Talking to your employer about mental health

Bringing up mental health with your employer can be tricky – here’s how to get the conversation started

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on Nuffield Health

At work, the responsibility for having open conversations about mental health lives with everyone – but disclosing personal struggles can be daunting. However, speaking to your employer can bring a lot of relief to anyone suffering and help them get the support they need. Here’s some advice on how to approach conversations about mental health at work.

Understand where you are

Before you talk to anyone, it’s a good idea to understand where you are with your mental health and how it’s affecting you personally and professionally; you can ask your GP or cognitive behavioural therapist for help with this. Understanding this will enable you to more confidently explain how you’re feeling to your employer, and why you think your condition has been intensified.

Plan for progress

Before you speak to someone at work, think about what you want to get out of the conversation. It might be that you find the hustle and bustle of commuting during rush hour has a negative impact on your stress levels, so working from home, or having flexible start and finish times, might really help. If you feel out of your depth, or unsupported in your role, requesting a mentor or more regular catch-ups with your line manager might be what you need to feel happier and more in control. Requesting longer periods of absence than the official policy states, in order to recover properly from emotional ill health, might also be something you want to discuss.

Decide who to speak to

There are no set rules for who to speak to about your mental health at work; it all depends on the relationships you have. If you’re not close to your boss, it might be better to speak to an HR representative first as they are likely to have had formal training or previous experience to assist with sensitive issues. If you work for a small business, with no HR department, it’s best to speak to a senior person you feel knows you best, or who has the authority to take positive action quickly.

Explain your situation

Have specific examples to hand of things you find difficult at work and how this has impacted your performance or productivity. Make sure to talk about this when not you’re feeling at your most emotionally vulnerable, or at the end of a particularly difficult day; you’ll be able to explain yourself more clearly, and its less likely stress will take over, making it harder to get your point across.