When Oregon high school students successfully fought for the right to take mental health days just like sick days, it sent a powerful message: depression and anxiety deserve to be taken seriously in schools.

In this episode, Derek, one of the teens behind the new law, shares how burnout, anxiety, and depression motivated his advocacy. Then, Carly — a social worker and former student who used mental health days — explains why giving young people permission to rest, recharge, and care for themselves is a crucial step in reducing stigma.

If you’ve ever wondered how mental health days help students with depression and anxiety, this conversation sheds light on the difference one day of rest can make — and why laws like this could save lives.

Primary Topics Covered:

Oregon teens pass first-in-the-nation law for excused mental health days
Why many students already took mental health days — but had to lie about it
The connection between student burnout, depression, and school absences
Oregon’s suicide rate and why prevention requires proactive policies
Carly’s story: taking mental health days as a student and now working as a school social worker
Why stigma keeps students silent about anxiety and depression
How mental health days can reduce shame and encourage self-care
The bigger vision: nationwide adoption and built-in early detection systems

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and intro
01:21 Oregon teens fight for mental health days law
01:57 Derek’s story: living with anxiety and depression in high school
02:31 Testifying before lawmakers and passing the bill
02:52 Pushback: stigma and skepticism about “Ferris Bueller days off”
03:22 Oregon’s high absenteeism and suicide rate context
03:38 Derek’s personal experience with mental health days
04:05 Why proactive policies matter for suicide prevention
04:42 How students use mental health days to rest and recharge
05:33 Why lying about “stomach aches” perpetuates stigma
06:10 Mental health days as equal to physical sick days
07:06 Terry’s parenting story: offering mental health days at home
07:41 Carly’s reflection: what mental health days felt like as a teen
08:41 How anxiety manifests as emptiness and exhaustion
09:32 The role of rest, sleep, and recovery
09:49 Carly’s unique perspective as a social worker in schools
10:12 Why students need permission to prioritize mental health
11:06 Equity concerns: differences across class and family situations
12:20 How excused mental health days can improve outcomes
13:13 Life skill: learning to pause and recalibrate
14:10 Nationwide advocacy and next steps for student mental health laws
14:59 Closing thanks to Derek and Carly
15:15 Outro: reminder to speak up and listen up

Explore mental health and addiction treatment options at recovery.com
Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/
Terry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

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