How to tell your boss you need to take a mental health leave?

Asked by: Alvena Goyette  |  Last update: November 3, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (35 votes)

One way to approach it could be: “My workload has increased substantially due to the current circumstances, and I find that it is affecting my ability to complete each task to the best of my ability. I'm feeling overwhelmed and discouraged by tight deadlines and a long to-do list.

How do I tell my boss I need mental health leave?

For example, you might say, “I've been experiencing significant stress and anxiety that has impacted my ability to perform my job effectively. My doctor has recommended taking a short leave to focus on my mental health. I believe this will help me return to work in a better state.”

How to take off work for mental health?

How to pursue a mental health leave of absence
  1. Step 1: Speak with a mental health care provider. ...
  2. Step 2: Determine your FMLA eligibility. ...
  3. Step 3: Meet with the human resources department. ...
  4. Step 4: Finalize plans with your healthcare provider. ...
  5. Step 5: Return the appropriate paperwork to your employer.

How do you tell your boss you're leaving due to mental health?

Ideally, have a conversation with your HR department or your direct manager. Be as open as you feel comfortable being about your mental health and its impact on your work. Yous hould then submit a formal resignation letter. State your reason for leaving if you feel comfortable doing so.

Do you need time off work for mental health?

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.

How to take mental health leave from work

43 related questions found

How to explain absence due to mental health?

If you think your employer will be understanding and you'd like to explain, you might adapt one of the following phrases to suit your situation:
  1. “I'd like to take time off as I'm not in a good frame of mind. ...
  2. “My depression symptoms have worsened and I need a day off to recover.

What to say to a doctor to get signed off work with stress?

Below are some key points to remember when talking to your doctor about stress leave:
  • Be open about your symptoms.
  • Be upfront about your feelings. Don't leave out any details.
  • Listen to your doctor's advice.
  • If needed, book follow-up appointments.
  • Explain your situation clearly and what you feel triggers your predicament.

Can you be fired for mental health leave?

California state law forbids employers from discriminating against you for having a physical or mental disability. If you get fired because you took stress leave, it can amount to a wrongful termination.

Should I tell my boss I'm struggling mentally?

Remember, your employer will want to help you not least because it makes good business sense. It's entirely up to you how much you want to disclose - you don't have to "name" your condition but be careful about words like “stress” which can mean many different things and is often misinterpreted.

Is it OK to resign due to mental health?

Health-Related Grounds for Resignation: The Labor Code acknowledges health issues as valid grounds for resignation. An employee may resign if they can provide medical documentation showing that their mental health has been adversely affected by workplace conditions.

How to request FMLA for mental health?

To use FMLA for stress or mental health, you generally need documentation of a mental illness provided by a doctor or other qualified professional, such as a therapist. In most cases, you must have worked for the company for at least 12 months in total, and you usually need to give a 30-day advance notice for FMLA.

Can I take a month off work for mental health?

Stress Leave California

For example, California Government Code §12945.2(a), also known as the California Family Rights Act, requires employers to allow employees with serious health conditions to take up to 12 weeks off in any 12-month period.

What mental health can stop you from working?

Any mental illness that prevents you from working can qualify for disability benefits. Amongst the most common are anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, developmental disorders, autism spectrum disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Can my boss refuse a mental health day?

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). According to the ADA, employers must provide accommodations for workers with disabilities, including mental disorders. Providing sick leave for mental health conditions is a way to stay compliant.

Why use FMLA instead of sick leave?

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) may be able to help. Whether you are unable to work because of your own serious health condition, or because you need to care for your parent, spouse, or child with a serious health condition, the FMLA provides unpaid, job-protected leave.

How long after FMLA can you quit?

In other words, after taking FMLA leave the employer must let an employee return to the same or similar position – but the employee isn't required to return after FMLA leave. An employee can give resignation notice the day they return from FMLA leave.

How to tell your boss you're struggling mentally and need time off?

Be clear and concise, stating the specifics of how your mental health problems are impacting your work. The point here is to keep it professional and appropriate—your boss is not a therapist or close friend, so you need to stick to what matter's to the workplace.

Is depression a disability?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) considers depression a disability. According to the ADA, a disability is any mental or physical impairment that significantly reduces a person's functioning, in at least one important area of life. Through its symptoms, depression can do exactly this.

Can HR tell my boss about my medical condition?

Any of your private health information, even if it's about you being perfectly healthy and not having a disability, is still private, and your employer shouldn't be sharing it. That's a federal cause of action.

Will I lose my job if I go to a mental hospital?

Understanding the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)

This law is known as the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA is a federal law that prevents employees from being fired due to discrimination against disabilities, which includes mental illness.

How to ask for mental health leave?

Start by choosing a time when your boss is likely to be available and not rushed. Clearly state your request and be prepared to explain, if necessary, without divulging too much personal information. If your employer is supportive, they might engage in a discussion about your well-being and how the company can help.

What mental conditions qualify for disability?

B. Which mental disorders do we evaluate under each listing category?
  • Neurocognitive disorders (12.02).
  • Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders (12.03).
  • Depressive, bipolar and related disorders (12.04).
  • Intellectual disorder (12.05).
  • Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders (12.06).

What are 5 signs of work-related stress?

Symptoms of work-related stress
  • fatigue.
  • muscular tension.
  • headaches.
  • heart palpitations.
  • sleeping difficulties, such as insomnia.
  • gastrointestinal upsets, such as diarrhoea or constipation.
  • dermatological disorders.

How to self-certify for mental health?

It is equally important to take time off to look after your mental health and wellbeing. If you decide to take time off, you can self-certify sickness absence for the first seven days (this includes any non-working days). You are not responsible for organising cover for or paying any costs relating to your absence.

What is burnout at work?

Job burnout is a type of stress linked to work. It includes being worn out physically or emotionally. Job burnout also may involve feeling useless, powerless and empty. Burnout isn't a medical diagnosis. Some experts think that other conditions, such as depression, are behind burnout.