In response to the escalating mental health crisis among young people, lawmakers are taking decisive action to enact legislative measures aimed at tackling this pressing issue.
Senator Regina Barrow is spearheading this effort with the introduction of at least three bills this week, each aimed at addressing various facets of youth mental health. One of these bills proposes the introduction of mental health days as excused absences for students across Louisiana.
Senator Barrow emphasized the importance of offering support to young individuals experiencing mental health challenges. “It’s really important that we offer that, and I want our young people to know that it is okay when you are not okay so that you are not okay and get the help that you need,” she stated.
The stark reality of suicide being one of the leading causes of death among teenagers and young adults aged between 10 and 34 underscores the urgency of legislative intervention. Senator Barrow is optimistic that the proposed legislation could contribute to reversing this troubling trend.
Under the proposed bill, Louisiana high school and college students would be granted the opportunity to take at least two mental health days per semester, with provisions allowing them to make up for any missed academic work before the semester concludes.
Senator Barrow emphasized her commitment to removing barriers hindering access to mental health support. “I want to eliminate as many barriers as possible, and so in the interim, I am going to do a resolution where we can study to make sure that we are beefing up that system and ensuring that whatever gaps we have we are eliminating them,” she affirmed.
In addition to the bill on mental health days, other legislative proposals targeting student mental health include SB349, which mandates mental health evaluations for high school student-athletes injured during sporting events, and SB 310, which requires all public and approved nonpublic secondary schools to print the suicide and crisis hotline number, 988, on the back of all school IDs.
These legislative initiatives represent a concerted effort to prioritize the mental well-being of young individuals and to ensure they have access to the necessary support and resources during times of distress.
