When the new school year begins in a few weeks in the US state of Oregon, students who want a day off won't have to fake having a cold or cut class - they can just take a mental health day.

Four students successfully campaign state lawmakers earlier this year to pass a bill allowing for mental health days and Governor Kathleen Brown, a Democrat, signed it.  Students will be able to use five mental health days every three months.  Prior to this, students were only allowed to miss school due to physical illness, a family member's physical illness, doctor or dentist appointments or an emergency.  It's the first law of its kind in the US that treats physical and mental health equally.

"We're not talking about 'I just don't feel like going to school,' We're talking about real disorders, real things that have real impacts," said Chris Bouneff, the executive director for the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Oregon, in an interview with National Public Radio.  "It's hard to address them systematically if they have to stay hidden because of stigma and prejudice and shame."

For the past three decades, Oregon's suicide rate has been higher than the national average.  The state Heath Authority says suicide is the second-leading cause of death among Oregon residents aged 15 to 34, and the eighth-leading cause among all ages in the state.

"A big issue for students with mental health is when you have to miss a day because you're going through depression or you have a therapy appointment," said 18-year old Hailey Hardcastle, one of the quartet of teen campaigners who moved the progressive needle in their home state.  "It's really hard to make up tests and homework because teachers or the administration might not take it as seriously as a physical illness."

Ms. Hardcastle is going to university come September, but she did it for future generations.  

"I have three younger sisters who are in middle school right now," she said, "And part of the reason I do this is so high school and beyond will be even easier for them than it was for me."