Getting out of bed in the morning has become more and more challenging. And once you start working, it seems like it takes all of your energy just to concentrate on the task at hand and finish it. You wouldn’t have any trouble calling in sick if you had the flu. What occurs, though, if you are merely emotionally spent but are unsure of how to request a mental health day?
Understanding Mental Health Policies in Your Workplace
It’s a good idea to become familiar with what is and is not necessary when you take a day off if your employer has an employee handbook. Some employers demand a medical note. Other organizations don’t require any paperwork. In some workplaces, the sick day policy even mentions mental health.
It can be easier to decide how to request a mental health day if you are aware of what is anticipated of you in advance.
Consider Your Relationship With Your Supervisor
Who will you be speaking to when you make the call? Do you and this person share a respect for one another? In other words, how will they react if you call and explain that you’re having a hard time with your mental health and need to take a day?
Ideally, your boss (or anybody else you report to) will be accommodating and understanding. Unfortunately, we are all aware that not everyone has that experience. Some employers may be too strict or even rude. When deciding how to request a mental health day, it’s crucial to take into account the expected reaction of the person you need to inform.
Be Honest
Making up a ridiculous justification for why you must cancel can result in a variety of issues. You are shielded by the knowledge that you are being entirely honest if you choose to say something like, “Hey, I’m not feeling very well today, so I need to stay home.”
Keep in mind that when you claim to be unwell, you are not lying. Contrary to what you may have been taught, mental health issues are just as important as physical injuries or illnesses. It is perfectly acceptable to want to safeguard your psychological health. Do be lying about your treatment resistant depression.
Just Elaborate when necessary
A legitimate justification for taking a mental health day is, “I’m not feeling very good today,” unless you are required to give specifics about the nature of your illness.
If your boss or supervisor asks for more information, you have two general options:
- Inform them that you have been experiencing mental health issues and that you need the day to unwind, recharge, and concentrate.
- Inform them that you feel unfit to report to work today and that you are uncomfortable addressing your health in further detail.
There is, of course, the third choice: you might claim to have a bad headache, flu-like symptoms, or some other somewhat nebulous ailment. We are aware that we just stressed honesty in the previous section, but we also recognise that there may be times when you must be less than entirely honest in order to safeguard your privacy and keep your job.
Plan & Practice
It’s quite clear that you’re thinking ahead if you’re reading a post titled “How to Ask for a Mental Health Day from Work.” (like spravato treatment )But in terms of this specific piece of advice, we’re concentrating on what you’ll say and how your supervisor might react.
When you make the call, prepare exactly what you want to say. To ensure that you say all you want to say (and nothing you don’t), you might even want to compose a little script.
You should incorporate practicing your responses to possible queries or remarks from your supervisor in your planning and practice sessions. We’ll reiterate a few of the arguments we stated in earlier parts here for emphasis because they may be useful:
- What must you disclose to your employer?
- What kind of relationship do you have with your boss?
- What details are you willing to divulge?
- What information do you wish to keep private?
Once more, consider writing down your responses or at the very least creating a few reference notes. We’re not attempting to make you write an essay for this phone call, but there’s comfort in preparation if you’re anxious or unsure of how the call will go.
Don’t Feel Guilty
Every time they take a day off, some folks feel bad about it. (There’s even a concept known as “vacation guilt,” which could be the subject of another piece.)
This is fairly understandable on the most fundamental level. You love your job, you care about the people you work with, and you don’t want to cause anyone else any inconvenience by failing to fulfill your obligations.
But let me give you a fast dose of reality. In order to be the best coworker or employee you can be, you must take care of your own physical and emotional well-being. Flight attendants advise parents to put their air masks on first before putting them on their children for a reason. If you are ignoring your own fundamental needs, you cannot assist someone else.
