment, is a significant factor in this issue. Ignorance, false information, and discrimination feed this stigma. This must be altered. The expectation that young people should always be healthy and resilient makes it challenging for them to acknowledge when they are dealing with mental health issues. In order to encourage young people to seek assistance when they need it, it is crucial that society endeavor to remove these barriers. We must encourage the creation of readily available and reasonably priced education and resource initiatives for mental health. By doing this, we can make sure that our young people have the resources they need to lead productive lives.

[@kyaraAthena]

Had a similar deal but without being a deal with my parents. They knew I was doing well at school and whenever I just felt like not going, they would just say ok :) It was awesome having that freedom. Never took it for granted and really appreciated the trust from my parents. Gotta love good parenting :3

[@AbdulawallMohammadi]

Hi

[@nancyneyedly4587]

Whenever my son needed it or we as a family needed it, we took the day, off, a family day. Just call the school, tell them he isn't coming in for a family day. Sometimes we did nothing, soemtimes it was a fun day out. School isn't everything.

[@NarratorLP]

It doesn’t work in my country. School is required by law so we can’t skip it without a very good reason.

[@Evija3000]

@@NarratorLP I don't think it would fly in my country either, at least with most teachers. Closest thing you can get is a day or two off for a family emergency or a big family event.

[@yoteslaya7296]

ya because thats how you ruin kids, pander to their every little dilemma and make them spineless snowflakes.

[@catalinmihaidobre5452]

That's why the Chinese are taking your jobs. Keep at it!

[@earlofsquirrel1469]

I mean, you can just tell them that you are sick or something, if physical illnesses let you take a day off, then mental ones should too

[@alexandramariano3209]

Todays struggles are tomorrow’s strengths❤😊

[@flaviaantelo5416]

excellent reflection on life, you should never judge other people without knowing them first. I loved it!

[@deerinheadlights9784]

Incoming: toxic comments. I’m 39 and hope this becomes a thing for all students

[@S2t-d7x]

Uncles

[@kahale]

I'm all for more understanding of the mind and all, but I can't help but wonder if the exponential rise in mental health talk is going to influence kids in the future generation to assume they have a problem when they may actually not. Like having to face a simple situation, only to recall all the commercials they see about how bad stress is, and lead them to thinking that experiencing the emotion at all is the problem, rather than the how severe the emotion is. Hope this thought gets out in a way that won't raise pitchforks but instead discussion.

[@GGray.]

That's why they have to be checked by a clinician. If a patient is suspected to be malingering the guardian would be notified.

[@kahale]

@@GGray. My thought was that the mental health discussion may get subconsciously overbearing to kids and end up being what induces the misunderstanding of stress and emotions. Bringing them to a doctor before there are any issues going on sounds like it could further the idea to them that something could be wrong, and create a fear of fear itself so to speak. Because anxiety/stress is not a blanket problem that covers everything else up, its about the problem you were facing that initially caused it. Unless people make the anxiety itself the problem, that is, which seems to be a problem on the rise. When people don't learn how to address the initial outward issues but rather learn to fear their own natural internal emotions, thats when the loop of anxiety is formed.

[@GOD999MODE]

Agreed. Every kid thinks they have some mental health issue now just bc they’re anxious about things that are normal to be anxious about. Having a bad mood isn’t depression or anxiety.

[@ami2474]

Not just that, but many kids believe it to be "cool" to have mental illnesses, so many fake or exaggerate symptoms. It makes it harder to spot who is really in trouble

[@kylejennings819]

I wonder if theres a corralation with needing to feel in control. Having those days to take off when needed gives you control of the bad days, which gives you relief.

[@The_Night_Knight]

They took everything away from me. First tore me apart, left me devoid of any skills and left me alone. Then started to take away my most fundamental human functions. Consciously and unconcliously but either way those monsters enjoyed every last second of it. No hand reached out for me when I was small. I thought I didnt need a hand when I was bigger . Only now can I see what they have truly taken away from me. Im trying to piece myself again.

[@rishikapatel2609]

I wish my parents can understand the same thing

[@lynneruark]

I have this condition too. God bless your mother. Thank you for doing a Ted talk

[@carolwilliams9536]

Never heard of another parent doing this besides me! Both my Son's Graduated with honors and think I'm the coolest Mom ( I'm just a creative Mom like hers ) they never skipped school EVER

[@hannesRSA]

I bunked about 1/3 of my final school year. Made no difference to my life.

[@TheCureThatKillz]

@@hannesRSA LOL that’s pretty funny, and oddly very true.

[@shauniebnaturalista6672]

This sounds like me during the panorama. Some days I'm a dervish. Some days I can barely get up. Not depressed, just tired. I rest.

