Concerns about taking an extended amount of time off work is one of the most common reasons why some people avoid mental health treatment. Could it mean a significant loss of income or jeopardize their livelihood altogether? Fear of stigma in the workplace can be another challenge. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be the case. Luckily, there are laws and programs in place to protect workers in this exact scenario.
How to get mental health treatment while working full-time
- Know your legal protections
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protects employees seeking treatment for addiction or mental health. It provides up to 12 weeks of protected unpaid leave within a 12-month period, which time can be used all at once or broken up into blocks. During this time, employees maintain access to their company-provided health insurance plan.
Mental health conditions eligible for FMLA leave are those that interfere with a person’s ability to function in the job, such as severe anxiety, depression, or other debilitating mental illnesses. Another key factor in eligibility is whether the condition is recurring or chronic and requires treatment by a healthcare provider at least twice a year.
Protections under FMLA prohibit employers from interfering with an employees’ right to take leave or threaten their job because of it, and require that the individual returns to the same position (or one very similar to it) after returning from leave.
- Talk to management (the right way)
Even with powerful protections like FMLA available, broaching the subject with your employer correctly can go a long way towards preserving the working relationship between you and your employer. To start, choose a private location where you will have a manager or HR’s undivided attention and won’t be interrupted. Approach the conversation from a place of proactiveness, providing details of how much time you’ll need to take off and what plans you have in place to have your workload managed in your absence. Lastly, know that you do not need to discuss the specifics of why you need to take your leave.
- Explore different types of mental health programs
If you’re not eligible for FMLA, some types of mental health treatment programs can also make it possible to treat mental illness and work full-time. Outpatient programs, as opposed to inpatient treatment, might only require a few hours a week of commitment. Virtual treatment options can also minimize any time needed away from work.
3 ways to protect your mental health at work
The nature of modern-day employment is inherently stressful: having obligations to fulfill, deadlines to meet, and possibly worksite politics to navigate. It all takes its toll. (And while some types of employment might be less stressful than others, every job has stressful moments.) This matters because stress can be a precursor for all sorts of problems.
Stress can cause physical illnesses like ulcers and heart disease; it’s one of the most common causes of relapse among those in addiction recovery; and it can trigger numerous mental health conditions, with anxiety and depression being the most common. That’s why all of us must know how to protect our mental health while at work.
- Take regular breaks
The small act of stepping away from work, even for a short time, is small but powerful in protecting one’s mental health. Psychologists have found that pushing through when motivation or inspiration is lacking can do more harm than good. Conversely, taking a break can boost mood, and improve attention and performance.
- Set boundaries
Perhaps one of the most important aspects of protecting mental health is setting boundaries in and out of work. At work: communicate limitations, hardship, or when the workload is too much. Leave work at work. Don’t respond to work emails or handle business-related matters once the workday has ended.
- Prioritize a healthy lifestyle
The basic elements of self-care, like eating healthy meals, exercising, and getting enough sleep, are the necessary foundation for reducing the risk of mental illness. Not only are they vital to overall health, but they can make a person more resilient against mental stressors.
Need help caring for your mental health?
Mental illness affects over 59 million Americans — approximately one out of every five adults in the U.S. — and it poses a real challenge in obtaining and maintaining employment. Demanding bosses or customers, long or irregular hours, heavy workloads, or the physical working conditions themselves can exacerbate existing mental illness and get in the way of professional mental health treatment.
Despite these occupational hazards, it’s quite possible for adults with mental illness to maintain full-time employment — approximately 6 out of 10 Americans do so already. The key to making it work is having the right support (and knowing where to get it) and understanding your rights as a worker with mental illness. Talk to a mental health professional today to learn about your options.
Sources:
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/28a-fmla-employee-protections