Matthew Diemer speaks with Chalkbeat Detroit about a bill in the Michigan Senate that aims to help address childrens’ mental health challenges 

A bill Introduced in the Michigan Senate in January 2023 introduces a policy that would allow K-12 public school students to take up to five excused absences each school year for mental or behavioral health issues, reports Chalkbeat Detroit. The absences would be excused without a note from a doctor or therapist, and would require schools to let students make up any school work they miss.

The proposed legislation comes amidst a growing national effort to help schoolchildren dealing with mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation, which have been exacerbated by the pandemic. However, Chalkbeat reports that some researchers caution that students need more than days off to deal with mental health challenges: they need support when they return to school.

“I think the policy is a step in the right direction,” Matthew Diemer tells Chalkbeat. “But I don’t think giving days off without any other improvements would lead to desired changes.”