[@chessmaster2000]

Parents: “You get 3 mental health days per semester as long as you’re doing well in school” Daughter “I’m so depressed and anxious, I’m falling behind in school…” Parents: “Ok! No more mental health days for you!” 😂

[@emersa.productions]

I wish I had this!!! I wouldn't be as effed up as right now in adulthood.

[@dasbootykid]

Had an awesome boss. He was a great Engineer and had mental health challenges at work. He was very open about them. When he got promoted to Manager, he let us take mental health days when we needed. I wish Corporate America would get real about letting employees be human.

[@annaburns2865]

I’m glad that her mom allowed her to have 3 mental health days. My parents said good morning, rise and shine, and rushed me to school. It never mattered that I made all As and Bs. They made my life miserable almost every day. Who knew I would end up being a “morning” person as long as I also had time to rest. As a substitute teacher, I never thought that I would say the phrase, “good morning” and mean it. In high school!, I whenever someone would say, “Good morning” I say, “As if mornings were good.” 😡

[@Cheo.M]

There's plenty of days off in the school year, use those for your mental health days. Parents need to do better, I've never heard a more clear example of how shielded kids like this are. Hopefully it's something they'll grow out of or at least learn to take of themselves because you can't take days off when life hits you.

[@tangerinetangerine4400]

Good point. Kids in school have more days off (think entire summer!)than they'll ever have as adults with a fulltime job. A day off for "mental health" is a luxury. Adulthood is going to be hard for those kids. All I see is a spoiled little girl who hasn't lived yet. Yes mental health is an issue. But just like with physical health you need to learn how to take care of yourself every single day. There us no time out in reality.

[@Evija3000]

@@tangerinetangerine4400 Yeah, they have days off here and there, but from what I remember from my school time, sometimes, with all the homework, you have no free time during workdays, especially if you also do some extracurricular activities. Yeah, I'm jealous of their summer break, but looking at everyday life, I preffer my 8 hour workday in a job that suits me to a school where multiple subjects came hard, I had to study every evening, had to constantly compete and prove myself, had to be among noisy hormonal teenagers who didn't accept me 😄 It also probably depends on home life. If they actually have someone supportive at home who's teaching them how to manage stress and life, or at least giving them space, it might be easier. But when everything is just piled on you, and there is no peace at home either, it's not always a growing/learning experience, sometimes you can just crumble.

[@Cheo.M]

@@Evija3000 the home support system is a fair point. I'd wager if the parents are giving them mental health days off they are getting support/spoiled.i It really depends on location, for me we started in August had winter break (2 weeks off) 4 months later, Spring break (1 or 2 weeks off) 3 months later, and Summer vacation (2 months off) 3 months later. Not to mention all the teacher planning days, early release days, and electives which are not rigorous at all, You're looking at combined almost 4 months out of school, even with me playing sports year round, you lose a couple saturdays but its a choice and its fun. In most places you have support for homework and difficult subjects either in person at the school or online. In the real world none of that exists. You get days off if you're job has that option, unless you take them unpaid. Once you start working, if you're a trade worker or blue collar you're lucky if you work 8 hour days, and get full benefits. It's true kids are spoiled and entitled and if they need a break from school they are going to have a hard time in college, let alone the real world.

[@Cheo.M]

@@tangerinetangerine4400 agree

[@Belle-md9rf]

Have u seen Asian schools? First, we have all Saturdays as a working day....in rare cases when my school remembers that we are human, they give one Saturday rest. We are made to come to school illegally during national holidays, public holidays, Sundays. To avoid being caught, they ask us to not wear our uniform and come in other formal attire. For 11th and 12th graders, they have school regularly from 8 am to 7 pm, which is insane. We don't have proper air circulation in our classrooms and it is uncomfortable. Our teachers are always taking meds due to stress & pressure. Ask anyone from my school if they like it. Not a single student will say yes.

[@YuyangXiong]

Every parents should accentuate kids’ mental health

[@rhaltunen]

I wasn't allowed to have any of the ism's when I was a kid (1970's and early 1980's). My dad made sure of it.

[@lara_rina]

I could have stayed at home and rest for three days but the teachers where my reason not to go - ended to be emotional abuse I faced and many of my friends staying at home didn´t solve it for us bec it let our anxiety grow

[@aaronrosenberg6633]

I think that students definitely need to take mental health days if they need them. If they can still meet the requirements for being a good student (passing), no problem. I have noticed more recently that college students are taking an increasing number of these days, or at least calling it that, missing 2, 3 weeks of classes, and expecting to then be caught up by the professor. This is not always realistic. I'd advise these students to consider withdrawing when possible, or petitioning for a withdrawal.

