Hailey Hardcastle is secretary of mental health for the Associated Students of the University of Oregon. As a result of the work of Hardcastle and her team of student activists the Oregon state legislature passed a law in 2019 allowing students to take a mental health day off from school. In recognition of this work, Teen Vogue named Hardcastle one of 21 Under 21 Young Women Changing the World. She continues working to expand the law to other states and bring mental health resources to classrooms.

To date, ten states have implemented mental health days as a student right, and five have current proposed legislation. A University of Oregon student in education policy, Hardcastle recruits other young leaders to create and lobby for mental health policies.

Health, Mental Health, Education College, Anxiety, Stress, Activists, TED, Girls Empowerment, Women, Female Leadership,