Mental Health Day: How to Take a Mental Health Day

A mental health day means taking the day off work to relax, relieve stressors, or address mental health concerns. Some companies offer mental health days as a form of paid time off or PTO, similar to personal days. Time off is an essential part of your healthcare; whether or not you cope with mental health issues, mental health days are a rejuvenating part of behavioral health that allows you to recharge and diminish stress to avoid burnout.

While a sick day is what you take when you feel ill or need to take care of your physical health, a mental health day is essential for caring for mental illness and stepping away from work stress to improve your overall health. Often, employees will take a single day off, but flare-ups of or increased mental illness may mean taking a leave of absence.

Mental health days are essential for several reasons. Mental health days can help reduce stress, improve sleep quality, give space to reflect, and offer reset opportunities. Employees might take time off to practice self-care routines and spend time with loved ones. For some, mental health days are vital for coping with depressive disorders or chronic health problems that, if unaddressed, can lead to physical symptoms. Not taking mental health days can lead to increased stress levels, symptoms of depression, and substance abuse. As such, these days off are crucial to maintaining mental wellness.

Employees should take a mental health day whenever they feel they need it. People take these days off for valid mental health reasons, as stress relief is integral to wellness. Some companies allow employees a set number of mental health days; these days might operate similarly to personal days. If your day off will coincide with an important work day, do not fret; simply communicate with your supervisor and be transparent about your needs.

It can be challenging to predict when we need a mental health day. If you feel like you could benefit from time away from work, follow these steps:

1. 1. Inform your supervisor. Message your boss as early in the morning as possible to let them know you will be taking the day off for a personal or mental health day. Bosses and coworkers need to know when people will be out of the office or unavailable via email.
2. 2. Go through the correct channels. Some companies have online templates to fill out when requesting time off; others have employees go through human resources to approve requests. When starting a new job, review the employee manual and company policies for requesting time off.
3. 3. Keep it brief. You do not have to give specific reasons beyond saying you need to care for yourself today. If your workplace does not value mental health, speak with human resources about how to foster a more compassionate and present-minded company.

If at any point your mental health sharply declines or gradually worsens over time, seek the help of a mental health professional.

MasterClass at Work is the learning platform to help unlock the full potential of your employees and inspire a learning lifestyle in everyone. From negotiation to mindfulness to baking—these are just a few things your teams can explore.