[@nonpoppinchannel1930]

Btw WHY THE F she looking angelic

[@mitchjames9350]

Best option is to get kids off social media and off electronics while giving them healthy foods and making sure they go to bed early.

[@Nich87]

Sitting in a classroom 8 hours a day isn't good for anyone

[@TheCureThatKillz]

False.

[@fate723]

Ngl skipping school made the following days really stressful

[@memethingz6004]

I needed this I had a very tough childhood but it wasn’t an option in my country

[@TERRA_EXPLORERS]

Best speech ever

[@laurao2107]

Thank you for this ❤

[@EggsBenedict09]

I just asked my mom if we could do this and I'm so happy that she agreed ❤

[@evanlowe3005]

This sounds like life honestly.

[@brídeann]

“It isn’t working your way, we need to try mines” -my mother before making us run errands for a mental health day, making me feel much worse

[@KellysMagicalRealm]

This is a great point! I also think they should have mental health awareness in school! Not to mention meditation, yoga and breath work, reiki as well as cognitive behavioral therapy to teach kids young on how to cope with stress so that way they don’t suffer as adults! That is half the problem with the world no one is taught how to cope with the stresses of life.

[@hayetwhatever3280]

Im loving her hair color 😍 does anyone know what is it called?

[@GazAvenger_A]

Sounds nice, if only I could do that too. But I can’t, every single week without a break. Not a moment away.

[@Bill0102]

This content is a paradigm shift. A similar book I read had a transformative effect. "A Life Unplugged: Reclaiming Reality in a Digital Age" by Theodore Blaze

[@Mohammed_Miah]

Well done, keep up the tremendous work

[@dylanpringle4314]

My mother did the same thing for me, I am in female, the boys name that doesn’t matter but I just I’m glad that somebody speaking up on this

[@damirmusin5577]

She is so cute

[@Goddess--ofThe_Hunt]

I have severe anxiety too I wish I was allowed to take mental health days

[@Idont8225]

I really appreciate this approach of her parents but three days is less for me 😢

[@ArifArifi34]

Do we have the full speech of this beautiful lady in this channel please ?

[@William_9110]

I am 14 now I was the best student in 1 to 4 grade I was good at studies when 5 th grade came there was lock down it took a lot of tole in my studies I studied all day and night but I couldn't remember any thing one day in school the principal scold me for what I have become when I reached home I even tried to take my life

[@Polska_employee]

I have anxiety and social anxiety but I have breaks at my school and also I have ADHD so all that makes it bad but I try to mind my business and not talk to some people

[@Jakkaribik1]

Having to do well in school is the problem that Free days of can't fix it school must have ne reforms and not feel like prisons it was made that people are obedient and quiet..

[@MayankYadavdivine]

You are strong ❤

[@JaunGuy327]

If I could love myself maybe I could be happier. But I have no reason to love myself. No accomplishments I can think of that make me worth it. I think it would be better if I was not here

[@thebookwasbetter3650]

Already have this. Its called holidays and weekends.

[@foxboy1877]

My parents startet my mental Suffering at 6 years old . Im 14 now . Why do i Even keep going ? 😔

[@نقطةبداية-ق2س]

يارب ارزقني الجمال جمالاً لا اعصيك به بل استره كما امرتني

[@f8hmida]

this is a very good idea

[@ErnestMrygon]

Świetna robota Pana prowadzącego fundację i świetna robota Pani prowadzącej

[@mohamedenatighk]

❤❤

[@br8979]

A wise mum!

[@Stupid_guys8tag]

Help she is just like me >_

[@PerseusVazquezRivera]

3 days a semester is not acceptable. 1 maybe 2 and only in dire situations

[@joefrederick6471]

It’s because the kids have decreased their ability to focus from social media along with the coddling from a young age and not building self esteem. And feeding them these videos like they are victims is one of the problems. Kids need things to build their self esteem to become stronger and to get ready for the world, to overcome their challenges - look at how nature treats it’s weak, it’s not pretty and the world is reflective of this. They don’t need days to go hide and wallow around falling further into a downward spiral. Giving kids “mental health” days when they are having some struggles is like telling an alcoholic to go have a few drinks when they are having a tough time with things.

[@RabenKayan]

❤

[@emmanuelwil-jeff]

Having options goes a long way 👀👀🙏🏿🙏🏿

[@cjsharp215]

If you want an excuse to not go to school just say that instead of being extra, new season on the game? That’s a day off not oh no look at me I need “mental health days” at 6 because I don’t wanna go to school

[@God-ld6ll]

mental health all time*

[@joshader3986]

How great!

