How to be mentally healthy at work
Learn how you can be mentally healthy at work, with suggestions for what you can do and where you can get support if you experience poor mental health.
Getting support at work
If your mental health problem is impacting your working life, it can be tricky to know what to do. Fortunately, there are workplace support options available to help you.
On this page:
Should I tell someone at work about my mental health problem?
You may feel unsure whether to tell anyone at work about your ongoing mental health problem, or poor wellbeing. If you are comfortable with sharing, there are some benefits to doing so.
At first you might experience barriers like:
- not knowing who, when or how to tell
- being unsure of how much to share
- worrying about negative outcomes or reactions.
The possible benefits of talking about your mental health at work include:
- having a stronger basis for requesting support
- not having to hide difficulties you're experiencing
- helping others open up about their experiences of mental health problems (if you choose to tell colleagues).
Talking to my employer was very hard because of shame and confidentiality reasons, but I was surprised and felt much more supported and understood.
How do I tell my manager?
If you want to tell your manager about your mental health problem, it can be hard to know where to start. To make the process easier, you could try the following suggestions:
- Arrange to talk to your manager privately. This could be during a regular catch-up, or by requesting a one-to-one meeting.
- Think about what you'd like to say in advance. Write up some notes and bring them with you when you meet your manager.
- Create a Wellness Action Plan beforehand. This helps you think about your support needs and what keeps you well at work. Read more and get examples from our guides to Wellness Action Plans.
For further guidance, see our legal rights page on telling your employer.
Asking for changes at work
To help you stay well and work effectively, you might need to change something about your environment or the way you work.
You can make some changes on your own. Others, such as reasonable adjustments, will require action or agreement from your employer.
If you have a diagnosed mental health problem, think about what changes would help the difficulties you experience. Your employer might refer you to an occupational health adviser for advice on how best to support you.
My employer understands exactly what it is I'm going through. They help and support me any way they can. I'm one of the lucky ones.
What sort of changes can I ask for?
The changes you need will depend on the work you do and what you find difficult. You could ask to make changes such as the following examples:
- Using voicemail. You can take messages this way if answering phone calls makes you feel anxious.
- Communicating by email. If you feel stressed by face-to-face contact, use email where possible.
- Arranging flexible working. Flexible hours might suit your needs better. For example, this way you can attend medical appointments or start work later in the day.
- Requesting a quieter workspace. This can help if you find it difficult to concentrate at work.
- Working by a window or asking for a light box. You might want to make these changes if you have seasonal affective disorder (SAD) for example.
- Getting on-the-job support. This could be a workplace mentor, or permission to contact your support worker during work hours.
- Taking time out when distressed. Even just a few minutes away from your working space can help. You could go out for some air, or have a short rest.
If you need more help than reasonable adjustments, you may be able to get support from the Government. Find out more about the Access to Work scheme.
For ideas and tips on coping, read more in our self-care sections for different mental health problems.
Taking time off work
Taking time off for your mental health is just as valid as time off for physical health. If you're too unwell to work, you need time to get better.
Even if you're off for a while, it doesn't mean you'll never go back to work. Your employer should support you when you're ready to return.
If you're off work for more than seven days in a row, you will need a fit note from your GP or hospital doctor. In most cases, you're entitled to statutory sick pay from your employer for the first 28 days you're off sick.
For more information, see the Government information on taking sick leave.
This information was published in December 2020.
This page is currently under review. All content was accurate when published.
References and bibliography available on request.
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