In 2020, mental-health-related emergency room visits in the U.S. for kids ages 5-11 jumped 24% compared to the year prior, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For those ages 12-17, visits went up by 31%. As many kids across the Quad Cities head back into the classrooms for a new school year, students in Illinois have a new opportunity to take care of their mental health. In January, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a law giving.
Brandon Kutmas from the Quad City Behavioral Health Associates believes the challenge of maintaining work-life balance is deeply rooted at a young age.
The Illinois Department of Education now allows students up to five mental health days following a CDC study showing an increase in mental health-related hospital visits since the pandemic began.