[@DifferentSaturner]

It works

[@glowreayah]

I was here and I can relate

[@warda-gt9yh]

she looks like one turkish actr name s aicha

[@JamalSabir-ev8jq]

I am interested

[@andrewliu7401]

I thought I was the only one😢 Sadly I am Asian and a guy so I can never tell this to anyone I know

[@TheReal_DarkVoid]

If I say this to mah partents they ether say its my phone or laptop or smth

[@inqubusta]

Skip class n smoke weed on the bleachers like the rest of us.

[@czeianamiguel5543]

💀

[@1halnass]

How cute are you?✌️

[@MylesWulf]

Outside everyone, outside!

[@randomdudes6428]

Same

[@drezzydrez]

I’m bouta use this so I can skip school (chad use)

[@arundavis648]

When I took my days off the teacher said people who are absent or late to class must be hang out with their boyfriends or something that they are not coming to class..

[@CoachGregAdams]

We live so good now, that people toss around the word TRAUMA way too much

[@FastDuDeJiunn]

Yep...i dont know squat about her so i wont say more.... but yea

[@beaucephusburchel5488]

Omg hit the nail on the head it's sickening and I'm only on my 30s

[@bg-de2wi]

Everyone goes through traumatic experiences sometime during their life and you don't get to dictate whether they get to talk about it or not.

[@tangerinetangerine4400]

@@bg-de2wi there wasno "dictating" just an opinion.

[@marianaferreira358]

How would you know if what she went through wasn't trauma? You know nothing about this girl, don't go assuming things.

[@albaghdadi112]

كل حچيچ كلام إستمري❤️

[@whoareyou-oh5vy]

She kinda looks like that one girl from Eurovision

[@jae6220]

I can imagine her trauma. She went to Starbucks and they ran out of pumpkin spice for her latte.

[@helloimemi]

Spoken like a true person who have never struggled with their mental health. Grow up.

[@howtoobeygod4384]

One Bible chapter per day, please. It aids mental breakdown.

[@Sei1989]

I see this "Mental health days" as a detriment in the long run. It could start with parents and teachers teaching kids about burn out and each student learning their limit and accepting w/e grade they get. I believe kids who get burnt out from school are lacking the proper guidance from parents and teachers in a faulty education system. Not everyone in life is meant to work overtime, perform at peak performance, and climb through the cooperate ladder. That's not healthy for most people.

[@coffeeperson1461]

This is not the entire video and unfortunately them using just the word "students" is a bit misleading. If the person has serious mental health struggles then they should not be forced and dragged into places that may cause them stress. As long as it is reserved for students who need it I think it is fine

[@Sei1989]

@@coffeeperson1461 I watched her 7min+ Ted speach and I still stand by what I said about Mental Health Days and this is coming from somebody who experienced burnout in child hood and had anxiety and depression slapped on by the time I was 12. Just like kids with Physical disabilities kids with mental disabilities needs to start adapting to how they are going to be able to function properly in society and it comes from self awareness in your limitations.

[@quintuscrinis8032]

So that all sounds familiar apart - regularly accused of over thinking and worrying constantly.

[@sweetcarolyn777]

Amen.

[@simbad909]

Great stuff

[@randathelake2026]

Sometimes I wish I had white parents😂. My asian parents said it was just normal and I was being a kid, normal asian parent neglect😅

[@JimmyJohn-s7i]

Twins

[@Here.To.Help.You.]

BREAK THE MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA - 2024 Join me and my uprising campaign Here is our slogan "Break the silence on mental illness, because feelings are like farts - everyone has them, but some stink more than others!" Now using this slogan or even saying it tag me in the video because together we can stop this nonsense and make mental health awareness better

[@HarryEstrellaEduPh]

You're beautiful ♥️

[@kelseywalker2342]

I'm sorry but between a week for spring break, reading week, 2 weeks at Christmas break 2 months for summer break, and we'll over a dozen short weeks for holidays and teacher conferences I think I can count on 1 hand the number of full weeks my kid has done this school year. There's something to be said about learning mental toughness also

[@mostlyanchors168]

Without harshly judging the speaker, I must say I can’t understand the younger generation. I do want to, but it seems that attempting to do so causes them anxiety unless they’re being validated. I wonder when we will figure out scientifically what happened.

[@RizniRizni-q5d]

😂❤very useful

[@adamrhodes2566]

I used to have two rest days every week. They were called Saturday and Sunday. Get over yourselves.

[@JannatMudasar-b1b]

Name kaya hain ??

[@aniciomanliotorquatoseveri2702]

Brain isn't a muscle, it doesn't need time to recover

[@Madara12346]

She is beautifull

[@dondp7500]

She is cute.

[@MylesWulf]

Find God

[@jorge2757]

Gracias gracias gracias